Wilmington’s next Mayor has jump start on transition

The next leader of Delaware’s largest city has had a two month head start on preparing for his transition into the Mayor’s office.

 

Dennis Williams was elected as Mayor officially last night, although his victory in the September Democratic Primary all but secured that victory, especially after the Republican in the race, Kevin Melloy, was dumped from the ballot after his campaign filing fee check bounced.

Williams says he’s been meeting with current Wilmington Mayor James Baker to get a better understanding of the ins and outs of how the city runs.  “He’s been so gracious to let us in.  We’ve sat down, we had dinner with him, we’ve talked to him, and we worked out a good transition proposition.”  

Williams says even though the transition team is hard at work, the city is facing some very difficult problems.  “We’ll be facing probably a $5.5 million deficit, a horrendous crime rate, unemployment.  We’ll be ready to tackle those things.  I knew the challenges before I decided to run for this seat, leaving the General Assembly, I’m up for the challenge.”

After winning the primary, Williams told supporters to give him six months and he’d make Wilmington a safer place.  Last night, he seemed to temper that timetable, “We will bring this crime problem down.  Now are we going to solve it overnight? No, absolutely not, but are we gonna solve it eventually? Absolutely.  We are.”