Riverfront Development Corporation chief Mike Purzycki, is the latest to jump in the race for Mayor of Wilmington.
Purzycki says he sees Wilmington at a crossroads, noting he’s troubled by the sharp rise in crime, the lack of confidence in city leadership and the loss of optimism in Wilmington’s future.
But he believes the state’s largest city has the assets and potential to rebound.
Purzycki says he seeks to build “a strong, safe and prosperous Wilmington for everyone.”
Purzycki has served as director of the Riverfront Development Corporation since it was created in 1996. He says his experience creating 6,000 jobs during his 20 year tenure at the RDC makes him uniquely qualified to be mayor.
"The job description that needs to be filled is one of a job creator or developer; Somebody who’s going to create some economic vitality for the city, which really, is badly in need of it," he told Delaware Public Media Thursday afternoon.
Purzycki adds that focus on economic development will help curb the city’s violent crime problem.
"The secret to the city’s success is going to be additional tax revenue, but it’s also going to be jobs for parts of the city that really need it the worst," said Purzycki.
Purzycki’s announcement creates a 7 person field for mayor.
He joins City Council president Theo Gregory, former City Council members Norman Griffiths and Kevin Kelley, State Senator Robert Marshall and Delaware Center for Justice advocacy director Eugene Young in challenging incumbent Dennis Williams. All 7 are democrats.
