Milford Times sent questions to all candidates running for election in the primary on September 15, 2026. Both candidates received the same questions, and they are reprinted here with the exact answers provided by the candidate.
Q: Kent and Sussex counties continue to face rising housing costs, while many residents are concerned about preserving the character of existing neighborhoods. What specific policies would you support to increase housing affordability while protecting property rights and maintaining the quality of life in our communities?
A: I will start by saying we need better jobs in Sussex County. We are prioritizing mass residential development and filling communities with an aging population that is often retired. The working-class Delawareans are getting left behind while the pricey retiree housing market booms. Better jobs would certainly close the gap on affording a new home in Sussex County. And, yes, construction does create jobs and while I encourage trades the longevity of this housing boom in Sussex does concern me. What comes after it?
Cutting the cost for a consumer in the housing market runs deep and is multi-faceted. I would support a cut in transfer taxes as a preliminary expense that gets passed along. Many states in the union do not even have a transfer tax. But, would even cutting taxes and additional fees help what is occurring in Delaware? Delaware has the 3rd highest per-capita foreclosure rate in the country. This problem needs attention, in my opinion, as the more critical growing trend in Delaware. Opening up the housing market to more residents is a great initiative, however there is something looming in Delaware that causes high foreclosures. This needs focus, fiscal analysis and action to minimize this continuing trend. Our state cannot remain on that path. It is likely driven by recent re-assessments, lack of competition for insurance providers and energy options which drive up monthly bills, plus HOA and unanticipated maintenance costs.
As a final note, I do not support “by-right” over-reach land use legislation as we saw crafted recently in Dover by the Democrats and signed by the Governor. County and city governments know what is best and I firmly believe that sticking to detailed sprawl plans and zoning as well as reducing the number of variances will help to keep development curtailed. I worry this type of legislation might be paving the way for the data center intrusion with minimal public interference. Eliminating public input and transparency is never the right thing to do and not something I will endorse.
Q: Many Delaware families continue to face higher costs for groceries, utilities, insurance, and other everyday expenses. What do you believe is the most important action the General Assembly can take to strengthen Delaware’s economy and reduce the financial burden on working families?
A: Get back to what made Delaware unique: Corporate Law.
Stop driving billion dollar companies out of Delaware and passing the deficit onto our taxpayers. Business and Corporate fees have long contributed one-third of our revenue. All the revenue above the fees themselves from supporting businesses adds more than that. Making up any loss with resident taxes will be catastrophic as we all know that state spending will not flex downward to compensate.
Be realistic on energy policy.
The “Green Initiative” is not sufficient for our booming population including mandates for electric vehicles. The solar panel trend is not realistic for Delaware’s needs – it is a California-built pipedream and proven unreliable as a primary source and best as a supplement to other sources. Energy is expensive, even more expensive to import, and it leaves a lot of uncertainty being energy dependent on other states as Delaware is. Delaware needs to get onboard with natural gas and small modular nuclear to drive down energy costs. Policy to close long-serving effective energy plants without adequate back-up demonstrates lack of planning.
Stop bullying our businesses with taxes and red tape regulations. These incur costs to the businesses that only gets passed onto the consumer or leaves the consumer with nothing at all. With more and more hassle the business will likely move on! Business taxes have gone up, FMLA mandates for as low as 10-employee firms are costly, and Delaware de-coupling from Federal BBB business and employee benefits all add up to an unfriendly business environment.
Cut state government fees charged to its own citizens. DMV fees are outlandish and a burden, for example. In my opinion it is government extortion. Ever paid a late fee to the DMV? What is that for? It is excessive and not necessary.
We should examine other obscure taxes that the state implements and determine how exactly these are benefiting the citizens or are we compensating for lost revenue elsewhere? Let’s also look at licensing for professionals like doctors, veterinarians and dentists. In this time of desperate need for these positions should we look at relaxing licensing standards for out-of-state tenured professionals so they may work day one and enticed to relocate here?
Q: Southern Delaware continues to grow, but many residents still commute long distances for higher-paying jobs. What industries or economic initiatives would you prioritize to create more quality jobs within the district, and what role should state government play in attracting those employers?
A: We have seen minimal job growth in District 36 in the past decade aside from the Bayhealth Sussex Campus, nominal from the old downtown Milford Campus.
