The Laurel Municipal Election will be held Thursday, March 27 from 1 to 8 p.m., in the meeting room of the Laurel Fire Hall, located at 205 Tenth Street (front entrance). Registered voters must show proof of identification.
The following are answers to the Star’s questions provided by the candidates:
Laurel Mayoral candidates
John Shwed
Name: John J. Shwed (incumbent)
Place of employment and length of time at your job? What was your career?
I retired from DuPont’s Seaford Nylon Plant in 1993 as a Technical Group Manager having served 27.5 years. From 1993 -1997 I served in the Carper Administration as the start-up CEO of the Delaware Manufacturing Alliance, an organization set up to assist Delaware’s small and medium sized manufacturing companies. I have now been employed by the Laurel School District since 2002 in a variety of assignments as a paraprofessional. I work currently in a Laurel Middle School classroom with children with Special Needs.
Are you married? If so, spouse’s name and length of time together:
Unfortunately, my wife Bobbie passed away in August of 2010. We enjoyed 47 years together and raised two daughters and welcomed four grandchildren. Now I am proud to report that I have two great-grandsons.
What do you see as the most critical issues facing the town of Laurel?
Working together, Mayor and Council need to continue their efforts to increase the wealth base for the Laurel community. By that, I mean we need new property and commercial establishments added to the tax roll so we keep taxes as low as possible while adding job opportunities and services for our citizens. 2024 has shown the current plan is yielding positive results.
Secondly, Laurel, like all American communities, has to support programs to convince young people that new opportunities provide a brighter future rather than unacceptable behavior leading to violence. Mayor and Council are actively engaged with business owners, community committees, non-profit organizations, and the Delaware Department of Justice to move Laurel in this direction.
What is the primary reason you seek to be a member of Laurel’s Mayor and Council?
I would like to serve one more term as Laurel’s mayor because I would like to see more of the projects that are in the planning stage come to fruition. I believe we have a good Mayor and Council Team in place right now. I am convinced that working together our citizens will see more economic development, improvements to town services and more recreational opportunities.
Do you have any special qualifications or interests that you feel make you a good candidate for Mayor?
I believe I have a record as a team building, caring leader. I helped establish the Laurel Senior Center on North Central A venue. I served 15 years on the Laurel Board of Education, nine as president. Working with Johnny Janosik and St. Philip’s Church I helped establish the Laurel Community Foundation which operates Hope House I and II, transitional housing for people who are temporarily homeless. The people welcomed my wife Bobbie and our six month old baby Susan to the community as I left my assignment as an Army Air Defense Artillery Officer and began my career with DuPont in 1966. Since then I have been trying to give back to the community that welcomed us.
What do you feel is the most important quality or skill needed to be a successful mayor?
One needs to be a caring, team building leader. Hire excellent administrative people like our Town Manager Jamie Smith, our Police Chief Robert Kracyla, and their staff and support them in carrying out services for our people. A caring, team building leader listens to the people, is not motivated by personal issues, and works with citizens on building a brighter future for all.
What do you feel makes Laurel a good place to live and raise a family?
Without a doubt it is the people. We are a small rural community, but we have many people with a strong work ethic, big hearts, and a willingness to volunteer to help make Laurel, a great small community, better with each passing day.
Name: Carlos Enrique Oliveras (no picture submitted)
Place of employment and length of time at your job? If retired, what was your career?
I am retired having worked in manufacturing
Are you married? If so, spouses name and length of time you have been married:
My wife’s name is Jacqueline Dunham Oliveras and we have been married for 29 years
What do you see as the most critical issues facing the town of Laurel?
Youth gang activity, violence and a failing school district.
What is the primary reason you seek to be a member of the Laurel’s Mayor?
To help the continued positive development of Laurel and find positive alternative activities to save our youth from gang affiliation.
Do you have any special qualifications or interests that you feel make you a good candidate for mayor?
I am a political organizer, community activist and currently serve as Laurel councilman.
What do you feel is the most important quality, or skill, needed to be a successful Mayor?
I feel I am a good communicator and possess leadership skills.
What do you feel makes Laurel a good place to live and raise a family?
Laurel has small town values and is a very friendly community. It is a great place to raise a family.
Ward 3 Council candidates
Jonathan Kellam, Sr.
Name: Jonathan Kellam, Sr. (incumbent)
Place of employment and length of time at your job?
I served in the United States Navy for four years I worked at DuPont and Invista in Seaford for 30 years. I also worked for the Laurel School District for four years as a para-professional and basketball/track coach.
Are you married?
I married my childhood sweetheart Marian Harris. We just celebrated our 50th anniversary on Valentine’s Day 2025.
What do you see as the most critical issues facing the town of Laurel?
We are like any other town that have critical issues and challenges. One of the challenges is to attract more businesses into our community. We have to supply infrastructure that is needed along the Route 13 corridor to sustain more businesses. Another issue is to address the lack of things for our youth to do after school until 6 or 7 p.m. We also have to address our homeless friends in or town and a drug problem that. We have the tools to handle these issues, but we as a community need to quit being stuck in silos and pull all of our resources together to make this town the great town that it can be.
