Hi Everyone!

My name is Jon, and I bought Dempsey's Service Center this year from the original owners. I saw a post here asking about us and figured I'd say hi and post some feedback based on what I was reading regarding prices and some things you might not know about me in particular.

1. Yes I don't come from a car background. I've loved cars forever but I've spent the last 15 years working in technology. Like a lot of people I was laid off in July of 2025 and decided instead of trying to get another tech gig I wanted to follow my passion. I've been taking my cars to Dempsey's for over 16 years and when I found out the brothers were going to either sell it or close I made an offer to buy it. I've been learning the industry since then.

2. I'm a Delaware local. I moved here in 2004, went to UD, worked at JP Morgan for a time and live in Claymont. When people hear "Wall Street" they tend to think NYC. Nope!

3. Prices...yikes. Yes, I'll be honest, prices did go up. When I bought the place there was a few major pieces of equipment that needed to be upgraded (our alignment rack was 44 years old!) and I also gave EVERYONE who worked there a raise. In a lot of shops mechanics are paid Flat Rate, meaning they're only paid a certain amount of hours for every job they do. Fun fact, most places pay a mechanic half an hour to do your oil change, which is what helps make them cheap. If a mechanic doesn't get 40 hours of work then they don't get paid 40 hours. I think that's gross, so we don't do that anymore. My guys all get a living wage, 401K with company match, health insurance and the same time off policy I enjoyed in corporate America. I believe in treating people well and it's a source of pride for me that everyone who worked for Arnie and Curt Dempsey stayed on after I bought the place even though any of them could go to any other shop and find work.

Past that prices for everything we buy are going up too. When I bought the shop a barrel of oil was $750, it's over $1300 today. We also use good parts from the local suppliers, NAPA and Federated. On the positive I've been actively working with my suppliers to get oil change prices down. We're currently at $125 for a 5 quart vehicle and I think I'll be at $115 pretty soon.

Any way, I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm not a wall street private equity Barron, I'm a guy who loves car, has lived in Delaware for over 20 years now and wanted to do something local and keep the shop he'd been brining his cars to years going. Along the way I've gotten to meet some great people learn a whole lot about a new industry and make myself a part of the community in a way my last gig didn't allow for. I'm posting from my actual reddit handle so you can all see I'm just a normal fellow. If you're in the market to for a mechanic I hope you'll consider us.

Best

-Jon (& Chrissy the Lab)

PS I hope everyone who visits the website likes it. I built it myself and it's one of the things I'm stupidly proud of. :)

"1. What is your stance on AI, and more importantly, the data centers being built/proposed in Delaware, as well as their impact on energy and water supplies and increase in bills for Delawareans?

I am for the new bill AOC is hoping to pass through the house and into the Senate. This is a moratorium on building of data centers in the US until environmental impacts can be understood. Delaware DOES NOT have the infrastructure currently to support these at all. We already import 45%-55% of our electricity. 

1. What is your stance on the mass surveillance and Flock cameras?

Hard pass on Flock cameras. I think there is a world where they could have been positive for catching human trafficking and kidnappings. The problem is humanity. I do not believe our current agencies have the integrity required for this type of constant surveillance and believe it would be harmful. I also have read up on cases where they are being used by law enforcement to stalk their own domestic partners making this a big issue for domestic violence. That is a very big issue for me. 

1. What are you stances on LGBTQ+ in Delaware?

Personal experiences of my Dad hiding who he was for years and watching him finally acknowledge being gay and the shift in him since has given me such a personal perspective on the need for equality. I have always believed in equality but recognize why the laws to protect it are so important. 

1. Where on the political scale do you fall? Would you consider yourself closer to the DSA, or the current Democrats?

You know I've worked very hard to not define myself in this way. I like to take issue by issue and evaluate it. I think it's the engineer in me but I can guarantee I will not be that Senator just blindly voting the party line. That being said I tend towards the DSA stances in most areas. I'd say I'm a hybrid between the 2. 

1. Do you have an opinion on the administrative bloat when it comes to Delaware schools, and how to tackle funding issues so that it goes to schools and not just the excessive amount of administrators? Would you consider promoting the consolidation of school districts in Delaware to help tackle that bloat?

I have not dug into this issue entirely, more because I'm running for a federal position and this is out of my control. That being said, I'm also not that person to point a finger and say not my problem. My kids are in Delaware public schools. Just because I don't have control doesn't mean I don't still have a voice. I would have no problem discussing the fact that the State Auditor and Treasurer should look into this and start seeing where our budget money is actually going. I'm not sure about how consolidation would work across the state but I'm not against joint budgeting. Especially when you evaluate the way Kent and Sussex seem to be overlooked in how Delaware focuses on programs. 

I hope this helps clarify my stances. All the best. 

Mary Louve

Your candidate for the US Senate for Delaware"

Update****

I told Mary I posted her answers on Reddit, and she started her own AMA - https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/s/7i1lhmsNVt

Location: 540 Ratledge Road, Middletown, DE 19709

Jurisdiction: Unincorporated New Castle County, NOT the Town of Middletown

PLUS REVIEW TOMORROW

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Approximately 2:00 PM

In person: Haslet Armory, Room 133

122 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. South, Dover, DE 19901

Join by Microsoft Teams:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/21074077766653?p=Tz4iT8WIGQt9gXv6cB

PLUS agenda:

https://stateplanning.delaware.gov/plus/agenda/2026/20260902-agenda.pdf

Public comment is allowed after the agency discussion, up to 3 minutes per person.