I intend to use the platform of State Representative to seek such prospective companies that will bring tech, medical, and manufacturing jobs here to District 36. Educate residents, especially Veterans and the longer-term unemployed, on how to seek good-paying remote jobs that do not require travel. A priority will also be expansion of Sussex Tech offerings. Construction, trade positions and nursing are good paying jobs that we need today. Legislators need to know what local businesses need for success and our job is to make it happen. Labor skills, R&D assistance, and regulatory actions.
Q: Population growth has increased demand on roads, schools, emergency services, water, wastewater systems, and public safety. How should Delaware balance continued growth with the infrastructure investments needed to support it, and who should bear the cost of those improvements?
A: We have developed at a break-neck pace here in District 36. This includes east of SR1 now with Red Cedar Farms going into production. Our schools and hospitals are maxed out. The volunteer fire service is expected to continue to meet the needs of the People in an extremely critical capacity. The services we need as residents, and really as humans, have been neglected. Some of this falls on the local governments who have the power to choose what they see as important to their communities. While we defer to those leaders for land-use we also defer to them for ensuring local and county infrastructure is adequate.
Collectively we can work with local leaders to ensure healthcare is permitted to grow and meeting the population needs through legislation, or lack thereof. That is why I am against government overstep blockading through Certificate Of Need (CON) laws. Healthcare is a visible deficit in Sussex County and a service we should be streamlining at-best.
Keeping DelDOT prioritized and on schedule would certainly help to ease the frustration with the countless road improvement projects going on at anytime in Sussex County. Using legislature resources to improve roads and traffic qualms when citizens request it would be a priority for me in office. I want to ensure that we are taken care of locally and we reduce the growing pains as much as possible.
Police, Fire, and EMS need full state attention at this juncture. Never has the volunteer fire and EMS services in Delaware meet such strain and a crossroads. Delaware is extremely fortunate to have an army of volunteers who come to their neighbor’s aid for nothing in return. District 36 has multiple fire companies responding within and into our communities every day. This Is not a periodic service – it is a service that is on-demand. I support a Fire Tax on future development that will help the fire companies and ensure development foots its part of the emergency services bill for a primarily volunteer institution.
Police must receive both moral and legislative backing of lawmakers and not be ostracized as they have been in Delaware of late. As populations rise in Delaware so does the need for quality men and women to enforce the laws. We are seeing a steady rise in crime in our state, especially in our towns, and the brave men and women of law enforcement deserve the legislators’ support. Let it be noted that Delaware should put focus on being a competitive employer for law enforcement officers to combat declining rates of available personnel.
Q: Several large data center projects have been proposed across Delaware. Supporters cite economic development and tax revenue, while opponents raise concerns about electricity demand, water usage, environmental impacts, and effects on surrounding communities. Under what circumstances would you support or oppose future data center development?
A: Conflicting studies exist on the pros and cons of Data Centers. Information evolves regularly. That being said, Data Centers for me and many residents are not an attractive asset to Sussex County at this time. They consume a ton of energy and water. However some reports are that new technology and closed loop processing reduces such consumption. Some say that up to 85% of water consumed by these plants evaporates. Presently, I just do not see this as a good tax on the natural resources of Sussex County at this time. Furthermore, they occupy a ton of land and really are not a high-volume employer. Once construction is done, it is mostly a small maintenance crew of engineers and specialists keeping the data center running. We can do better things with these resources as I see it currently. Maybe in the future, in the right location and with their own energy source, it could perhaps work, but it is not something I am in support of without detailed review. If it benefits the community through shared reduced energy costs, I will listen. I am always open to new ideas, but not convinced Data Centers have a place in the 36th District.
Q: Agriculture remains one of Delaware’s most important industries, yet productive farmland continues to be converted to residential and commercial development.
A: I would support eliminating Transfer Tax on working farms being transferred to immediate family members. A farm family should not have to pay the government to continue their heritage especially in the case of a death. I think this may help new farmers or families to hang onto their land instead of selling development rights to the state or selling it outright to avoid the tax.
