By Glenn Rolfe

SEAFORD — Votes are in and Seaford council incumbents James King and Orlando Holland were successful in re-election bids Saturday in the city’s 2021 municipal election.

Mr. King, elected to council in 2018, received 169 votes — tops among four candidates seeking the two open council seats.

Mr. Holland, a council member since 2014, secured the other seat with 166 votes.

City election newcomer Scott Pickinpaugh, who presently serves on the City of Seaford Planning and Zoning Commission, received 128 votes while Jeffrey Benson landed 124 votes. Mr. Benson currently serves on the Seaford School District Board of Education.

Certified results were announced at City Hall shortly after the polls closed.

“My plan is to keep on doing what I am doing,” said Mr. Holland. “It has been working so far. So, I am going to continue to be there for the citizens of Seaford.”

“As far as my second term, I am excited,” said Mr. King. “We’ve got a lot of great things going on in our community. We’ve got Amazon coming. There is a lot of activity with infrastructure investments out on the highway, Route 13. So, it is not just isolated to just one part of our city. We’ve got a lot of downtown investment happening. I look forward to working with the team and continue the momentum as we move forward. It’s an exciting time in Seaford.”

A total of 316 ballots, which included 47 absentee ballots, were cast in the eight-hour election that closed at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Voter turnout in 2021 was down from last year when, in May 2020 following a one month postponement due to the COVID pandemic, 594 ballots were cast in an election that determined mayor and two council seats.

Mr. Holland had hoped for a larger voter turnout Saturday.

“I thought the turnout was very slow,” said Mr. Holland. “It did pick up a little bit, but it could have been better, and I pray and hope that in the following years it does pick up.”

“I just want to thank everyone that came out today,” Mr. King said. “It is a really a good feeling when you win an election. So, I just want to appreciate everyone who came out, regardless of who they voted for. Turnout is critical importance.”

Council terms in Seaford are three years. The mayoral post is a two-year term.

Mr. King and Mr. Holland will be sworn in for their new terms at an upcoming city council meeting.