We Have Not Yet Begun To Fight
- Daniel Willis
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
by Daniel Willis, Chair, Sussex County Republican Party
Friends,
Jeff Balk’s resignation may have ended his term as chair, but it has not ended the fight for accountability.
As American patriot John Paul Jones said, “We have not yet begun to fight.”
Because this is not just about one man stepping down — it is about an entire leadership team that stood behind him after learning the truth.
When the facts of Balk’s conviction for sexually abusing minors became public, the Sussex County Democratic Executive Committee could have chosen decency. They could have defended victims.
Instead, they defended him.
They wrote that he was a “model citizen” and a “second-chance success story.” They praised his leadership for “the growth and electoral success of the Sussex County Democratic Party.”
In other words, they put political gain over public safety.
And in their own words, they concluded, “The leadership of the Sussex Party have no intention of abandoning our chair.”
That was not courage. It was moral failure.
Those signers were:
Loretta Benson, First Vice-Chair and RD 36 Chair
Tim Garrahan, Second Vice-Chair
Valencia Hayes, Treasurer
Harry Gold, Recording Secretary
Michael Weiss, Corresponding Secretary
Mitch Crane, Parliamentarian
Joe Sakaduski, At-Large
Dick Byrne, RD 14 Acting Chair
Sue Nyden, RD 20 Chair
Jane Hovington, RD 37 Chair
Margaret Reyes, RD 38 Chair
Hunter Hastings, RD 39 Chair
Chris Calio, RD 40 Chair
Brad Conner, RD 41 Chair
Every person on this list signed their name to protect a convicted predator. They chose politics over principle and party success over the safety of children.
Jeff Balk’s resignation is not enough. If leadership still means anything, each of these individuals should also resign.
The Delaware Democratic Party must act immediately to hold them accountable. The people of Sussex County deserve leadership that values integrity, not loyalty to disgrace.
The letter these officials signed in support of Jeff Balk is attached below so every voter can read their words for themselves.
This moment should serve as a wake-up call.
This is what today’s Democratic leadership in Sussex County defines as acceptable.
This is what they call “good judgment.”
When 2026 arrives, voters should remember exactly who stood up for victims and who stood with a convicted abuser.
The Sussex County Republican Party will continue to fight for justice, accountability, and leadership rooted in moral character.
Jeff Balk may be gone, but the culture that defended him still sits in power.
Until that changes, we have not yet begun to fight.