Jud Bennett Writes:

Dear Friends,

The "Lame Duck" Sussex County Council with Messer's: Dale Dukes (D), Finley Jones (D), and Lynn Rogers (D)- all soon to be gone in January, and Vance Philips (R) have again shown their true colors in a landmark attempt to shove it up the backsides of the citizens of Sussex County in favor of a few special interests. As usual Councilman George Cole held his ground for the people of Sussex and the protection of the environment. Some honesty and integrity prevailed with at least one fifth of this nefarious group.

I'm talking about the Council motion recently discussed on the front page of the local section of Friday's News Journal -November 21st. The motion was presented last Tuesday at the Council Meeting by Vance Phillips and passed 4 to 1 for the County to sue DNREC (the State of Delaware) to stop the Pollution Control Strategy Regulations - enacted by DNREC to protect our inland bays. The ridiculous claim that DNREC did not have the authority to do so goes beyond reasonable comprehension. Heck, the EPA ordered DNREC to institute a viable Pollution Control Strategy a few years ago. To further insult our intelligence, Rich Collins of the Positive Growth Alliance, who has fought with some success (due to support and help from certain misguided legislators), every significant, environmental and land use proposal that has been presented, claims he had nothing to do with it. Could it be that Rich Collins and Vance Phillips talk by cell phone daily?? Collins and his cronies misrepresented the content and facts of the PCS enacted by DNREC, which indeed grandfathers current land owners. Much of the opposition came from erroneous information. It is my opinion that the incest, regarding these issues in Sussex County, runs very deep and involves many people from top to bottom. It is apparent and obvious to me, that certain folks will stop at nothing to achieve their self -serving agendas at the expense of the average citizen.

To further exacerbate the situation from a political aspect, Vance Phillips is the Vice Chairman of the Republican Party besides being a Councilman. From a public perspective and for all intents and purposes, with Councilman Vance Phillips (the Delaware GOP's Vice Chair) leading the charge, the Republican party as well as the Sussex Council, now appear to oppose any viable effort to protect our inland bays. How irrelevant as a party do we want to get?? How dumb can our leadership be? You don't think the people of Eastern Sussex and for that matter all over the State of Delaware are not outraged by this?

The bottom line is that we need to protect and enhance our inland bays. The enacted PCS is necessary to achieve control over the pollution of these fabulous resources. If the bays go dead, so will the future of Sussex County. The avaricious, short sighted people who oppose the Pollution Control Strategies don't care about us or the future of our children. I urge the thinking people of Sussex County to recognize what is happening and fight against this injustice by making your voices heard.

We have made a significant in-road with the election of Joan Deaver to the Sussex County Council with the help of many Republicans as well as Democrats. Partisanship should have nothing to do with land use. I sincerely hope newly, elected Councilman Mike Vincent (R) from Seaford will join with Joan Deaver (D) and George Cole(R) to institute some integrity and common sense to the Sussex County Council.