Five candidates vie for three seats on Greenwood Council this Saturday

The Greenwood Town Council election will take place this Saturday from 1 to 7 p.m. at town hall, located at 100 W. Market St. Donald Donovan, Mike Moran, Daniel Nelson, Pamela Tijerino, and Randy Willey are running for three seats on the Council. The following are the candidates’ (in alphabetical order) answers to the Stars’ questions.

DONALD DONOVAN:

1. Name, current profession, and how long have you been a resident of Greenwood? 

Donald Donovan. I am a retired DuPont employee, where I worked for 45 years and a current 60-year member of the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Company. I currently hold a seat as a Greenwood Town Councilman. I am a lifelong resident of Greenwood. 

2. Have you held a position of public office prior to running in this election, and if so, what position did you hold? 

Yes. I served on Greenwood Town Council for more than 25 years, the majority of that time representing Council as Mayor. I have also held the office of President in our local fire department. I believe this long-standing leadership experience is a strong asset to our town. 

2.5. Have you previously worked with members of the current council? If so, who and doing what? 

I previously served alongside Councilman Nelson and Councilman Moran as fellow council members. I also worked with Councilman Moran through the Fire Department as members of the Board of Directors. I have known Mayor Cessna and Councilman Massey since they were elected to Council last year and have worked with them in that capacity. 

3. Why do you feel compelled to run, and what do you bring to the table for consideration? 

I am running to continue the work of stabilizing and correcting the town’s financial situation. This includes establishing proper policies and procedures to prevent future (alleged) staff negligence, ensuring audits are completed in a timely manner, keeping all accounts current, and putting a strong system of checks and balances in place. My experience and understanding of town operations allow me to contribute steady leadership during this critical time.

4. If you are elected into one of the open positions, what are your short-term goals in terms of benefitting the town of Greenwood? Long-term goals? 

My goals include transparency, financial stability, and maintaining a positive relationship with the community. I want Greenwood to have strong, reliable, knowledgeable, and dedicated staff, council members, and police officers. Long-term, I hope to see positive and responsible growth for the town.

5. What do you believe to be the number one concern with the town of Greenwood, and how would you go about addressing it? 

The financial stability of the town is my primary concern. We are currently reconciling accounts that were not properly calculated (since 2023) and completing overdue audits (five years worth) with professional firms that were hired to get Greenwood back on track. Accurate financial data is essential to proposing a realistic budget and operating responsibly. Investigators uncovered discrepancies that Council was previously unaware of the numbers simply were not matching. With trained and dedicated staff, professional accountants, and dedication from Council, these issues can be corrected so we can move forward and continue to grow our town.

6. Are there any comments you’d like to make about current state of the town, why people should vote for you, or if there are any concerns you hope gets addressed whether you do or do not get elected? 

The work being done by hired forensic accountants must be completed for the betterment of Greenwood. Council has worked hard and tirelessly to uncover and address the town’s financial issues. In order to move forward and grow, the town’s finances must be in order. I have many years of leadership experience and a long history of serving Greenwood. I care deeply about our town and its residents, and I want what is best for Greenwood-now and in the future. 

Greenwood deserves steady, experienced leadership. I’ve spent a lifetime serving this town, and I want to help ensure its finances are sound, its government is transparent, and its future is strong.

MIKE MORAN

1. Name, current profession, how long have you been a resident of Greenwood? 

Michael Moran Jr., Mechanic for Sussex County, and I have been a resident of Greenwood for 36 years.

2. Have you ever held a position of public office prior to running in this election, and if so, what position did you hold?

Yes, I was on the town council for six years and during those years I have been vice mayor and intern mayor.  I am currently the secretary.

2.5: Have you previously worked with members on the current council? If so, who, and doing what?

I have not worked with any of the members of the current council.

3. Why do you feel compelled to run, and what do you believe you bring to the table for consideration?

I feel compelled to run because I care about the town and the people in it. I believe that I can bring sensibility to the table and be the voice for the people of the town. I feel that I can make decisions that I feel will be the best for the town and the town people.

4. If you are elected into one of the open positions, what are your short-term goals in terms of benefitting the town of Greenwood? Long-term?

