By Glenn Rolfe

SEAFORD — One last filing just before the Feb. 25 deadline has created a contested race for a City Council seat in the municipal election April 16.

Incumbent Matt MacCoy and Stacie Spicer are seeking the three-year term on the five-member council.

Ms. Spicer, who chairs the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission, wants “a town that is cohesive.”

“I want a town where all the townspeople feel heard, where everybody has a voice. I’d like to see maybe some more transparency in the city government,” said the criminal justice instructor at Delaware Technical Community College. “I feel like I can do that by listening to people, listening to the constituents and talk to them about what (they) need and what they want in their community. And not only within Seaford as a whole, which I think is very important, but also in the small communities, the neighborhoods around town. I want that reflected in our government.”

Councilman MacCoy, after finishing third behind James King and Orlando Holland in 2018’s election for two council positions, won the following year. In 2019, he outpolled Jose Antonio 169-126 to earn a three-year term. He assumed the spot held for 12 years by Leanne Phillips Lowe, who did not seek reelection.

While campaigning, he said, “Give me a shot. I will communicate. I will be transparent, and I will focus on (bringing) jobs to the city of Seaford. Those are the three things I said to people over and over again. I made those promises, and I think I’ve kept those promises.”

Councilman MacCoy points to progress, notably the Western Sussex Business Campus, the arrival of Amazon and the Oyster House Park initiative.

“The Western Sussex Business Campus, that is going to bring a ton of jobs. Amazon coming to the city of Seaford is a huge development,” he said. “And the Oyster House project (will be) revitalizing downtown and really beautifying our area. All these things are happening so close to each other. It’s really great to see. Now, you are starting to see other areas in our city opening back up.”

Ms. Spicer, who filed for candidacy Feb. 24, stressed that she will be a voice for all residents.

“Given my background working with the diverse populations that I have worked with over the years, I feel that I can bring in a willingness to listen to the townspeople,” she said. “That is one thing I would like to make an effort to change.”

Additionally, she said she will press for more green spaces in a beautification effort, as well as increased broadband, which came into play during the pandemic.

“We have a lot of people, including myself, who have been afforded the opportunity to work remotely,” said Ms. Spicer. “And not only us but people in the 19973 ZIP code, period. I think that can be a great way to bring more professionals here, boost up the economy. That is something else I really want to make sure that we maintain and continue to strive for, continued revitalization of some of the areas around here.”

Councilman MacCoy has taken on a liaison role in communicating with developers with interest in Seaford.

“That includes industrial, entertainment, retail, so many good things,” he said. “We’re having great conversations now with the Nylon Capital Shopping Center. People are saying to me and other people for the first time in a long time, ‘I want to come to Seaford.’ That is what people are saying. That is a testament to what we are doing.

“I think we are making a lot of progress. I think we are doing a lot of great things in this city,” he continued. “Our mayor, our current council and our previous councils have done a phenomenal job of building the infrastructure, laying the groundwork, so that we have opportunities now that are coming to fruition. So previous councils deserve a lot of credit for a lot of things people are seeing now.”

Councilman MacCoy added that his “job is never done.”

“I’m hoping the residents see the current path that we are on. I am hoping they give me another shot at a second term.”

Ms. Spicer encourages all eligible voters to exercise that right. “I was looking at results from years past, and turnout isn’t great,” she said. “I hope people come out to vote, period.”

The election will take place at City Hall from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 16.

Also before voters that day is a mayoral race between incumbent David Genshaw and challenger Pat Jones, a former city councilwoman seeking to become Seaford’s first female mayor.