In Delaware's closed primary system, only voters registered with a major political party can vote for that party's candidate in the primary election. However, in the upcoming general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, voters can choose any candidate, regardless of party affiliation.
All of Wilmington’s elected positions are up for vote this election cycle. Most candidates on the general election ballot are Democrats running unopposed, but two races are competitive. Residents of the 3rd District will have a choice between candidates, and all city residents will be able to select three at-large candidates who serve the entire city.
In the 3rd District, the current representative, Zanitha Oliver is once again being challenged by resident Don Farrell. Farrell lost to Oliver in the September primary but has re-entered the race as a write-in candidate.
The second contest involves five candidates — three Democrats and two Republicans — competing for four at-large seats. Since no more than three candidates from the same party will appear on the ballot, three Democrats and one Republican are expected to win in November.
Candidates for Wilmington City Council District 3
Incumbent Zanthia Oliver is a native of Wilmington. She has represented the 3rd District since 2016. No campaign website can be found for Oliver. Her official council member biography lists her involvement in community support and volunteering.
Priorities:
- Serving as an advocate of quality education, workforce development and jobs for underserved populations.
- Providing services for seniors and youth.
After running unsuccessfully as a Democrat in the primary election, Don Farrell is now pursuing the 3rd District Council seat as a write-in candidate. A lifelong resident of Eastside, Farrell is hoping to unseat Oliver who has served two terms. Farrell is both a landlord and an advocate for tenant rights and affordable housing.
Priorities:
- Establish an Office of Environmental Justice
- Creating neighborhood block committees
- Champion early intervention programs aimed at addressing issues in at-risk residents
- Promote job training and employment opportunities
- Foster intergenerational connections through a senior mentorship program
Candidates for 4 Wilmington at-large council seats
Latisha Bracy is a current member of the Wilmington City Council. She was appointed in December 2022 to fill the seat left vacant by Loretta Walsh’s death in October 2022. Bracy owns a small public relations and project management firm and also works with a nonprofit, where she leads equitable entrepreneurship training and support. A Democrat, she previously served for 15 years as a staffer for U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and U.S. Sens. Carper, Biden and Kaufman.
With a focus on effective governance, public safety and community well-being, Bracy’s campaign emphasizes economic growth and inclusion.
Priorities:
- Support small businesses and strategic investments in new industries
- Promote equity and diversity in Wilmington
- Address gun violence, mental health challenges and the opioid crisis
- Empower the neighborhood residents
Maria D. Cabrera is a Democratic incumbent at-large council member in Wilmington. She has been a Wilmington resident for over 36 years. A business owner, she previously worked for Wilmington’s Office of Cultural Affairs under former Mayor James H. Sills Jr. Cabrera made history as the first Hispanic woman elected to office in Delaware and the first to run for mayor of Wilmington. Cabrera served her first term on the Wilmington City Council from 2013 to 2017.
Priorities:
- Rebuild trust in law enforcement and push public safety initiatives
- Support small businesses and the arts
- Expand workforce training programs
- Address vacant and deteriorated properties
- Promote homeownership
- Advocate for environmental justice reforms
Alexander Hackett, a Wilmington native, is a business owner and community advocate. According to his campaign website , he also serves as a “confidential advisor for the Economic Development Administration.” A Democrat, Hackett is running for an at-large seat with a focus on transparent governance, promoting job training and education, and enhancing infrastructure.
Priorities:
- Increase affordable housing and the expansion of green spaces
- Improve public safety and community policing
- Fund accessible healthcare
- Advocate for criminal justice reform
- Support small businesses
James Spadola, an incumbent, is the lone Republican representative on the City Council. He serves as the executive director for a statewide nonprofit focused on fighting illiteracy. After graduating from the University of Delaware, Spadola began his career in the finance industry. He then served nearly a decade with the Newark Police Department and worked in community outreach and as a crime prevention specialist. An avid guitarist, he plays in two local bands.
Priorities:
- Champion small businesses
- Engage youth with expanded educational programming at William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center
- Responsive leadership
- Advocate for the arts
- Work to increase street lighting
- Neighborhood-specific parking changes
Originally from South Carolina, Shawn Dottery is a fiscally conservative Republican influenced by the Reagan Revolution. With a background in banking and finance, Dottery moved to Wilmington in 2015 and now owns a small business offering insurance and financial services. He is running for office to focus on economic growth, workforce development and skilled training to create scalable income and strengthen the local job market.
Priorities:
- Promote skilled job training programs and present career options to youth, focusing on jobs that provide liveable wages
- Collaborate with unions for workforce development opportunities that will provide livable wages.
- Create sustainable economic growth opportunities in the community that are available to the majority of residents
- Oppose affordable housing initiatives that segregate low-income individuals into specific areas
State and federal candidates also on general ballot
In addition to federal candidates, some Wilmington voters may also find candidates for state representative and state senate races on their general election ballot.
Early voting begins on Oct. 25. The deadline to register to vote is the fourth Saturday before the general election.
You can contact reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com .
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Most candidates run unopposed in Wilmington races. Here are the ones to watch
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