Dodd Secures Decisive Victory in Dover Mayoral Race, Clinching 70% of Votes

DOVER — Ex-Mayor James Dodd achieved a resounding victory in Tuesday’s election, securing 70% of the vote in a bid to retake the position he previously occupied for four consecutive terms. The official swearing-in ceremony for Dodd is scheduled for Monday, January 1, at 6:00 p.m., and will take place at the Dover Municipal Building located at 37 North Sussex Street.

“Rescue Dover” achieved full victory, electing Claudia Toro and Sergio Rodriguez and Re-Electing Arturo B. Santana.

The “Unity For Education” slate endorsed by “Rescue Dover,” secured all three available seats on the Board of Education. The victorious candidates included Victoria Pinales with 923 votes, Washington Pro with 758 votes, and Maria Solines with 848 votes.

Four-term Dodd was first elected mayor in 2003, but started facing trouble in 2018 when Edward Correa led a successful effort to take over the Democratic municipal committee; Carolyn Blackman then defeated Dodd a year later, becoming the town’s first Black and first female mayor.

In the June Primary, Dodd competed against the incumbent Mayor Carolyn Blackman and Edward Correa. Dodd emerged with a majority of 50.6% of the votes, totaling 844. Blackman secured 24% of the votes, which amounted to 405, while Correa obtained 25%, equal to 418 votes.

Democrat Michael Scarneo, who ran independently of the aforementioned candidates, was also re-elected.

Editors Note: Results are unofficial. Early Voting and Initial Mail-In Ballots Counted and await Final Mail-In and Provisional Ballot Results.