Meet the candidates: DE House District 20
Salisbury, Md. – Come next month, Delaware voters in Sussex County will choose between incumbent Rep. Alonna Berry (D-District 20) and challenger Gene Dvornick.
Delaware’s 20th House district encompasses Milton and Lewes in north-eastern Sussex County.
Berry is running for her first full term after being elected in a special session last year. Republican challenger Gene Dvornick currently serves as the town manager of Georgetown and a fire chief in Milton.
Both candidates cite affordability, health care, education and responsible infrastructure growth as top priorities.
For Berry, another priority includes environmental conservation, which she says is connected to top-of-mind infrastructure issues.
“There’s a lot more work to be done in our district around open space, around forestry, around wetlands and around coastlines,” she said in an interview with WMDT.
Another top priority for Dvornick is preventing what he calls a “one-party rule,” saying that Democrats could have a supermajority.
“Which would give them the ability to really enact legislation without any discussion or opposition from … the opposite party,” he said, noting he would be against a supermajority from a Republican-majority legislature as well.
However, a core disagreement between the candidates is how to best tackle affordable housing.
Berry, a co-sponsor of the Housing For Every Delawarean Act, said the bill is a start to help Delaware develop more affordable housing, while Dvornick said the bill was rushed and doesn’t give enough local say.
Both candidates say their experience makes them the best choice.
“Being an effective legislator means understanding where funding is, how it moves, how to negotiate amendments, how to respond quickly when people come to you with an urgent need,” Berry said, adding voters can look at her record as a legislator.
“What I bring to the table is a proven track record,” Dvornick said. “I bring leadership, I bring strong education, and I’ve been a dedicated public servant for well over 40 years.”