The short-term goals are to finish the goals that are already started. The long-term goals are to make sure that the audit is completed every year, that the budget is balanced, transparency to the people, sidewalk project and work on getting another police officer to have more coverage. I would also like to bring more businesses into the area.

5. What do you believe to be the number one concern with the town of Greenwood, and how would you go about addressing this issue? Why do you believe this?

I believe the number one concern with the town of Greenwood is the audit and the budget. I believe it should be addressed by making sure the audits are completed for all the past years and update. Also, to make sure all the accounts are up to date and have current balances and that we are operating on the current budget and that it is correct. I believe this because it is the best thing that I know to do for the town.

6. Are there any comments you’d like to make about the current state of the town, why people should vote for you, or if there are any concerns you hope gets addressed whether you do or do not get elected?

People should vote for me because I make all my decisions that I feel will be the best for the residents and the town.

DAN NELSON      

1. Name, current profession, how long have you been a resident of Greenwood? 

Daniel Nelson, I have worked at the Delaware Department of Labor for over 20 years primarily as a Labor Law Enforcement Officer in the Division of Industrial Affairs. My wife Jennifer and I bought our house on Governors Avenue in Greenwood in June 2004. We have raised our two sons here and called Greenwood home ever since.

2. Have you ever held a position of public office prior to running in this election, and if so, what position did you hold?

Yes! I have had the honor of serving on Greenwood Town Council in the past. I stepped away around 2013-2014 due to the demands of raising a young family.

2.5. Have you previously worked with members on the current council? If so, who, and doing what?

I have worked with Councilman Donnie Donovan as Mr. Donovan was also on council when I previously served as a Councilperson.

I know Councilman Mike Moran as both our oldest played Little League baseball together and he and I both were active in coaching during that time. Mr. Moran also resides on Governors Avenue so we have known each other as neighbors too.

I know Mayor Brandon Cessna as a neighbor as well since he also resides on Governors Avenue, but have only worked with Mr. Cessna in the capacity of Council since my appointment onto the Council in May 2025.

I know Councilman Anthony (AJ) Massey as he has been a voice in Greenwood happenings and politics for several years, but similar to Mayor Cessna, I have only worked with Mr. Massey on Town Council since my appointment in May 2025.

3: Why do you feel compelled to run, and what do you believe you bring to the table for consideration?

Greenwood’s Council meetings are typically put on Facebook and YouTube. In watching the early 2025 meetings, information was conveyed that raised deep and abiding concerns, primarily that town audits had not been completed since 2019! The town charter and state municipal law requires they be completed yearly. To my knowledge, this had never been an issue in Greenwood’s past. In my previous council experience, the audits and audit reports were completed yearly with minimal fanfare and cost to the Town. In March 2025, a standing council member resigned and the information about the audits compelled me to put my name in for an appointment to finish out that Council members term and the Council was gracious enough to appoint me for the remainder of the term. 

Since the May 2025 appointment, I have worked with the other council members to ensure the town audits are caught up as required by the charter and state law and to reduce unnecessary costs to the town taxpayers. The 2020 was finally completed at the total cost of $45,000 and the 2021 at a cost of over $30,000! The standard audit for a town the size of Greenwood is $15,000. This is just part of the knowledge I bring to the table is the importance of completing basic town financial duties so the town does not incur unnecessary costs in its daily functions.

4. If you are elected into one of the open positions, what are your short-term goals in terms of benefitting the town of Greenwood? Long-term?

Due to the town’s financial issues related to not completing audits, my short term and long term goals are to ensure town staff continues working with the forensic accountant the town hired to both reconcile the town financials first and once that is completed to ensure all monies and how they were spent in the last 4-5 years is fully known. This benefits the town in the most important ways such as: Allowing the town to apply for and receive low interest loans from government agencies for infrastructure projects, applying for grants and be eligible to receive them and receiving monies from our local legislators from Town infrastructure projects.

Additional goals I will focus on that benefit the town are to ensure our police department gets the resources for their accreditation and updating the town’s employee handbook. Towns that have a strong and robust local Police Force ensure public safety and response times to concerns. Also, an employee handbook that is updated and clear assist in employee satisfaction and retention. These are two items in building a strong team to serve the residents of Greenwood.

