Dennis Williams wants to be the next 10th District Representative, and said his business background gives would give him insight as to how best address the state’s financial challenges.
Williams said his job as Director of Financial Planning for the Coatesville, Pa. division of Sikorsky Helicopters has given him hands on experience in drafting budgets. But it has also opened his eyes to the lack of specialized, high-technology jobs on this side of the Pennsylvania state line.
“I’ve had to do more with less and I think the services provided by the state can be done more efficiently but also more cost-effectively,” he said. “We need to get a consensus from our residents as to what services we should be providing.”
He said his top priority would be to push for economic development incentives that encourage technology-based businesses to relocate to Delaware.
“What’s missing from this area are companies like mine,” he said. “We have to do more to welcome them to our state and we have to do more to provide them with a skilled workforce they can use.”
Williams said he would support the state putting up seed money for any technical training school that wishes to locate here, while also providing tax incentives to entice companies to come to Delaware.
In his campaigning, Williams said he’s heard from a lot of residents that they feel disconnected from state government. He said he believes the state’s Website needed an overhaul to be made more user friendly and said the government ought to be doing more outreach to let its residents know about the services it provides.
Williams said that if elected, he would consider pushing for a review of the Delaware State Testing Program. He said he also wants to study ways administrative costs can be cut in the school districts.
“We have to be more efficient and be more oriented on teaching kids things that will be beneficial to them over the long-term and not just teaching to the test,” he said.
Williams, who also ran for the seat four years ago, said with registration in the district shifting more towards the Democrats, he liked his chances against Robert Valihura, his Republican opponent.
“I’ve grown up in this district since I was four years old,” he said. “I’m very familiar with the district and I’m very confident I can win this race.”
Williams, 48, lives in Devon with his wife Alexis and 16-year-old son Ted.
