Candidate Name:  Dr. Jeff Hilovsky

Office you are seeking: Re-Election to Delaware’s 4^th District

Party:  Republican

Age: 68

Hometown: Butler, PA

Political experience:  I am nearing completion of my first term as State Representative to Delaware’s 4^th district. In that time, I have been the prime/co-prime sponsor of many pieces of legislation and served as a co-sponsor on many more, always in a bipartisan fashion.  I am a full-time Representative, and when not in session, I am actively engaged in connecting with my constituents across the 4^th District.

Professional experience: Optometrist, Colonel, USAFR and wartime military Medical Commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Entrepreneur, Industry Consultant, Leadership teacher in high school as a volunteer, and full-time State Representative.

What uniquely qualifies you for this office?

As a husband, father, grandfather, optometrist, Veteran, business owner, entrepreneur, and adjunct clinical professor. I have pursued challenges and converted them into opportunities to succeed.  I can connect with people from all walks of life, have the compassion to listen, the empathy to understand, and the proven experience to lead.

What are the top three issues for this office in your view? 

1. Making excellence synonymous with education in Delaware
2. Emphasizing well care over sick care – partnering with healthcare systems to bring the latest in medical technology and preventative medicine, allowing us to improve healthcare in Delaware while reducing our overall healthcare costs in Delaware.
3. Advocating and legislating to improve public safety and first responders.

What would be your top priority if elected? 

Serving my constituents by being accessible, actively listening, and working on legislation to improve education, public safety, Veterans issues, and affordable housing.

If you could change or protect one state policy or law, what would it be?

Coordinate the efforts of Sussex County Council and Sussex County Planning and Zoning with DelDOT to improve roads, access to emergency vehicles, and prevent accidents.

What can Delaware do about its workforce issues?

The urgent need to improve workforce issues begins in the home and in the classroom.  We must Improve education, healthcare, and fiscal responsibility as soon as possible. Building an educational system that exceeds national standards attracts and retains families is a priority. Turning our focus to preventative medicine (versus reactive “sick” care, HR 32), reduces the cost of healthcare, improves access to care, and makes Delaware more affordable. Lastly, taking a stand against wasteful and reckless spending by our government. Our budget has grown more than 50% in just seven years. 36% is spent on education, yet we rank near the bottom in education results at 45^th.  Neatly 40% of our budget is spent on healthcare, and yet our senior health care ranks 49^th/50.  In 2023, Delaware was the ONLY state in the nation with a negative GDP growth rate. When we implement solutions to solve these big problems, then we build a Delaware where people want to raise families, invest in communities, and engage in the workforce.

How would you protect or change state employee benefits?

Just like all legislators take an oath, a solemn promise, guaranteeing the power of the office is derived from the people, so too, our retired state employees were promised a secure level of benefits when they retired.  We cannot renege on our promise to them.  Moving forward I am in favor of, at a minimum, legislative oversight for any changes authorized by the State Employee Benefits Committee, as the Committee is part of the Executive branch of Delaware government. 

What would you do to improve the quality of education in the First State?

We improve the quality of education by being better stewards of the funding entrusted to us as legislators. We transform every school to become centers of excellence, and we support their transition to that goal.  We partner with families, communities, and businesses to engage with our students to provide a broader perspective about life, the workplace, the importance of effort and personal discipline permitting student to achieve their potential. We improve school discipline.  We empower teachers to do what they are trained to do: teach! We improve the relevance of education by requiring courses like Civics and Financial Literacy, as they are foundational to understanding our government and we as citizens are empowered to control our own destiny.

What issues do you strongly support and would not compromise?

Leaders serve, leaders lead. Integrity is primary to public service and must never be compromised. I support individual rights and freedoms and promote the power of everyone to succeed. I believe in opportunity for all, not by zip code.  I believe in the private sector partnering with the public sector to produce our next generation of leaders.  I believe the family is the cornerstone of success and support of the family is paramount to success. 

How do you improve civility and thoughtful dialog in Delaware politics?

We improve civility and thoughtful dialogue by being more intentional with our actions and our speech. We’re led to believe that we are a nation and state divided, and that you must be “extreme” on the political left or right. I believe most legislators love our state, and care for the people they represent. We don’t have to agree on all the issues, but we must be able and willing to professionally communicate our differences, advocate for our constituents, and develop the most impactful bipartisan legislation possible. Reaching across the aisle is the only way to bring positive change to Delaware.

How do you perceive the “Delaware way” today?

The Delaware Way is foundationally built on collaboration, compromise and finding common ground to solve the most difficult problems.  We are a state of great potential. People desire to live, work, play, pray, invest, and raise families here. We have beautiful coastal areas, tax-free shopping, entertainment venues, and much more. However, our current path is not sustainable. Until we address the poor results of our educational system, the exorbitant cost of healthcare, and improve our handling and oversight of government finances, we cannot succeed. By implementing solutions and focusing on the results based on facts, arriving at solutions based on collaboration, and compromise always working for the common good will be able to reclaim “The Delaware Way” as our way.