Lastly, another both long term and short term goal is work on putting barriers in place to ensure the town never ends up in the financial situation it is in due to (alleged) staff negligence.

5. What do you believe to be the number one concern with the town of Greenwood, and how would you go about addressing this issue? Why do you believe this?

The number one concern is the town financials or, put simply, money and people should be concerned! Again, this issue is being addressed with the hiring of the forensic accounting firm the town hired to reconcile the town’s financial records so the outstanding audit years can be completed. I want to ensure that work comes to completion. I believe this is the most important item because Greenwood is going to grow and as I stated earlier, the town financials affect the government loans, grants and monies from local legislators for projects that will be needed for the growth.

6. Are there any comments you’d like to make about the current state of the town, why people should vote for you, or if there are any concerns you hope gets addressed whether you do or do not get elected?

Every issue facing the current state of the town can be corrected and brought to a good place. I truly do believe that our financial issues can be corrected through hard work and focus. It’s not always flashy and glamorous because you are talking ‘numbers’, but it can be done. 

Why should people vote for me? This work is not new to me as working for the state of Delaware. I have held positions in the Department of Labor where the unit I was part of had to resolve financial issues. In addition, having served on council in the past, I understand the high importance of ensuring the required financial duties of the town are completed. I will continue to ensure that work is completed so all other financial issues town residents are concerned about can be addressed realistically.

Whether I am elected or not, the work the forensic accountant is doing needs to come to its full conclusion. It’s the best way for Greenwood to heal financially and move forward into its bright and good future.

PAMELA TIJERINO

1. Name, current profession, how long have you been a resident of Greenwood? 

My name is Pamela Tijerino, I have been a resident of Greenwood for 65 years, born and raised here. I moved away for a few years to take care of my mother but moved back around 2000. I am retired from Kraft-Heinz after working there for 24 years, and now I am working part time at Seaford Wal-Mart as a self-checkout attendant.

2. Have you ever held a position in public office prior to running in this election, and if so, what position did you hold?

I am a member of the Board of Adjustments currently, yes.

2.5: Have you previously worked with members on the current council? If so, who, and doing what?

I’ve never worked with them, but I grew up with Mr. (Donald) Donovon. He’s always been a friend of the family. Mike Moran I don’t know that much, and Mr. (Dan) Nelson the same way.

3. Why do you feel compelled to run, and what do you believe you bring to the table for consideration?

I look at it this way; I’ve been listening and watching and observing the stuff that’s going on in this town and I’m very disappointed. Especially the way that (the council) are running things, it’s wrong and it’s mismanaged. I’ve seen a lot of stuff come and go, and the way that our town manager was treated was really absurd. I just think the way (the council) is running this town is running it down and not doing things for the people, not doing things for the town, and not doing things to make things better here… I’m not saying I’m not going to do a miracle, but I know what’s wrong and what’s right, and right now things are being done wrong.

4. If you are elected into one of the open positions, what are your short-term goals in terms of benefitting the town of Greenwood? Long-term? 

The long terms would be getting a grocery store in this town and getting the town to flourish, getting people involved and coming to the meetings. My short terms would be I’d like to get the taxes lowered, and even with the trash and water bill; they keep raising that up and I’d like to get that (lowered) and help the people in town.”

5. What do you believe to be the number one concern with the town of Greenwood, and how would you go about addressing this issue? Why do you believe this? 

The number one issue is that we’re in a time right now where people are struggling. They keep raising the taxes, and people don’t know it; they won’t know it till they get that bill. And when they get that bill, they won’t be able to afford it. I’d like to get things in this town where we don’t have to raise the taxes on people.

6. Are there any comments you’d like to make about the current state of the town, why people should vote for you, or if there are any concerns you hope gets addressed whether you do or do not get elected?

A lot of people need to know more information. The town is not doing that; they need to put out more. If I don’t get elected, I’d like to see things done and done right. The people in this town are not really realizing what’s going on, they’re just hearing rumors and stuff like that… It’s to the point where (the council) is not doing stuff for the public, and I’d like for the public to get more involved and be more vigilant about everything going on in this town. I want to see a better town being ran then what’s being ran now.

