39th & 40th District Meeting Minutes – May 19, 2025

39th District Republicans
May 20
3 min read

Updated: May 29

At 6:05 PM on May 19, 2025, the 39th/40th District Republican meeting was held, bringing local members together for updates, discussion, and planning. Co-Regional Director Charles Michael called the meeting to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation from Roy Collins. Attendees then introduced themselves as the evening got underway.

Before and during the meeting, a pop-up store featuring patriotic and Trump merchandise was made available to attendees.

A heartfelt thank you to Kristin Kodenski of Midnight Design and Promos and Jenny Yi of Truthwave Media for organizing this awesome preview and supplying all the great gear!

Legislative Reports

Senator Bryant Richardson shared several legislative updates. He reported that Delaware’s leadership is refusing to cooperate with the federal government regarding illegal immigration enforcement. He also distributed flyers promoting the upcoming “Shoes for Walk for Life” event, set for Thursday, June 5 in Dover. The event aims to collect 2,445 pairs of baby shoes, each representing a child lost to abortion in Delaware in 2022, to be displayed at Legislative Hall.

Senator Richardson also noted that eleven new bills had recently been introduced, ten of which were sponsored by Democrats, raising ongoing concerns about legislative direction in the state

Councilman Matt Lloyd spoke next, reporting on two new developments—Cool Springs and North Star—both located on Route 9. These projects are expected to bring thousands of new residents into the area. He also raised concern about a new piece of legislation that legally permits homeless individuals to live on public property. Lloyd warned that this may lead to tent encampments forming on public land, such as the circle in Georgetown, or even in residential areas. When asked about the number of homeless individuals and illegal immigrants residing in each county, Lloyd stated he would look into it and report back with data.

Guest Speaker: Deputy Chief Tyler

Deputy Chief Tyler of the Seaford Police Department served as the evening’s guest speaker. A Seaford native currently raising his family in the area, Tyler gave an update on local law enforcement. The department currently has 34 budgeted officer positions, with 31 of those filled and three openings yet to be staffed.

He noted that Seaford is the largest police department in Sussex County and is actively pursuing national accreditation, which would increase access to funding. While modern technology continues to improve policing efforts, it remains expensive to implement. Tyler also confirmed that the Seaford PD fully cooperates with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and estimated that dozens of homeless individuals are currently living within Seaford city limits.

For those interested in community safety, Tyler encouraged attendees to explore a new Neighborhood Watch Facebook page, which provides resources and opportunities to organize watch groups in local neighborhoods.

General Discussion and Announcements

Roy Collins announced his willingness to assist with the process of rewriting the Sussex County GOP bylaws. Shep Kilby reported that Election District Coordinator (EDC) training is nearly ready to be scheduled. It was also shared that Dave Lawson has withdrawn from the race for Chair due to health concerns.

Charles Michael extended an invitation to all members for the upcoming Memorial Day service at Kiwanis Park. The event will begin at 11:00 AM, and he will be serving as Master of Ceremonies. A luncheon at the American Legion will follow, which will be open to the public starting at 12:30 PM.

Upcoming Events

Several important dates were announced:

The Sussex County GOP meeting will take place on Monday, June 9 at 6:30 PM at the Milford Fire Company.
The Republican State Convention will be held on Saturday, June 7, with the location to be announced.
A baseball game fundraiser is scheduled for August 23 in Salisbury. More details will be available on the website soon.