Another priority of mine is to revisit how poultry farms are taxed. I do not believe poultry houses are being fairly taxed especially with recent property value reassessments. I want to look at the proposed legislation again and see how we can level the playing field for poultry farmers who are also using this real estate to produce food. Coming from a family with a poultry farm in it, I know firsthand how hard this state is on the poultry industry. We need to ensure the poultry industry is here to stay in Delaware. Cutting costs and protecting such farms from drastic spikes in their taxes is a goal of mine as the District 36 Rep.
Q: Delaware continues to experience the effects of opioid addiction and overdose deaths, placing strain on families, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and social services. What role should state government play in addressing the opioid crisis, and what specific policies would you support to reduce addiction while expanding access to treatment and recovery services?
A: Elected officials opted to spend $33 Million on a parking garage at Legislative Hall in dover.
Do you think there is room in our state budget to help with one of the biggest killers of the current generation of Delawareans? I believe it is a case of priorities with current elected officials. And the drug epidemic will not go away on its own.
There should be a joint voice amongst all legislators to stand up and bring addiction into the light. There is a serious lack of recovery beds in our state and those that do exist are short term. Nothing about opioid addiction is short term.
Cut red tape for privatized companies to come to Delaware and make it a requirement that they offer specific treatment options, occupancy, and accept specific payment methods. These are three major hurdles for addiction aside from the person committing to treatment.
I also firmly believe that governmental hand-outs should be tied to drug testing. To maintain any type of government subsidy, the person must prove they are not under the influence.
Q: Communities throughout Delaware are seeing increased concerns related to homelessness, including access to affordable housing, mental health services, addiction treatment, and public safety. What policies do you believe would most effectively address homelessness while balancing compassion for those in need with the concerns of residents, businesses, and local governments?
A: As a former Department of Family Services – Child Abuse Investigator, this hits hard for me. Homelessness is an unfortunate hardship that falls on people due to different circumstances. Some we can help with a hand up. Other circumstances are a bit trickier. We should be compassionate while preventing conflict with the other residents in our communities of District 36. Legally permitting open homelessness to motivate communities to tend to their homeless, as House Bill 454 has proposed, is not the answer in my opinion. HB 454 will permit the homeless population to conduct necessary household functions in the open and in plain view of the public. It will encourage those who do not want help, to not seek it. We should focus on trying to build a more effective calculated network of mental health and substance abuse treatment options while offering a hand up to those who want it through job placement. I support a hand up, not a hand out.
Q: Why Should Voters Choose You to Represent Them in the General Election? Why are you the best candidate to represent the residents of the 36th District, and what distinguishes you from your primary opponent?
A: District 36 has been my adult home now for more than a decade. I was raised in Delaware for much of my life – residing in Milford, Dover, and now in Ellendale with my wife Shannon. My roots are deep, too, as most of my immediate family was born and raised right here in District 36. You will not find a person more connected to this community than me as a dedicated volunteer firefighter, Milford Rotarian, Moose Lodge member, and a passionate sportsman with heavy ties to Second Amendment advocacy. I know the community through organic involvement – not as a conduit to something else.
I do not ask people to come listen to me speak – I go to the people to listen to them speak.
Rep. Bryan Shupe has served in office for 8 years now – that is 4 terms. The time has come, though, for a change. We need reliably conservative representation in Dover while also focusing on what we can accomplish here locally. We need jobs. We need infrastructure. We need constituency services. These are not bound by a Democratic majority. These are , however, bound by the desire to accomplish them.
Constituents should be voting with optimism, not from a position of despair. I offer optimism and solutions with my platform, not detriment and fear. I will allow the people to lead and I am committed to represent them.
I want the job as District 36 Representative, but I do not need it. This is not for the money nor the office space. This is to represent you, The People.
Smith added additional information beyond our questions. These are his additional responses.
I am 40-years-old, Married to my wife of nine years, and live in Ellendale with our two labradors Hank and Boh. I have a Masters Degree in Business Management (MBA) with a specialty in Management of Information Systems. I currently work full-time as an Applications Analyst in the Healthcare Informatics world. It is a great career and one that has taken me a long way in life. I am an avid gun owner and outdoorsman. I love to hunt ad fish with my friends and family in my downtime. My favorite places to dine in District 36 – Southern Grille for French Toast and Westside Diner for a Burger. But Park Place does have the best wings.
