Kent County residents decry Levy Court commissioner’s social media comments

By Kaitlyn Cupelli

Daily State News

DOVER — The public comments section of the Kent County Levy Court meeting Sept. 23 saw most speakers voicing concerns about Commissioner Jody Sweeney’s recent Facebook posts.

On Sept. 18, Commissioner Sweeney stated online, “Charlie Kirk should not have been murdered for his beliefs. No person should be.”

“At the same time, we should not be raising up someone who was a college dropout and started a movement that demonizes LGBTQ and people of color, accepted a few gun deaths of children per year as the cost of having no gun control, believed women belonged in the kitchen, categorized Black women as brainless and did not believe in religious freedom.”

Further, on Sept. 21, he posted

See Comments — Page 9

Commissioner Jody Sweeney listens to public comments at the Sept. 23 Kent County Levy Court business meeting. DAILY STATE NEWS/KAITLYN CUPELLI

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that a “bunch of radical Republicans” were angry at him for his stance on condemning the violence that led to Charlie Kirk’s murder, as well as condemning the flying of the American flag at half staff and providing a military honor guard for a civilian.

“What a disgrace that the Republican party has become in succumbing to white supremacy, guns over children and violating the U.S. Constitution,” he said.

About 10 Kent County residents spoke in opposition of Commissioner Sweeney’s comments, with a dozen or so more gathered in the audience for that reason.

Kim Petters, who organized the gathering, said she feared for her safety after Commissioner Sweeney tagged her in one of his posts.

“Unfortunately, when people who are elected make comments like this, it puts ordinary people like me in danger, because there are extremists out there who believe those words,” she stated.

Ms. Petters also printed out copies of Commissioner Sweeney’s Facebook comments, including one where he said, “I AM ANTIFA,” as well as, “I will be on the Levy Court until 2028, obtain my 20 years of service and get my name on the 20-years plaque forever in place in the halls of Kent County. Then I will retire with a pension that your property taxes will pay for until both me and my wife are dead.”

“Are you butt-hurt or clenching your cheeks yet? You should be.”

Kim Luton, of Dover, said she was disappointed in Commissioner Sweeney’s comments.

“He had the opportunity to display decency at a time when political discourse is at an all-time low and emotions are at an all-time high. There was no need to make detrimental comments about his constituents or other county residents,” she stated.

Tom Horn, of Clayton, said simply that he was “disgusted” and called for an end to the rhetoric.

Commissioner Sweeney defended his comments at the meeting, stating that he was exercising his First Amendment right to free speech.

“It seems like the people (here) have indicated they have a monopoly on free speech,” he said. “The loss of free speech is the first category of a dictatorship.”

“Some people also did not like my condemnation of the president’s use of military honors for an ordinary citizen. While it’s the president’s right to do that, it’s also my First Amendment right to condemn it.”

Commissioner Robert J. Scott noted that statements made by an individual in his personal capacity do not reflect the views of the Kent County Levy Court as a whole.

“We are taking (the situation) very seriously. I don’t want anybody to think that we’re not,” he said. “We are looking into it. We are not prepared to have any kind of response this evening.”

Staff writer Kaitlyn Cupelli can be reached at kcupelli@iniusa.org.

Kim Petters, of Magnolia, presents Commissioner Jody Sweeney with a printed out copy of his social media posts at the Sept. 23 Kent County Levy Court meeting. DAILY STATE NEWS/KAITLYN CUPELLI