RESPONSE TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S DECISION TO STAND BY CONVICTED CHAIR
- Daniel Willis
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
GEORGETOWN, DE — The Sussex County Republican Party Executive Committee has released the following statement in response to the Spotlight Delaware report revealing that Sussex County Democratic Party Chair, Jeff Balk, a man convicted of multiple felonies for sexually abusing minors, continues to hold office with the full support of his local party. Court records and prior reporting confirm that Balk was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sodomy, deviate sexual assault, and felony theft. Testimony in the case revealed that Balk molested five boys between the ages of 13 and 15, and that victims testified he sexually abused them more than 60 times over a period of several years.
Earlier this week, the Sussex County Democratic Party’s executive committee issued a letter declaring that they had “no intention of abandoning our chair.” The decision came after Delaware Democratic State Chair Evelyn Brady publicly called for Balk’s resignation following renewed public scrutiny of his criminal record.
“The Sussex County Democratic Party put their position in writing, they said they had ‘no intention of abandoning our chair.’ But, when you choose to stand behind a man convicted of crimes against children, you are not showing loyalty, you are closing the door on every survivor who ever found the courage to speak up. They didn’t just look the other way; they turned out the light and pulled the curtain on justice itself,” said Daniel Willis, County Chair of the Sussex County Republican Party.
Willis emphasized that this matter goes far beyond political affiliation and speaks to the moral character expected of anyone in public leadership.
“While these crimes occurred more than forty years ago, time alone does not erase their severity or the responsibility of those who now choose to overlook them,” Willis said. “There is a difference between completing a sentence and being fit to lead. Forgiveness and rehabilitation are personal virtues, but leadership is a public trust, and some acts, especially those committed against children, permanently shatter that trust. This is especially true for a county chair, whose role often includes working alongside the youth wing of their party, young people ages 18 to 35, and even engaging with high school students through civic clubs and mentorship programs. The idea that someone with this history could occupy a position that interfaces with young people is not only unacceptable, it is dangerous.” The Sussex County Republican Party Executive Committee reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership at every level of public service. |