Really, my journey to now started way back in when I was school-aged and attended what still is a program called Boys State – an immersive program geared toward the ideals and objectives of American government. The Boys State program mirrors the structure and operation Delaware’s state government. It was very realistic week in the shoes of lawmakers. Oddly, I probably sat in the same seat back then when I was a teenager that I am vying for now. I was later the School President at Caesar Rodney High School in 2003 which was an honor to have been chosen by my peers to represent their interests. While minor in scale, I knew I had a knack for connecting with people. Fast forward to 2016, when Trump first got elected. I felt like there was a groundswell of Republicans that were finally stepping out into the light. It gave me a ton of motivation to get involved with the politics of Delaware. I joined a couple of local groups – Patriots For Delaware as well as Sussex County Young Republicans. We engaged a massive following for a time with Patriots For Delaware. This led me to meet a lot of local elected officials and see just how passionate the conservative class really is. I learned a ton about government, how the people perceive it, and how it can be made better. I saw how Delaware was progressing to a very liberal state -for instance with the gun laws. I was there in Dover on Legislative Mall and saw the people and felt very inspired by those fighting for their Second Amendment. I knew I had to get involved and make a difference. Then once COVID hit and I saw the injustices being brought down onto the citizens of Delaware I knew I had to step up and do something more than be a volunteer somewhere. I wanted a platform I could use to help make change. So here I am.
Some top issues:
Fiscal Irresponsibility in Dover: As spending continues to soar at Legislative Hall, the hole gets deeper for taxpayers to bail Delaware out. I will stand firm against wasteful spending and vote to reject legislation that proves to be as such. Delaware has become a hub for wasteful government programs and handouts. Both parties’ voters are paying the tab. We need to reduce the size of our government and reduce the cost of living for all citizens.
Local constituency issues – as a new a legislator I feel this is the best way to find a connection with the local constituency. Is it a stop sign? Is it a road that needs fixed? Maybe a drainage problem causing flooding somewhere. There are a ton that I hear about and fall upon unheeding minds. Hopefully this coming election will change that for District 36.
Pro-Life Measures: Delaware needs to encourage parenting and abandon its reputation as an “abortion-tourism” state. I will be a ‘Pro-Parenting’ advocate and fight to discount the value in abortion as an alternative to bringing the unborn into the world. It is important that potential parents hear the truth about both outcomes.
Second Amendment: As a sportsman and firearms owner, myself, I am a firm and visible 2A voice. While Delaware aims to repeal our Right to Bear Arms – my constituents in District 36 can always count on me to rebut these attempts. Stripping our 2A will not come easy to those who wish to do it.
First Responder Legislation: I really want to roll up my sleeves and get to work on how we can better serve our first responders in Delaware. We are a volunteer institution and as a member of this group, I am really committed to making a difference a legislative hall for them. With populations booming and costs rising it has become very tough to survive – especially for the smaller companies. I will propose or support legislation for a Fire Tax in Delaware.
Crop Damage in Sussex – This is a massive issue for farmers right now. Regardless of the cause, it is happening and it needs addressed. I have come up with a couple options I see as viable and posted it on my social media. But another hot button that I have not seen anyone really come forward about with a plan. I know the Crop Damage Tags exist but it clearly is not helping to get this issue to a balanced state.
DMV Fees: I think DMV fees are an atrocity. I will target late fees. It will be unlawful for Delaware to charge its citizens a late fee on a lapsed registration. That is absolutely ridiculous. Everyone has a different scenario. Who knows – maybe free drivers licenses, too. I think I could get help from across the aisle on this.
Farms Legislation:
I would support eliminating Transfer Tax on working farms being transferred to immediate family members. A farm family should not have to pay the government to continue their heritage especially in the case of a death. I think this may help new farmers or families to hang onto their land instead of selling development rights to the state or selling it outright to avoid the tax.
Another priority of mine is to revisit how poultry farms are taxed. I do not believe poultry houses are the same nature of building as barns and silos. There was legislation brought up in SB35 I would like to revisit. Coming from a family with a poultry farm in it, I know firsthand how hard this state is on the poultry industry. We need to ensure the poultry industry is here to stay in Delaware We need to ensure the poultry industry is here to stay in Delaware.
Milford Times reached out with the same questions to Morgan Hudson and Bryan Shupe. We are awaiting their responses.
