Decision day
Newark's mayor up for grabs
by Sarah Kenney
Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: News
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Funk has served one three-year term as mayor and Wampler served on the city council for 10 years and was deputy mayor for two years.
Funk said the main issues Newark faces include the loss of jobs, presence of crime and traffic congestion.
He said he is focusing on residents' concern about the closing of the Avon Inc. plant and the difficulties facing the Daimler Chrysler plant. Yet he remains hopeful that the Chrysler plant will remain open, despite the announced closing.
"We will do whatever we can to convince them to stay here," Funk said, "though we are working closely with the Delaware Economic Development Council and our senators to come up with a plan for Chrysler in the event that it does close."
Since the plant is not slated to close until 2008, he said there is still time to solve this problem.
Illegal activity is not an overwhelming problem in Newark, Funk said. He reviewed the crime figures for the first 12 weeks of the year and found that crime has decreased by 10 percent. The arrest rate is currently higher than in the past, he said.
"Our police department is doing an outstanding job," Funk said.
He gave credit to the "Burglary Task Force" - a unit of state, county and city police officers who worked together to respond to a surge of burglaries in late 2004. The team reduced the number of burglaries in the area.
Although he has sometimes been blamed for the litigation involving the reservoir in Newark, Funk said he is not responsible because the lawsuit began before he became mayor. As it currently stands, the city owes the reservoir contractor $37 million. The trial is ongoing and the city's lawyers expect to establish reduced figures.
Funk said he is proud of how he has contributed to Newark's festivals, friendly atmosphere and community. While in office, he initiated The Taste of Newark, the Food and Wine Festival and Restaurant Week.
"People want to be in Newark because of all the festivals," he said. "They attract people from a large area and once they come here, they like it."
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