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"We have substantial issues on our
agenda and we have to move forward," he told Delaforum. "I have
spoken to Councilman Weiner and Councilman Abbott and asked them
to find a reasonable way to resolve their disagreement. Both
have made a good faith effort to do so."
As previously reported by Delaforum,
Weiner regarded a letter that Abbott had sent to 560
constituents as constituting a "personal attack" on him and his
record. The letter sought support for Abbott's position in
opposition to splitting Greenville at the freight railroad which
bisects the community and consigning the southern portion of
that area, including Westover Hills, to Weiner's district.
Delaforum incorrectly reported that
Coons, in a memo to county auditor Richard Blevins, had said
that Abbott should reimburse the county for the cost of postage
used to send out the letter, approximately $190.. Actually,
the memo was from Blevins to Coons. In it, the auditor said
that after reviewing the contents of the controversial letter at
Coons's request he
concluded that it "does not convey information that furthers
county concerns but, rather, it appears to be a personal plea
for public support for the position that he (Abbott) was elected
to."
Coons
said he does not intend to pursue the issue further nor bring it
before Council's executive committee, as previously had been
suggested that he might do.
Abbott, through Jeffrey Schlerf, his
representative on the redistricting commission, had opposed
ceding part of his Third
District to Weiner's Second District. Schlerf advanced a
proposal which would have moved the Rockford-Kentmere section of
Wilmington to the Second District. The commission, however,
adopted the original proposal, by a 5-1 vote, which indicates it
is highly likely that that will be the version which County
Council approves.
Under that plan, Abbott is slated pick up some
territory along the state's arc near Newark. Redistricting goes
into effect with the 2002 election. That is the only one it is
expected to affect since a state law calls for County Council to
be expanded with new districts drawn before the 2004 election.
Abbott said that he is satisfied the
dispute is over and that he will respond by letter to the
complainant explaining his position on the basic issue. Weiner
also indicated satisfaction.
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