Stephan D. Pierce of Dover is a law major at Delaware Technical Community College. He ran for the vacant 2nd District seat on Dover City Council in April 2025, losing to Donyale Hall.
Dover is at a crossroad, and we need to be honest about where we are and where we’re headed. Fiscal responsibility matters. Public safety matters. Education matters. And, above all, public trust matters.
The mistake we keep making as a city is pretending that these issues can be solved in isolation — or worse, that our only options are cutting services or raising taxes on residents who are already stretched thin. I don’t believe that’s leadership. I believe leadership means creating opportunity. Dover must begin pursuing new, sustainable, nontaxable revenue streams that allow the city to grow without putting additional pressure on citizens’ pockets. If we strengthen the city’s revenue base through smart economic development and better use of underutilized assets, we can stop forcing residents to choose between affordability and progress.
At the same time, Dover should be working to responsibly lower property taxes — not raise them. If we want entrepreneurs, small-business owners and investors to bring their ideas, energy and character back into our city, we have to make Dover a place that welcomes them. Growth doesn’t come from overburdening residents; it comes from lowering barriers and inviting innovation.
Public safety must also be addressed with seriousness and accountability. Under my leadership, law enforcement would operate under clear, nonnegotiable standards. Every officer — from cadet to chief — would receive thorough, ongoing training. Mental health and crisis response certification would be required across the department. Body cameras would be mandatory and active. And no member of leadership would be allowed to compromise officers or public trust for personal or political gain. Professionalism and transparency should be the standard, not the exception.
There is another reality we need to confront: The city of Dover does not govern the Capital School District. As a result, the city has limited insight into what is happening inside the very schools that educate Dover’s children and shape our future workforce and community. That separation does not mean that disengagement should be the norm. We need a stronger, more transparent working relationship with the Capital School District. Issues like educational outcomes, bullying, sexual harassment and student safety cannot be effectively addressed when institutions operate in silos. While respecting jurisdictional boundaries, city leadership should be an active partner — not a bystander — when it comes to the well-being of our children and families.
Strong cities are built through collaboration. That includes a city government willing to work closely with City Council to advance ordinances and policies that promote long-term prosperity, accountability and quality of life. The real question Dover should be asking isn’t just “What do we cut?” but “How do we grow responsibly, protect our residents, support our children and restore trust in local leadership?” That’s the conversation Dover deserves — and the direction I believe our city must take.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