RANDY WILLEY  

1. Name, current profession, how long have you been a resident of Greenwood? 

My name is Randy L. Willey, I was born 3/29/1959 so I’m 66 years old, and I reside right here in the middle of Greenwood, one street over from where the school sits and the main road. Born and raised there, parents had property there, they built their house and I was fortunate enough to be able to buy two pieces of land on either side of the house. I built a small house next to (my parents) house and put my shop and lawncare business on the other side. Been here a long time, been in business for 41 years full-time under Randy’s Lawncare Company LLC. I’ve been a resident of Greenwood for 50 years and was up in Felton for about 15 before moving back down here six years ago.

2. Have you ever held a position of public office prior to running in this election, and if so, what position did you hold?

I was on the town council in Greenwood from 1993 or 1994, ran one year prior and lost by three votes. So, from 1994, I had to get off in 2005, so just shy of 12 years. When I first got on I was doing the recreation department, and after a couple years I took over as vice mayor for five years and then served as mayor for three years. Since I’ve been back in Greenwood, I’ve been head of the Election Board, and I sit on the Board of Adjustments for the town.

 2.5: Have you previously worked with members on the current council? If so, who, and doing what?

“I worked with Donny (Donald Donovan), I was on the council before he was back in the day, but he’s stayed on a lot longer than I have. I think it was a couple of years before I asked him to come run, and we weren’t the greatest friends, but we knew each other. So, we worked together for about eight years.

Willey also mentioned that he helped campaign for current mayor Branden Cessna during the last election.

3. Why do you feel compelled to run, and what do you believe you bring to the table for consideration?

For me, to the public, at least 40-50 percent of them know me, they know whatever I say is coming from what I believe, not anything I heard or any personal reasons. I’ve been watching what’s happening on the council, and I’ve not liked it. I’m going to come straight forward (to people), I’m very honest about it, I don’t plan on fixing all the problems. It can’t be done. But if people want to talk to me, I’m there anytime, I’m out there every day working. I’m always available. When I was on the council I think I did a very good job, it was respectable, and we got along with everyone. I think trying not to fight amongst ourselves is the biggest issue; we’ve got to come to common ground. 

4. If you are elected into one of the open positions, what are your short-term goals in terms of benefitting the town of Greenwood? Long-term?

Well, the long term goal would be getting the taxes reduced. But that can’t come till the end of next year. So that’s one of the things, that’s the long term goal, and if that means we have to make cuts somewhere, we have to make some cuts. Hopefully by the end of this coming year, the council members will be getting along better socially. Short term goal? I guess it would be getting this mess behind us between the council and the town manager that has been suspended. It has to end, it has to be resolved; if they have to get together and come to some sort of settlement, then please let’s do it. That’s the main thing that’s looming over us now; you can’t get anything done when nobody talks to each other and there’s lawsuits pending. 

5. What do you believe to be the number one concern with the town of Greenwood, and how would you go about addressing this issue? Why do you believe this?

I guess my biggest issue is I want to see the people have a little bit more say at the meetings… I want to try to get everyone back together again. We need to make it so that our town is not a laughing stock. The reasons I want to run are small ones like that, and the taxes that are going up. I want to get the taxes back down.

6. Are there any comments you’d like to make about the current state of the town, why people should vote for you, or if there are any concerns you hope gets addressed whether you do or do not get elected?

Well for one thing, I hope whoever gets on can go back and let their common sense make some decisions instead of being tugged left or right because you’re mad or not mad. I want to see this conflict that’s going on to end; and I don’t think that getting elected will fix it, but I’m hoping that getting on will bring some more common sense and more accountability for everything we’re doing. This dispute between the suspended town manager and the town has got to come to an end without bankrupting the town of Greenwood, because the people have to come first. I’m fair, I’m honest, I think I have common sense, but am I an Einstein? Certainly not. I’m not going to fix everything wrong with the town, it can’t be a quick fix, it’ll take a while, but trying to get along with one another goes a long way towards that.