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New Castle County Council asks state to change how council president is elected; measure passes 11-2
Summary
After lengthy debate and public comment, New Castle County Council adopted a resolution asking the Delaware General Assembly to amend Title 9 of the Delaware Code to change how the county council president is elected. The measure passed 11-2 amid concerns from several council members and residents about transparency and timing.
New Castle County Council voted 11-2 on May 27 to ask the Delaware General Assembly to amend Delaware Code Title 9 to change the method for electing the council president.
The resolution, introduced by Councilwoman Durham and read by title at the meeting, would request that the state legislature alter the county-level election process for the council president. Council members and several members of the public debated the proposal at length before the roll call.
Supporters said the change had been requested previously and that the draft legislation is written to take effect well in the future, reducing immediate impact on current council composition. Councilwoman Durham said the draft “sets it off far enough in the future” so that few current members would be affected, and that reapportionment following the next census will determine future district lines.
Opponents raised multiple concerns. Council President Williams Johns said changing the election method would reduce public input and “weaken our direct democratic process,” arguing it would concentrate power inside the council and reduce transparency. Councilman Street said he opposed following the examples of Kent and Sussex counties and said New Castle County should set its own example. Residents who spoke during the public-comment period said they were surprised by the timing and scope of the proposal and urged the council to seek more public input before pursuing a change to how a countywide leadership position is chosen.
Public commenters included Rob Bullock, president of the 913 Community Alliance, who said the change “strikes me altogether wrong from the community’s perspective” and asked that the county bring the measure to residents for discussion. Donald Farrell of District 4 told the council he feared the proposal could be motivated by partisan or racial considerations and asked members to explain “why now.” Deborah Ricard asked the council to table the measure so constituents could be informed and engaged.
After debate and public comment, the council called the roll. The final tally was 11 votes in favor and 2 opposed; Councilman Street and Councilwoman Williams Johns voted no. The resolution will be transmitted to the Delaware General Assembly for consideration; any change to the election method would require state action.
Why it matters: The proposal would alter how the county’s top legislative office is chosen, a change that affects how county leadership is selected and could reshape internal power dynamics. Because the resolution asks the state legislature to amend state law, passage by the county council does not itself make the change — it only formally asks the General Assembly to consider amending Title 9 of the Delaware Code.
What’s next: The resolution will be forwarded to the Delaware General Assembly for their consideration. The council record shows calls from residents for additional public outreach before the state-level process proceeds.
