By Glenn Rolfe

SEAFORD — Since filing in late January, Susan Clifford has been up and down the campaign trail as a candidate for Delaware’s General Assembly.

A retired teacher who taught mostly in upstate New York and one year at Georgetown Elementary School, Ms. Clifford is going to door-to-door as a Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives’ 39th District seat.

“I’ve been out canvassing,” she said. “It’s going really well. I enjoy talking to all the people and getting their input on what they’d like to see be changed, where they would like to see the city go and where they think I should be paying attention. It’s just really exciting.”

The 39th District covers Seaford, Blades and the surrounding area. The seat has been held by Republican Danny Short, the House Minority Leader, since 2006.

This is Ms. Clifford’s first quest for elected office. She filed Jan. 25 and, as of Friday, was the only one to do so for the 39th District position. According to the Department of Elections website, July 12 at noon is the deadline to file for statewide office candidates.

“Mainly, it’s for change for this area,” she said. “I’d like to see more things done for the people. I don’t think that their voice is being heard.”

If elected, she would serve with a “neighbors teaming together” approach. Her priorities would focus on expanded education, air and water quality, affordable housing, manufactured housing, broadband and entertainment options for children and adults.

An emphasis on education includes pre-K, as well as additional college and trade opportunities.

“I feel that we really need those programs across the state,” Ms. Clifford said. “I had a pipe break, and I had to wait almost three months just to get somebody to come here and fix it. I needed an electrician for a new heating system. The only people we could find was retired people. We need more of these people in our community.”

She also says mental health issues should be addressed in schools.

“I think that is one of the causes for some of the school shootings that we are having. I also think it is a reason for bullying. I think we must look to provide, on the regular basis, some form of counseling, like a counseling class beginning in elementary and then going through middle school,” she said.

“When I worked at Georgetown, they had that, and I could see the benefits. In the beginning, I thought, ‘Oh, my God, this is going to be such a waste of time.’ But I found that it was a good way for kids to learn how to better communicate with each other and come up with solutions to different problems. I would like to institute that statewide.”

Of public health concern to her are recent reports that many private wells in the state are affected “with PFAS, the forever chemicals — contaminated,” she said.

Regarding affordable housing, Ms. Clifford said she recently spoke to a woman who is paying $2,400 for rent.

“She could be (buying) a home of her own,” she said. “I think there needs to be some education on credit improvement, so you can buy a home. We need to educate people on how to move through the system to get to where they may want to be.

“We also need solutions for the shortage of safe affordable housing throughout the state. There are only 20 affordable-housing units available for every 100 households that need them,” Ms. Clifford said.

She would also support efforts to enhance manufactured-housing options.

Ms. Clifford’s hope is to have more activities for kids and adults in the area. As examples, she suggested a trampoline park, bowling alley or skating rink.

“There is nothing for people to do here in this area, as far as entertainment. We have to give our kids more to do that is constructive,” she said. “The only entertainment that adults have, really, is going gambling, going to bingo or going to the casino. We’ve got to change that.”

There are several areas of Seaford and Blades with little or no broadband access, which has been magnified during the pandemic, as “many of us were isolated from our loved ones,” Ms. Clifford said.

Since moving to Seaford in 2002, the former teacher has been involved in the Spade and Trowel Club and its city beautification program and as a Friend of the Seaford Library. She also volunteers with the Food Bank of Delaware.

“That is something I enjoy doing, behind-the-scenes work. I don’t necessarily seek attention for that,” said Ms. Clifford, who relocated from near Oneonta, New York.

“I moved here mainly for the weather and the small town here. I really love Seaford. I have some good ideas for this area.”