'Exit Interview:' Linda Ratchford
The former Council President reflects on her years in office and New Castle's future
Town Topics: New Castle reached out to Linda Ratchford to discuss her two terms presiding over City Council. The now-former council president offered reflections on what New Castle has accomplished during her service, and her hopes for the future. The interview was conducted over a short series of emails, and Ms. Ratchford’s responses have been shared in full.
Town Topics (TT): Could you tell us a bit about your private career, which I understand was in marketing and management, and how you think it served you in public office?
Linda Ratchford (LR): My family has lived in New Castle for almost four decades. Before becoming active in the community and city government, I worked in marketing and customer service management roles in large companies.
Government and business are different; however, many skills—budgeting, management, customer/citizen service—are translatable. Marketing our city is important to procure grants, to set our city apart from alternatives, and focus on economic opportunities. The mindset, processes and obligations for governance require a focus on public service and a commitment to become well versed on complex issues.
TT: Prior to joining government, you were already highly involved in the city. Were there issues or efforts that played out further once you were on the council, or which informed your work on it over the last eight years?
LR: Before I became Council President, I volunteered for local nonprofits and worked on issues important to New Castle. Specifically, I donated my time and expertise to work on the Route 9 Bayshore Byway (now the national scenic Delaware Bayshore Byway), wayfinding signage and maps, community wellness initiatives, bicycle and walking trails (especially completion of Markell Trail to New Castle), beautification efforts, events—and yes, the pier and tall ships. I was very pleased to be able to continue this work in a new role as City Council President.
We are a City that relies heavily on volunteers to move us forward and make a difference. City commission members and the numerous nonprofits based here in New Castle help make our City a better place to live, work, and play. To all these people, I say thank you! And to others on the sidelines, please get involved in your community!
TT: How did you come to serve as president of City Council?
LR: Former Council President Bill Barthel resigned to become City Administrator in November 2013. I was appointed by the City Council as outlined in the City Charter to fill the open seat until the next election. I was elected in 2015 for the remaining two years of the term and re-elected in 2017 for a full four-year term. City Council later changed the charter to enable special elections.
TT: At your appointment as City Council President, you stated, "it is important to be good stewards of New Castle's heritage while working to ensure the future vitality of all New Castle's diverse neighborhoods." How do you feel this balancing act has played out over your terms as council president?
LR: I always focused on the well-being of our city—grounded in our heritage but with an eye toward the future. Some issues sparked lively public conversations.
I am proud we were able to make the city more bikeable, walkable and ADA accessible; restore our waterfront access with a tall ships pier and future fishing pier; improve our infrastructure—from downtown Delaware Street rehabilitation to Washington Park drainage to paving projects throughout the City; become a Certified Local Government for historic preservation; obtain Downtown Development District revitalization incentives; and establish a strong foundation with a Resiliency Flooding and Sea Level Rise Action Plan, a new Comprehensive Plan and a Transportation Plan Update in progress—all with the help and opinions of many.
TT: You were an early proponent of First State Historic Park. Then, as president, you saw it become reality. How were you and the council involved in that process, and - now about five years on - what do you think of the results?
LR: The late Mayor Don Reese is widely recognized for helping to bring the First State National Historical Park to fruition after many years working with the state and Senator Tom Carper’s office. I along with many others actively supported these efforts.
New Castle’s significance in history, central location, and city support have been critical to maintaining focus and funding for the Visitor’s Center here versus the other sites spread throughout the state. Renovations have begun on the Sheriff’s House to make it the central contact station. Our relatively young national park has yet to reach its potential. With increased regional travel, visibility of Delaware in the national spotlight and improved park facilities plus the many amenities in our beautiful city, I expect the park to become more popular and have an increased presence in our city.
TT: Could you share your thoughts on the City Campus project?
LR: The City Campus project is still in the exploration stage. I expect the new Council will resume discussions in the near future to carefully consider options and costs.
