Dee Durham called her decision to run for state senate a natural segue from her years as a preservationist.
Since 2002,
“It is a logical step to take from my work in the nonprofit arena and in the conservation, land use, and transportation fields,” she said. “I very much enjoy working with my fellow citizens to preserve and improve our communities and Delaware’s heritage, and to assist others in navigating the maze of government policy and actions regarding land use and the environment.”
Prior to her work with SAVE, Durham served as executive director of Preservation Delaware, doing advocacy work she said helped establish a state preservation tax credit and raise $1 million to establish local grant funds.
Durham said she believed efforts are needed to change the way the Delaware Department of Transportation uses its limited resources. She said she would work to enact a “fix-it first” system, where a greater emphasis would be placed on maintaining existing roadways over expanding the state’s road system.
“You can’t build your way out of congestion,” she said.
Durham said she would be an advocate for increased funding for farmland preservation and directing growth to redevelopment areas that already have infrastructure.
She said she’d also look at ways state transportation officials and local planners could cooperate better.
“You see it all the time when one agency is doing something counter-productive to another,” she said. “The state doesn’t have a lot of control over land use issues, but if elected, I’d work as hard as I can to get more coordination from agencies at different levels."
While preservation and land use issues are Durham's priorities, she said she also wants to study ways to improve the public school system and is committed to opening up the General Assembly to the Freedom of Information Act.
“It may not be the highest priority for constituents, but as someone involved in grassroots organization, I think it’s critical for people to believe in their government,” she said.
Durham, 47, will face fellow-Democrat Michael Katz in the September 9 primary. The winner will face the winner of a three-way Republican primary between Richard Abbott, John Clatworthy and Michael Fleming. Incumbent Charles Copeland is vacating the seat to run for lieutenant governor.
The district includes Greenville and Centreville as well as portions of Hockessin and Brandywine Hundred.
Durham lives on Mt. Lebanon Road in Brandywine Hundred with her husband Barry Evans. They have a son, 6, and daughter, 8.
