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Lopez challenged for State Senate seat

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Dave Baker

Republican State Sen. Ernie Lopez will face a Democratic challenger in the 6th District this November.

Dave Baker launched his campaign to unseat Lopez earlier this month.

Lopez has represented the Lewes and Rehoboth Beach area since 2012.

Baker worked for the Sussex County government from 1978 to 2012. The Milton area resident said he served as county administrator for five years, helping to put together county budgets.

He said if elected he’ll focus on helping middle class Delawareans and improving Sussex County’s infrastructure.

“Our area in Sussex County needs additional help for road improvements," he said. "Basically we face traffic congestion here 12 months out of the year now.”

Baker said he’s also concerned about the lack of doctors in Sussex County. He said this needs to be addressed now because the area is continuing to grow.

“Our county has grown up 26 percent for the last Census in 10 years, which is one out of four are new to the area," he said. "And it’s expected to grow another 16 percent by next Census in 2020.”

Baker said he’s open to creating incentives for doctors to move to Sussex County and working with the state’s universities to bring in medical students.

He added he’s also an advocate of open space and buying farmland preservation easements.

Baker said he helped get financing for wastewater infrastructure projects on the Route One corridor and create the Airframe Mechanic Program at Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown.

Lopez defeated Andrew Staton in 2012 take the 6th District seat and fended off a challenge from Claire Synder Hall in 2014.

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