Geniti: Here’s several reasons to vote for Schaeffer

I have known Mark Schaeffer for many years. Mark has always been a good friend and neighbor, and over the course of his first term as Sussex County councilman for the past three-and-a-half years, he has been an outstanding advocate for the people of the 3rd District. Mark is seeking reelection to be our voice for another term.

Contrary to tales about Mark and environmental issues, here are the facts:

• Mark’s 30-year history of working to preserve undisturbed lands — including the creation of the first comprehensive land use plan sent to Gov. Ruth Ann Minner — is a matter of public record.
• Mark saved almost 2,000 acres from development in perpetuity during his brief time as our Sussex County councilman.
• Mark voted no on over two dozen development projects due to concern about environmental disturbance and overdevelopment. Mark voted no twice on the Coral Lakes subdivision. Mark voted no on the River Road subdivision. Mark voted no on the Round Pole Bridge Road subdivision.
• Mark stopped the subdivision next to Love Creek Elementary School, saving a large area of old-growth forest.
• Mark voted no and stopped the construction of a nightclub/restaurant at the former Old Landing Golf Course, which would have been an environmentally disturbing eyesore.
• Mark was one of the first members of the Sussex Preservation Coalition and has continued to provide active support with out-of-pocket cash donations and educational outreach projects, like high school essay contests.
• Mark is a trustee of the Sussex County Land Trust and a board member of the West Rehoboth Community Land Trust.
• Mark recently helped change the zoning code, increasing the size of planted buffers.
• Mark recently helped pass an ordinance protecting our old-growth forests from the practice of clear-cutting.
• Mark was instrumental in the development of a master planned design housing ordinance, which will help prevent sprawl.

These are the facts and just a few of Mark’s accomplishments. His challenger has implied — unchallenged by the local media — that Mark Schaeffer and other County Council members are somehow the beneficiaries of developer favors. This is an absurd, ludicrous accusation, for which there is no evidence whatsoever.

I give Mark Schaeffer my full endorsement toward another term on Sussex County Council and encourage you to vote for him, too. Our community concerns are similar, and he has represented those soundly. Mark understands balance, gets involved and takes action. There is more work to do, and Mark has demonstrated that he is the right person to get it done.

Dr. Ed Geniti

Rehoboth Beach

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.