Quiet negotiations take place

among manufactured homeowners

Conflict over compromise

By Kevin Spence
k.spence@capegazette.com


Manufactured homeowners say they are working quietly to come up with a compromise before the Legislature recesses Monday, June 30. Following a bitter meeting that took place between homeowners and park owners in May, homeowners say they were maltreated and requested an ethics investigation into the behavior of Rep. Bob Valihura, R-Wilmington, who oversaw the talks.


In the meantime, Ed Speraw, president of the Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association, said he was given a green light for a proposed compromise on June 3, after meeting with homeowners at the Colonial East manufactured home community in Midway.


The controversy began and continues over Senate Bill 122, a measure that would allow homeowners the first chance to buy a park if it should go up for sale. The bill was passed in the Senate but it has been held in subcommittee since last year.


Speraw said he is ready to submit recent revisions of S.B. 122 – agreed upon at the June 3 meeting. He refused to disclose the revisions until he presents them to legislators and park owners in Dover.


“There was a good showing and the people unanimously agreed with me to go ahead with what we have on S.B. 122,” said Speraw.


Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, also sits on the manufactured home subcommittee. Schwartzkopf said he, subcommittee member Rep. Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, and Valihura have been meeting with homeowners and park owners to pound out a compromise.


“It is my goal to have something in place by June 30 to provide the best return on investment for park owners and give the homeowners the right to buy their homes and protect their own investments,” Schwartzkopf said. Last year, he said no deal was reached between park and homeowners. Since then, four parks have been sold – with no option in place for homeowners to buy their parks.


An ethics investigation request came after a contentious meeting when Valihura told homeowners to shut up, slammed his fist on the table and used profane language during May negotiations. Three members of the Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association sent letters to the House of Representatives Ethics Committee requesting an investigation into Valihura’s behavior.


Speraw was having surgery during the May 27 meeting, which began – and ended – at an impasse. But, after hearing about what homeowners called their disrespectful treatment at the meeting, Speraw sent a June 3 letter requesting an ethics investigation. Homeowner lobbyist John Walsh and association member Bobbi Hemmerich, who said they were both offended, sent their own letters requesting an investigation.


Walsh’s letter said, “I and my colleagues were ‘treated’ to an extended temper tantrum on the part of Mr. Valihura. . . Mr. Valihura slammed his hand down on the table at least twice, so hard that onlookers jumped; he cursed.”


“I submit to you that such behavior is unbecoming a representative of the citizens of Delaware. Do you say such behavior is?” the letter continued.


The Ethics Committee, including Speaker of the House Terry Spence, R-New Castle, House Majority Leader Richard Cathcart, R-Middletown, and Majority Whip Clifford “Biff” Lee, R-Laurel, replied to the request June 5, with its own letter to Speraw.


“It is our unanimous opinion that the conduct complained of fails to rise to the level of conduct necessitating an investigation, consideration and action by the Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives,” states the missive.


“As elected officials and leaders of the House of Representatives, we have to balance any alleged inappropriate conduct with the Constitutional burden of protecting free speech and in particular political speech and discourse,” the letter said.


The letter also referred to a public apology by Valihura – one Speraw said homeowners never received.


Calls to Valihura and Spence were not returned at press time.


Walsh remains hopeful, yet cautious, of a compromise.


“I think there is a possibility of at least getting some protection for the people in manufactured housing. There are quiet negotiations taking place.”


Our concern is we have to see it in writing. We thought we had a tentative agreement before. We have hope, but the devil’s going to be in the details,” he said.


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Conflict over compromise
Did homeowners and landowners reach a compromise?


Joe Fulgham, spokesman for the House Majority Caucus – Republicans, wrote an email saying yes.


But that drew fire from Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, who says they didn’t.


The rift began May 30, after Fulgham sent an email to the Cape Gazette saying he works for parties on both sides of the issue and that homeowners reached an agreement over selling parks at auction, based on news reports.


Not so, says Schwartzkopf, whose view has been backed up by homeowners’ association president Ed Speraw and attorney Chris White. Talks continue.


On June 4, Schwartzkopf sent Fulgham an email. “This is the third time that I know of that you contacted a reporter or radio talk show host or contacted their boss when they said or printed something negative about a member of your side of the House.


“Someone more devious-minded than me might start to think that you are trying to manipulate or intimidate members of the media,” Schwartzkopf said.


Fulgham replied June 5, saying he was shocked. “On its surface, it appears to be an attempt to intimidate a subordinate state employee from raising issues that contradict your version of events. I will not be bullied into silence nor will I abandon my responsibility to get accurate information to the press and the public,” said Fulgham.