_____

New Castle County itself called this plan “Unacceptable at this time” and identified unresolved traffic, building size, open space, parking and water recharge issues.

Then it gets more concerning.

Schell Brothers’ attorney, Shawn Tucker, previously handled New Castle County land use matters, helped rewrite the County’s Unified Development Code and later managed the Land Use Department.

He challenged the County’s interpretation of the clubhouse use. After reviewing his correspondence, the County said it “reconsidered” its position and withdrew three objections.

The project engineer, KCI Technologies, is also doing government engineering work for New Castle County and DelDOT while representing Schell on this project.

None of this automatically proves corruption.

But when a developer’s attorney formerly ran the department, the County reverses its position after his intervention, and the project engineer is simultaneously working for agencies involved in development review, the public has every right to ask about conflicts, disclosures, recusals and the appearance of impropriety.

I’m sending this to the New Castle County Ethics Commission for review.

Hello, Conspiracists! 👽🤙🏼 CONCON 2026 is happening! 🛸

Join us October 18 for an all-inclusive conspiracy convention inspired by the comedy mockumentary The Conspiracists! - A Delaware based film that inspired this event!

🎟️ Tickets + vendor registration are now available!
Hit the link to join the conspiracy.

Link to ConCon EXPO

Anybody wanna just kick a soccer ball around? Just to keep moving and get a feel for the ball again?

What the title says, I'm looking and applying everywhere for 100% remote part-time job...I can ONLY do part-time jobs bcuz I have other IRL commitments.

My background: customer service, fraud detection, transaction monitoring, call center work, data entry, billing, medical reception (check-in/check-out work) HIPPA, Appointment scheduling, insurance verification, etc. admin lvl and operations stuff basically. If there's a SOP to go off of, I can do it. I've also did freelance recruitment sourcing as well.

So yeh if anyone can give me active listings for online 100% remote

OR

In-person part-time only (I can only work 20hrs per week MAX) in-person manual labor job in a 10 mile radius MAX from my Brennan Estates, Bear, DE location pls.

Ty for those that help me - I'll buy y'all a drink or coffee.

Please keep an eye out for this guy around the Christiana/Newark area

Hello all, there’s a giant bald faced hornet nest in the tree in the front yard of my home. It’s right next to my front porch, and we have already noticed a lot of bald faced hornets recently until spotting this (it was well hidden by leaves). We rent, and were told that this is our responsibility. Does anyone have any recommendations of affordable and reliable local pest control? We already of course did the basic google searches but I’d much rather take advice from someone with actual experience with them rather than their own adverts. Thank you!!

Any locals know the schedule for tractor raking at Bethany Beach? Just here for a week and left the windows open last night (renting condo at Sea Colony). I know they started at 4AM this morning (sigh), and wondered if that's every day.

My wife and I started a free newsletter and website. The newsletter sends family and kid-focused events weekly. The website has birthday guides, camp guides, school guides, child care guides, and a new Right Now feature where you enter your rough location, and kids ages and what you're looking for and it tells you exactly what's going on in your area. Completely free, no ads, and we don't track or share anyone's data with anyone. We hope it's helpful! www.tinyweekends.co

Side parking lot where the kids play football

Hi Everyone,

I’m going to my first UD game this Thursday against Merrimack and I’m wondering if anyone can give me any insider tips on how to maximize my experience. Looking forward to watching the Blue Hens terrorize Merrimack!

Did anyone who applied hear if they got in or didnt get in today? Del Tech Stanton Campus?

Anyone know of any jobs hiring 15 yr olds ? My teen wants to work.

Hello I'm looking for a place in New Castle county where I can donate old eyeglasses.

I’m dealing with what I believe is an income miscalculation on a HUD/DSHA housing application, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to get it fixed.

If you’ve ever had your income counted incorrectly, or if you’ve filed a complaint about a housing program, I’d love to hear how it went for you.

Any tips, contacts, or steps you took would be super helpful.

update: i went to the gohealth in chestnut hill plaza and they were AMAZING, highly recommend. they even told me specifically never to go to the hygeia drive location haha

looking for everyone's urgent care recommendations in newark because i've been sick for over a week and work in a cleanroom environment and can't return until i'm 100% healthy again. i went to the christiana one on hygeia drive and the doctor was very dismissive. he told me take 4 ibuprofen every 8 hours and i'd be back to normal in 2 days. here i am almost a week later and i feel exactly the same. he wouldn't test me for anything. the star campus urgent care always has this doctor who refuses to fully enter the room, seems like she's a germaphobe or something. for some reason they only test me for strep when i go to that one. is the one next to staples on e chestnut hill rd any good?

edit: everyone is commenting newark urgent care but i've had the WORST experiences there lmao. went for a school sports physical and the doctor kept telling me i didn't look cut out for doing sports? then i went again with a back problem, i wasn't really able to move and had to be in a wheelchair. i was the only person waiting and waited 3 hours for the doctor to tell me to get out of the wheelchair and go home and take some ibuprofen 💀 ended up in the hospital the next day

This will be a good opportunity to directly interact with a canidate.

Have to pick up family flying in on day after Labor Day, arriving at 2 pm. From Milton, what’s the traffic prognosis heading north and suggested time to leave.

TIA