Marianina “Nina” Pletcher registered to run for a Ward Two council seat, one of four contenders for the seat currently held by Councilwoman Lori Connor who did not register to run again. Pletcher’s challengers include Ron Mescola, Desiray Anderson and Kim Wills.
“I am very involved, I go to council meetings pretty regularly,” Pletcher said. “If I am not there in person, I am listening on Zoom. So, I feel like I have a pretty good understanding of how council works. And, certainly, living here for 25 plus years, I have a pretty good idea about how the city works, what it has to offer.”
Pletcher earned a degree in food service, housing and ministry from Penn State. Currently, she is a certified dietitian and diabetes educator, working part-time for Bayhealth as a chronic care manager.
“My whole career has bene in healthcare in some capacity, mostly centered the last 40 years in diabetes education,” Pletcher said. “I did do a few years working in pharma, again with a diabetes connection.”
In addition to her work in chronic care, Pletcher also volunteers on the parish council at St. John The Apostle Church. She is a past president of the Diabetes Coalition and remains active in that organization. Pletcher also assists with the Santa House operated by Downtown Milford, Inc. and volunteers at the Food Bank of Delaware. As far as what she hopes to accomplish if she is elected, Pletcher stated that she wants the town to be recognized for what it has to offer.
“I want this to be our town. You watch television and you see commercials for Berlin, for Lewes, but you never see anything about Milford,” Pletcher said. “I have forever wanted so much for that to change. I want to focus on owning our town. Nadia [Zychal] said it best. She said, “you can’t have a democracy without competition.” And that really encouraged me to run.”
Pletcher is concerned about group homes that are popping up around Milford Wellness Village due to the treatment center located there. She feels there could be zoning regulations that would prevent group homes from being added so close to each other.
“This is our town and we need to take it back,” Pletcher said. “We need to not only take it back, but also to retain it. Some of this has to do with the overdevelopment. Our biggest challenge is economic development. We have that industrial park out on Canterbury Road and we have not sold one lot yet. I think the residents of Milford are totally detached from that concept of economic development.”
Pletcher pointed out that although new businesses were coming to Milford, like Five Below and Ollie’s, those companies were geared toward the low-income market.
“If you need to buy a decent pair of shoes, a dress or a suit, there is nothing,” Pletcher said. “And that is totally based on our demographics. Until we get the demographics that can support a Trader Joe’s, they will not come here. I think the homeless issue is a problem, but that is not unique to Milford, that is everywhere. I want to focus on our town, just try to develop a fan base to support Milford. You hear all the time about people who have been through Milford or who live at the beach. Come on, it is a 20-minute ride up here. It isn’t like we are asking you to cross the canal.”
Pletcher wants to bring back a non-political council where the political party of those sitting in the seats is unknown. She wants council to return to a non-partisan body.
“I will vote however my conscience sends me,” Pletcher said. “I don’t vote the party line. I will be a quiet storm when I have to be but otherwise, I’ll support what the constituency wants.”
The election will be held Saturday, April 25 from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Public Works Office, 180 Vickers Drive, Milford. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 302.422.1111 x. 1142 or 1303 if you will be unavailable to vote on the day of an upcoming election to be placed on an absentee application list, or you have any related election questions.
