Carney expresses interest in Wilmington mayor after Purzycki announces he won't run in 2024

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki announced Wednesday afternoon that he will not seek a third term in 2024.

But Wilmington isn't without big hitters expressing interest in leading Delaware's largest city.

Following the announcement by Purzycki, who easily won his last two elections as Wilmington mayor, Delaware Gov. John Carney expressed an interest in running. It would be the first time, in recent memory, a Delaware politician has sought this office after serving as governor.

"Tracey and I have lived in Wilmington for thirty years, and I care deeply about our city," Carney said on Wednesday. "While I am focused on serving as Delaware's Governor, it's something I'm seriously considering."

Purzycki saw a city undergo tremendous economic development, while also struggling with ongoing crime. He previously served as the longtime executive director of the Riverfront Development Corp., seen as one of the architects in the development of the Wilmington Riverfront.

In an open letter to Wilmington residents, the mayor cited his age as one of the key factors, writing that he is “for the first time in my life, aware of my age.” He described his health to be “generally good.” In 2020, he recovered from emergency heart bypass surgery.

“My difficulty in committing to another term that would begin 15 months from now is in continuing to undertake such a demanding job at the age of 78,” he wrote. “I can take some time away from the job — but people should understand that the job of Mayor never lets you go.

“And Bette and I now have four small grandchildren who occupy a large part of our lives and our hearts. Selfishly, I want them to remember me.”

The seasoned politician has served two, four-year terms as Wilmington's mayor, and in the early 1980s was a New Castle county councilman. His longest tenure was as head of the Riverfront Development Corp. for 20 years before running for mayor.

Purzycki's accomplishments

County Executive Matt Meyer, who earlier this year announced his bid for Delaware governor, said historically the county and city have had a contentious relationship, but with Purzycki at the helm, the two politicians were able to develop a "historic partnership."

"Together, we have created additional affordable housing opportunities by eliminating red tape and combining our Section 8 Housing Voucher programs," Meyer said in a news release. "We have addressed homelessness by collaborating to create and sustain the Hope Center. And we saved taxpayers millions of dollars in legal fees by partnering to solve a 25 year-old sewer dispute."

Purzycki noted in the letter that his administration's achievements include “unparalleled economic development throughout the city” and “some of the best crime statistics in decades.” He also wrote that Wilmington has made “massive investments” in affordable housing, among others.

Carney said Purzycki has "managed our city through some of the most challenging times in recent history, guided by compassion, fairness, and a commitment to doing the right thing."

When the mayor leaves office, Carney said, "he'll be leaving city government better than he found it, with a professional, efficient city workforce focused on improving the quality of life for Wilmington residents."

RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT: Hundreds of millions in tax dollars built Wilmington's Riverfront, was it worth it?

City Councilmember Chris Johnson said he was "very happy" for Purzycki, noting that family should come first. But in the meantime, the councilman said he looks forward to getting some of the initiatives he's worked on with the administration across the finish line.

"We have a lot to do in terms of our neighborhood stabilization work, especially on the West Side and East Side, and also in terms of continuing to really settle on our public safety strategy," Johnson said. "2024 is going to be a great year for the city. We have a lot to look forward to."

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, who worked with Purzycki on the development of the Riverfront when he was governor, said "Wilmington is a better place to live and work today because of Mike."

Wilmington mayoral candidates

Purzycki acknowledged in his letter that his decision will be “letting some people down.” He wrote that his successor should be a “qualified and effective chief executive who will remove disabling politics and self-dealing from the role of governance.”

“While many seek to be mayor,” he wrote, “few seem to appreciate the skills and experience needed to do the job.”

Former City Treasurer Velda Jones-Potter is running for mayor in 2024. She lost to Purzycki in the 2020 Democratic primary.

She and the mayor are bitter political rivals. The mayor and the city sued Jones-Potter in 2019, accusing her of playing politics with city funds. She later countersued.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki won't run for reelection in 2024