Matt Meyer is the best choice for Delaware governor

As Newark’s former mayor, I had the opportunity to work closely with many elected officials at the county and state level. That’s why I can say without a doubt that Matt Meyer is the right person to lead our state forward in the governor's office.

Meyer is a former public-school teacher and small business owner who has served as New Castle County Executive since 2017. In partnership during my mayoral term and with the Newark City Council, Meyer has helped improve the quality of life for Newark residents in many ways.

Thanks to Meyer's leadership and the historic investments from his administration, Newark residents can now envision connecting north to Wilmington and south to Glasgow Park and the Castle Trail through the county’s bikeable/walkable pathways strategy. In addition, Meyer was instrumental in assisting myself and the city of Newark in the development of the Charles Emerson Bridge, a designed bicycle and pedestrian bridge on Paper Mill Road.  Meyer helped bring dozens of pickleball and tennis courts to the greater Newark area for recreational use. His support for the Newark Free Library and its upcoming redevelopment has not only helped provide crucial resources for our community but also helped ensure that the library remains in Newark and is easily accessible to all community members as a flagship resource center in our state and county. Meyer's administration provided critical start-up funding for the Data Innovation Lab housed at the STAR Campus in Newark, which researches housing, education, and early childhood initiatives.

The state of Delaware and the country are at a critical juncture. In this pivotal moment, we need leadership that is not only effective but also uniquely able to think innovatively, find solutions beyond the conventional, and address our most pressing and urgent challenges.

At the height of the pandemic, Meyer and his administration led the fight against COVID-19 by creating a COVID-19 testing center at the UD STAR campus, which provided all Newark area residents with easy, no-cost testing. Also, during the pandemic, he turned a rundown hotel into a center for comprehensive, emergency housing, the Hope Center, with wrap-around services. It’s housed thousands of Delaware families for at least one night and has helped hundreds transition into stable housing.

As we set our sights on the future, we need a governor with qualifications to propel our state forward. We need someone who can restore effective governance, and someone who can deliver tangible results for all Delawareans. That leader is Matt Meyer, and I am thrilled to endorse him to be Delaware’s next governor.

Polly Sierer is a former mayor of Newark.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Matt Meyer is the best choice for Delaware governor