New Castle County Councilman Bill Bell faces a primary challenge in next year’s election.
Middletown resident Kevin Caneco is launching a campaign to take Bell’s 12th District seat.
Caneco said he wants to increase open spaces, preserve farmland and curb overdevelopment. He says developers have too much influence over council members.
“You can still give a $600 contribution check from a developer to a county council person and there can be no buffer of time before they put a development request in," he said. "I’ve kind of vowed not to take developer money and say ‘That’s a conflict of interest to me.’”
Caneco is an Afghanistan war veteran - and if elected, he would be the first post 9-11 vet to serve on the New Castle County Council.
He said his military experience taught him leadership skills he would use if elected to the council.
“You know when I became company commander I had 100 people that worked for me and I learned a lot about getting some of your best ideas from your team around you, your soldiers," Caneco said. "So coming up with a decision-making process, being able to talk to people, and being able to make firm decisions.”
The 33-year-old Widener University Delaware Law School student added he’d bring energy and a new perspective because of his age.
Bell has represented District 12 since 2004.
