As the Vice-Chair of Sussex County Planning and Zoning, Kim worked within (and sometimes beyond) the council’s ordinances to protect Sussex County. That work included:
Many developments came before Planning and Zoning with only one entrance/exit – not great in an emergency situation. Twice during Kim’s six years on the commission, cement trucks overturned at the entrance of developments. In another recent example, fire trucks putting out a fire at the front of a development filled the entrance, effectively trapping people inside and blocking an ambulance that was trying to get in to help someone else. At Kim’s consistent urging developers began to add extra “entrances” – areas outside the official access points where ambulances, fire trucks, and police could still get into a development, and people could get out in emergencies, even if the main entry was blocked.
During her time on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Kim often wrote conditions into subdivision plans to protect trees. It always struck her as counterproductive for developers to cut down large, mature trees, only to plant small ones that often didn’t survive. Kim worked on the initial drafts of tree ordinances with the aim of preserving mature growth forests, increasing buffers between developments, and maintaining interconnected buffer and tree areas throughout the county to provide vital habitat for wildlife. The commission also implemented requirements for the size and type of trees, along with guidelines for maintaining and replacing them, to give newly planted buffers a real chance to thrive.
Protecting farmland is something Kim takes very seriously. While on the Planning Commission, she ensured that new developments included clauses in their covenants to inform people moving to Sussex County that they were coming to an agricultural area. Residents should expect to encounter dust, smells, noise, and the occasional tractor on the highway. The incredible corn and delicious tomatoes enjoyed from farmers markets and roadside stands exist because of these farms. Kim made sure people understood where that goodness comes from and what’s involved in producing it.
Not every development needs to happen. Make no mistake, Kim believes in property rights, but not every inch of the county should be covered. She made motions to keep houses out of flooded areas, out of the line of airplane landing strips, and out of marshy muddy areas. While she didn’t always win those votes, she increased awareness and ensured that the conditions on the subdivisions were the best she could legally require – even if she voted against the final product.
“Many applications on each agenda were in District 3, which [Kim] represented, and where development has far outpaced most other county districts. She didn’t always vote with the majority on key subdivision and rezoning applications. However, she did garner support for several motions on controversial applications… She was effective as she worked hard for Sussex citizens. She was at times a maverick, but at other times the commission’s voice of reason.”
https://www.capegazette.com/article/hoey-stevensons-resignation-loss-sussex/260813
The state and county must work together to protect the environment as well as the economy. Kim is the only candidate with county experience, having worked for six years as vice-chair of the Sussex County Planning Commission. She knows the players, knows the issues, and works to bring groups together and facilitate conversations. Kim left the commission in frustration, but there is so much still unfinished. The conversations must continue for the safety and quality of life.
The 6th State Senate District is a dynamic and beautiful place filled with people from all backgrounds and walks of life. Kim’s service as the new State Senator will be focused on upholding shared values of:
These are just some of the challenges that many Cape Region residents have shared, which are holding the 6th District back and not being addressed with thoughtfulness and collaboration by those currently holding legislative office.
Safety has always been my top priority. In my role with Sussex County, I ensured legal compliance and enforced regulations for new developments to ensure they followed the law, rather than determining their feasibility. I was not responsible for the overdevelopment during my time on the Council as land use decisions rest with the County unless the state intervenes. I successfully pushed developers to exceed basic requirements by minimizing light pollution, protecting wetlands, and ensuring public safety with additional emergency entrances. We also passed an ordinance for interconnecting commercial properties, allowing seamless navigation from Acme to Tanger Outlet without returning to Route 1, a standard for all future developments.
I believe improving infrastructure is vital, starting with funding road improvements. Currently, there aren’t enough east-west roads, so upgrading existing roads or adding new ones is essential. We’re fortunate to be at a level 1 in funding, which means a good amount of money is available. However, places like Harbeson are at level 4, indicating that while they won’t receive funding to fix roads, they also won’t reject development projects. Addressing these disparities is crucial for balanced growth and efficient transportation.
I will highlight the strain overdevelopment is placing on our municipalities. We can’t keep up with the growing demand for services at the current rate. Last year, the Lewes Fire Department responded to 6,000 ambulance calls and 1,000 fire calls, with no increase in volunteers who will age out in the upcoming years. I will advocate for state funding and proper budget planning each year to pay for these vital resources. Additionally, we need more police and first responders to ensure our communities remain safe.
I believe supporting our local non-profit hospitals is essential, ensuring they are managed by experts who understand medicine and patient care rather than bureaucrats. It becomes dangerous when bureaucratic boards, and not local hospitals, are making decisions on budget and critical investments that should be made in life-saving machinery. Encouraging more healthcare providers to settle here is also crucial. I support a medical school being developed in Delaware. I also support Delawareans receiving state financial support to attend medical schools elsewhere with a minimum work requirement for medical school graduates to work in underserved Delaware communities for a specified amount of time.
State governments are responsible for upholding the state constitution, protecting citizens from local threats, maintaining a justice system, establishing local governments, maintaining state highways, and administering local roads. All these efforts aim to enforce state laws, improve the lives of people, and level the playing field. However, government mandates on what car you can drive don’t level the playing field. Not everyone can afford a car, let alone an electric one, and it’s a personal choice. I believe the government shouldn’t dictate personal decisions and will oppose any laws that restrict our God-given rights.
We will soon face a deficit for the first time in years, making it crucial to tackle inefficiencies and extra costs associated with Government agency staff redundancy. There’s also an alarming $8 billion in unfunded employee benefits, with the state underfunding retirement funds. Current government employees are at risk of their retirement funds going bankrupt because they are currently funding the pensions of existing retirees. Fiscal responsibility is essential. We must find ways to cut spending and I plan to bring everyone together to find reasonable solutions to this issue.
Strengthening small business opportunities is crucial. Unfortunately, there’s excessive red tape and cumbersome steps involving multiple departments just to get approval to start a business. We should model our process after Maryland, where representatives from each department involved in approving a business application are in one room to streamline the process. We need a “sherpa” assigned to each new business application, guiding entrepreneurs through the entire process. Additionally, lowering our electric rates, corporate tax, and gross receipts tax would open up more opportunities for entrepreneurs, creating more jobs and boosting the economy.
The state has informed local beach towns that they will need to fund beach replenishment. Delaware beaches are a significant revenue generator and this vital task should continue to be state-funded. Delaware is the leading domicile for US corporations. We have a well-respected and established chancery court system, and business-friendly tax, legal, and regulatory policies. However, states like Nevada, Texas, and Wisconsin now offer similar advantages. Losing our chancery court could result in losing corporations and a significant amount of the taxes paid by corporations. I support a homesteader tax for new residents to help cover infrastructure costs and the growing financial needs of our community.
I will ensure collaboration between county and state representatives to provide adequate space for all Cape Henlopen High School students, avoiding overcrowding. I will also advocate for higher teacher salaries to ensure full staffing and reintroduce shop classes for students with diverse interests to create more job opportunities. I support building a new 9th-grade building and will back the necessary funding. By examining successful school funding models from other states, such as Arkansas, which improved from 50th to 3rd in ranking, and consulting with experts, we can implement proven solutions without reinventing the wheel.
Women and doctors should not be criminalized for abortion, but we need to focus on making it legal, safe, and rare. This includes ensuring that all procedures are performed under the supervision of a physician and educating patients about the nature of the surgery, while also providing emotional support and counseling. Moreover, we must work on reducing the gender disparities that persist in our healthcare system.