I have to be honest, the race for the 3rd District seat of Sussex County Council, was about as boring as one could get, until now. Prior to today, the only thing even approaching something interesting in this race, was the sheer number of people running for the seat. A total of five in all. One Democrat, and a four-way Republican primary.
Of course there has been the accusations by supporters of candidates, that signs were placed illegally, and counter accusations that signs were being vandalized. But really this is nothing new, happens every election cycle.
The fact that long time Democrat Council Woman Joan Deaver, decided not to seek another term, seemed to give Republicans some idea they could pull enough of the historically Democrat district in order to win. But of course they would have to defeat three of their fellow Republicans, oh yeah, I forgot, one candidate made the claim he was the only “real” Republican in the race. That would have been Mark Schaeffer, former Mayor of Smyrna.
Which brings me to the point of this post. I had been contacted by a reliable, undisclosed source, who told me, it seems as though Mr. Schaeffer had recently been stopped by the Lewes Police Department, and charged with DUI, this source also told me Mr. Schaeffer had been taken to Beebe Hospital to have blood drawn following the stop.
It seems as though this information was reliable, and has been confirmed by Delaware 105.9’s own Dan Gaffney. This is a quote from Mr. Schaeffer, to Mr. Gaffney, “Last Monday after knocking on doors all day in the oppressive heat, I was completely exhausted when stopped by police after 8pm. I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize if I have offended anyone.” 105.9
I have spoken to Mr. Gaffney, and he said, Mr. Schaeffer did confirm the blood draw, and that he had been charged with DUI. We have to remember, a charge of DUI does not simply mean alcohol, it could also mean the suspicion of other substances, which might also explain the blood draw.
I am told it could take up to two, or three weeks for the result to come back, and since the primary is only just under four weeks away, Mr. Schaeffer will have little time to reduce the damage this could do to his campaign, even if he is innocent.
In the quote above, Mr. Schaeffer says, “I was completely exhausted when stopped by police after 8pm. ” As if this could have been the reason he was stopped, maybe he was driving erratically due to fatigue? Yet in the same quote he says, “I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize if I have offended anyone.”
What exactly could this mean? Who would be offended by a person who was tired and was stopped? What is he taking responsibility for?
We will have to wait to see, as they say.
Well, driving while tired is as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or anything else. It is irresponsible to drive if you are extremely fatigued, and perhaps his apology is meant to address what might be considered an irresponsible decision to drive in that condition.
That would be one interpretation.
It is a way of addressing the claim that he was checked out for suspected DUI, without giving the story further legs. As you mention, it seems that, for whatever reason, he was pulled over for perhaps driving erratically. One can certainly express regret for driving erratically, even if one was sober.
Seems a little early to go digging too far into this one.
Fish Bites, true, but the use of the term, “if I have offended anyone”, does raise at least my eyebrows.
As I said, time will tell.
I hope he wins the primary ,and then after, is convicted for the DUI.
An all Republican county council in Sussex County definitely can’t be trusted.
FBH, in all honesty, it is an uphill battle for any Republican to win in that District, his chances just plummeted. But I have to agree, all we hear in Delaware from Republicans, is how one party rule is bad.
Political party is of little impact on Sussex County council. My concern is the demographic, i.e., old white rural male farmer who thinks rezoning should be an entitlement for multinational real estate developments companies who rape and pillage under an LLC.
“My concern is the demographic, i.e., old white rural male farmer…”
Yeah, a large land owner with property next to mine tried to get her land rezoned so that Tidewater Utility could use it for waste water disposal……She was a woman, not an “old white male”
When I first read the quote on 105.9, I thought it was odd. Perhaps he was still “exhausted?”
Mouse, why do you hold private property in such contempt? The population of the Unites States- including the East Coast- is increasing. Thus, land must be developed to accomodate the growth.
Maybe you want to build a wall at the Maryland border? Or perhaps halt immigration?
I learned in my first philosophy course that false premises were losing positions by defaut. Stating that I hold private landowners in such contempt and that eastern sussex has to be rezoned for endless plastic beige treeless houses to accomodate US population growth are both false premises. My concern is that old white farmers from westen sussex will disproportunately serve their own grreedy needs on Sussex council and the only people we are accomodating are out of state tax refugee retireees I’ve always found interesting how average old white people are so willing to shill for people working against their own kids.
I remember Mark Schaefer as mayor of Smyrna. He was unstable back then; I’m sorry to hear he hasn’t gotten better.
Son, you’re going to drive me to drinkin’
If you don’t stop driving that
Hot, Rod, Lincoln…..
I learned in my first philosophy course that false premises were losing positions by defaut.
Where did you study philosophy- the back of a cereal box?
…old white farmers from westen sussex will disproportunately serve their own grreedy needs…
False premise number one; that all farmers in Werstern Sussex who want to sell to developers are old and white.
False premise number two; that the farmers are greedy. Perhaps they have kids and grandkids to send to college. Perhaps they’re sick of farming. Or just plain sick. Maybe they want to move to Florida. Whatever their motivation, to deem it “greed” is a supposition- or, a false premise.
False premise number three…
… the only people we are accomodating are out of state tax refugee retireees ..
Really? All people moving to Sussex are “retirees?” Please.
Better take a refresher course. Maybe start with Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations.
Show me a beige plasic house on a small treeless lot for 400K and I’ll show you a retired transplant
And I learned my philosophy from the Wheaties cereal box. Bruce Jenner taught me. Don’t be discriminating now
Typical Delaware Right gossip and BS. What a bunch of jerks enjoying another persons misery
I am sure this will be vetted fully at the manor house forum, lol
What rumor? It was confirmed by Mr. Schaeffer himself and reported by traditional media sources.
So the quote from Friday,
My lawyer advised me to neither confirm nor deny the involvement of adult beverages in my dehydration event. Way to start a run for council and be transparent to your voters????
I heard he just got fired from his job at Prudential Gallo in Rehoboth!