Milton Mayoral Forum: annexation, growing population prove top issues

MILTON, Del. –  With Milton’s Mayoral election just over 2 weeks away, voters got a chance to hear from candidates on issues the town is facing and how they would handle them.

During a virtual candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, Incumbent Mayor Ted Kanakos and Challenger John Collier responded to constituents’ questions on town speed limits, event sizes on the towns, and infrastructure upgrades.

Many questions had to do with Mayor Kanakos’s plans for annexation of new areas into Milton, growing the population as well as new developments on the horizon to be incorporated. Both Kanakos and Collier agreed growing the population of Milton was an important way to secure its future.

“People want to move to Delaware and we are here, so what nobody after us; no it doesn’t work that way we create new neighborhoods and we create new neighbors, Konokos said.

Collier agreed and said the growth must keep up with infrastructure, and that new infrastructure on the horizon will help make sure growth in Milton does not disturb the quality of life.

“We can serve these developments to a point with what we have in place we are in the process of expanding new wells, water towers treatment centers all of these are already in the works,” Collier said.

Both candidates say walkability and maintaining Milton as one of Delaware’s safest towns are top priorities. They say they plan to do that by increasing the police department staffing and making sure utility rates stay affordable.

Voting will be held at Milton Fire Department, 116 Front Street, Milton between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.