There are now three candidates vying for Mayor of Newark.
Longtime City Councilman George "Jerry" Clifton announced this week he’s entering the race.
He joins candidates Catherine Ciferni and University of Delaware student Kasai Guthrie.
The race is considered wide open— since current Mayor Polly Sierer is not seeking a third term.
Clifton has served on Newark City Council for 19 years. The retired Delaware National Guardsman thinks his experience sets him apart from the other candidates. “This isn't a time for on-the-job training. This is the time for someone who has real life experience working at the dais, working with staff, working with employees,” he said.
Catherine Ciferni is a first-time candidate. “I think I bring a fresh perspective with a lot of diverse knowledge in terms of many different populations,” she said.
She first came to Delaware fifteen years ago to serve as an AmeriCorps member. She says she has attended Council meetings regularly for a decade.
"If the education bubble does burst as some are predicting, Newark's going to be in a lot of trouble. So looking to the future with broader vision I think is what's needed." - Catherine Ciferni
“I’ve been an advocate for a more diversified main street in terms of age and physical ability,” said Ciferni. “We have a lot of elderly people toward East Main Street that have wheelchairs and things. And as Newark has been developing, I feel that a lot of those needs are left out of the planning.”
Ciferni says she cares most about “smart” development. Clifton has a different focus.
“The elephant in the room at this point is selecting the next City Manager," he said.
Clifton is also concerned about the reconstruction of Main Street. “We need to continue to work with DelDOT to lessen the impact particularly on our business community,” he said.
Both Ciferni and Clifton are intent on improving the relationship between the City and the University.
“We need to see where we agree, we need to see where we disagree, and move to a common goal," said Clifton. "I think [the University’s] goal of having their students in a good, clean, safe city is the same goals that we have for our residents."
Ciferni works at UD’s English Language Institute. She says she’s interested in “making the University and the City a much more symbiotic relationship.”
“I’ve been to some presentations,” she added, “and it feels like [on] both sides there’s a lot of tension. And it seems like both sides feel they’re parasitic, rather than symbiotic.”
But she thinks Newark needs to diversify its economy — which she describes as “a mono-portfolio.”
“Education and student housing are our two main industries right now. We’ve lost a lot of other industries. We’ve lost the Chrysler plant. We’ve lost Avon. And so if the education bubble does burst as some are predicting, Newark’s going to be in a lot of trouble. So looking to the future with broader vision I think is what's needed.”
The filing deadline to run is Feb. 4. Election day is April 9.