By Rachel Sawicki

Craig Sherman, 42

Work and/or education: Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware; works at M&T Bank.

Family: Married with two kids.

Middletown residency: Seven years, lives in Middletown Crossing.

Q: Why are you running for Middletown City Council?

A: I care deeply for the town, and I feel there is a lot of work that needs to be done as Middletown continues to grow. I’ve already become accustomed to those processes as a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission for the last three years.

Q: What is your top priority?

A: Communication with the residents. Right now, a good turnout for town elections is maybe 6%. Whether it’s newsletters or in-person meetings with (homeowners associations), we have to find a better way to get the message out about what’s going on down in Town Hall to the residents.

Q: The Middletown comprehensive plan is due for an update this year. How has the town met some of its goals from previous plans and what should be included in the update?

A: The town’s plan over the last decade has been growth, jobs and expansion. In some parts, I feel that they have done a good job. They brought jobs, large employers and tried to find lower-income housing. The next 10 years are interesting because the town is pretty much maxed out in terms of expansion, so we’re now facing infill development issues.

Q: Does Middletown need more new homes and commercial spaces or better utilization of existing structures?

A: Right now, it’s going to be hard to have the town built out, so now, Middletown is looking for builders to redevelop on plots they’ve already gotten signed and registered by the county. So that’s why you’re seeing a lot of the building getting put up now, as far as empty spots that were available to us but were sold 10 or 15 years ago.