What is the primary reason you seek to be a member of the Laurel Town Council?
One primary reason I want to be on the council is to help keep moving Laurel forward to becoming the great community that I know we can be.
Do you have any special qualifications or interests that you feel make you a beneficial addition to the council?
I have an associate degree in business a bachelor’s degree in human resource management, and a master’s degree in elementary and secondary school counseling. I don’t believe that I’m any more special than anyone else in town. The only thing that I can promise is that I will be truthful, honest and concerned about each and every person in our wonderful town.
What do you feel makes Laurel a good place to live and raise a family?
I’ve been a lifelong resident of Laurel for 68 years and seeing the changes that have been made over the years encourages me to work harder to be part of a better community. I want to help be an advocate for even greater change.
Name: Gregory Brandon Harris
Gregory Harris
Place of employment and length of time at your job?
Pastor of New Zion United Methodist Church (two years).
Are you married?
I am not married.
What do you see as the most critical issues facing the town of Laurel?
I feel that the young people dying is the most critical issue facing the town.
What is the primary reason you seek to be a member of the Laurel Town Council?
Fresh eyes and ideas.
Do you have any special qualifications or interests that you feel make you a beneficial addition to the council?
I feel that pastoring a church would help me be beneficial to the council.
What do you feel makes Laurel a good place to live and raise a family?
The atmosphere I believe makes it a good place to live and raise a family as well as all of the organizations that are active in Laurel making a great town better.
At-Large Council candidates
Name: Donald “Bo” Holden (incumbent)
Donald “Bo” Holden
Response submitted by candidate:
I was part of the team at DuPont Nylon Plant, Seaford, up until it closed. I was there for 19 years. I am currently employed by the state of Delaware, where I spent 10 years at North Laurel Early Academy. I am now the chief custodian. Keeping order and getting things done are my passions.
I am studying at Delaware State University, where I played football for a year. I serve on the Laurel Senior Center Board. I strive to listen and find the ways to enhance the quality of life for our seniors. I currently serve as At Large Councilman for the town of Laurel. I am running for re-election to continue to better the town.
I want to reach outside our town to locate resources so that added burdens are not placed on our taxpayers. Being raised and continuing to live in Laurel gives me a greater opportunity to connect with the people of the community and recognize the beauty and the strength of our town, as well as its needs.
Name: Laura Denise Mackey
Laura Mackey
Place of employment and length of time at your job? If retired, what was your career?
Freelance writer, tutor, artist/designer- published in The Washington Post; FORBES for Decorator Show Houses; On track certification/consultant: Family & Consumer Sciences; Classically trained: graduate of MICA, Baltimore, Md.; Ford Foundation Grant; Historic Preservation elective; co-designed Baltimore Orioles’ “Bird” mascot; Costume/wardrobe.
Are you married? If so, spouses name and length of time you have been married:
I am single, divorced, but I am a five-times aunt.
What do you see as the most critical issues facing the town of Laurel?
Laurel’s ranking at top of list of: 2025 “Poorest Town in Delaware“; 2024 “Worst Places To Live In Delaware”
The crime rate. We need to increase community efforts including: #BackTheBlue; #Back1stResponders; #StopTheCrime; #StopTheViolence.
Laurel’s historic district must be better prioritized with forward thinking for best improvements and development planning. Laurel stands as having Delaware’s largest number of buildings on the National Register Historic District. We need to improve communication to residents regarding issues such as the goals and benefits of Historic Preservation, and best practices for recycling and litter prevention. We should: Improve community culture to value & include “transplant” citizens, especially from neighboring states who not only bring their “wallets”, but their skills and talents; work with property owners ie: re: possible resources & materials for home improvement and protecting property values; inform new neighbors of town laws and fire safety, etc. as welcome initiative(s); expand awareness of the importance of the agricultural community and the need to buy local to support our local farmers.
What is the primary reason you seek to be a member of the Laurel Town Council?
To be a more available, accessible voice for town residents; to support the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and the Town Charter, as applicable; to help ensure town residents not disenfranchised in exercising their Civil Right to Vote. I will actively discourage “Voter Apathy”, “Election Apathy”, not just an ongoing “Town problem” but statewide; to help foster a sense of civic pride for Laurel to improve general quality of life; support local non-profits, religious organizations, schools, and established institutions such as Laurel Public Library, Laurel Senior Center; social service organizations/outreach groups such as A Father’s Heart; Boys & Girls Clubs; etc. as well new and future businesses.
What do you feel makes Laurel a good place to live and raise a family?
The town of Laurel is not only a good place to live for young families, but retirees, couples, and singles relocating for benefits Delaware has to offer beyond tax relief: the beautiful landscape, the access to beaches- the main attractions. Many from neighboring states know Delaware as a long-time vacation destination. These “transplants” bring not only their “wallets”, but their skills, talents & expertise. All legal resident citizens must be valued, welcomed and included if Laurel is to not only survive, but also thrive. Laurel must face change for the better to avoid the labels: “The Worst Place to Live in Delaware and after 2024, “The Poorest Town in Delaware.” Grassroots citizens’ action will be supported. Laurel’s best days can be ahead with coordinated communication and joint efforts.