For a small City, we have lots of buildings. Employees and service points are spread out making it inconvenient for our residents and limiting the ability to share costs and equipment. Except for the newer police station and MSC complex on Municipal Boulevard, the buildings have limited functionality with safety, security, space and technology issues and can’t realistically be retrofitted to address needs. Multi-purpose meeting space to better accommodate public meetings would be beneficial to the community.
TT: In marketing the city, how do you address the various trade-offs that come with positioning the city's brand? As an example, consider the influx of augmented reality gamers who are drawn by the same historical sites and natural spots the city promotes, but for at least partly different reasons. How do we embrace – and prosper alongside – tourism and “non-traditional” tourism in New Castle?
LR: I have always believed the City should be welcoming to all who wish to enjoy our many treasures in a respectful manner. Sustainability, balance, and livability need to be critical elements in our approach. We are a small, authentic, historic river town and should lead with our brand and build on our diversity and strengths. However, just saying come look at our “old stuff” does not fully express the breadth of what we have to offer or more importantly our relevance to the past and the future. Visitors are looking for varied experiences. Their interests need to be captured in terms of the stories we tell in our historic buildings, in gardens and on the cobblestones; unique food and beverage services; specialty stores; interactive games for families; arts; entertainment; outdoor recreation, etc. We are fortunate to have museums, other nonprofits and retail establishments doing creative things that benefit both residents and visitors.
TT: City Council has some very persistent critics whose accusations range from mundane to criminal. As someone who has served the city for a while, is this new? And if even local politics have become more fractious, why do you think that is?
LR: It is unfortunate that sometimes, some people feel left out; those feelings have probably existed forever. However, I can tell you everyone everywhere receives the same high level of city services. As a City that prides itself on being responsive, people should not hesitate to reach out to staff or Mayor and Council to express their concerns.
TT: The most literal aspect of your role as Council President - presiding - has been profoundly affected over the last 13 months by the Coronavirus pandemic. What was it like adjusting to digital governance, and how do you feel the city has handled the local effects of the crisis?
LR: I think the City has done a very good job of keeping citizens and employees safe while continuing to provide a high level of services. Some approaches had to change to meet CDC guidelines but work carried on and the end result was similar. There are pros and cons to both in-person and zoom meetings and I expect the City will try to combine options in the future. Having to cancel so many city events and social gatherings was heartbreaking to all of us but we are a resilient community looking forward to post-pandemic life.
TT: What do you think New Castle's upcoming challenges and opportunities will be in the next few years? What would you like to see new or improved on in the next ten?
LR: With increased traffic, three state highways that traverse our city and nearby major arteries, transportation will continue to be a hot topic. Reducing truck and cut-through traffic would be high on the list. We still need to continue efforts to continue to make New Castle more walkable and bikeable—e.g. improved route 9 corridor to better link neighborhoods to downtown, less stressful way to join Markell Trail to Battery Park, traffic calming to reduce speeds, etc. I am optimistic the City Transportation Plan Update being led by WILMAPCO will produce results.
Continued improvements in city infrastructure—undergrounding utilities, paving streets, improving storm drainage—are always important.
Our downtown needs to be more vibrant. There is a rule of thumb that you need at least 5-10 restaurants and 5-10 retail shops to be a visit, dine, and shop destination. New Castle is a growth market with regional access to potential customers within a 30-minute drive. With the opening of the National Park Service Sheriff’s House Visitor Center, improving economy, city offerings and increasing popularity of the Harriett Tubman and Delaware Bayshore Byways, I think this will happen in the long run.
TT: So, what is next for Linda Ratchford, private citizen?
LR: I am taking some time to relax, work on my house and garden and visit friends and family I haven’t seen due to the pandemic. I will always support this beautiful city—my hometown.
TT: Lastly, in a few words, what would you like to define your time as City Council President, or how would you like it to be remembered?
LR: I would like to be remembered as a leader who brought people together, tackled tough issues and helped to make New Castle a better place.
Thanks to Ms. Ratchford for her time and eloquent reflections, and for her service to the city.