Supporters call her the lone wolf. During an election night dominated by Republicans in Sussex County, Democrat Joan Deaver won a second term representing District 3 on Sussex County Council.

Deaver, the lone Democrat and first female elected to Sussex County Council, beat Republican Don Ayotte with 55.4 percent of the vote in the District 3 race. "I'm relieved, very happy and am looking forward to getting back to county council," Deaver said at her home amid a crowd of supporters after final results from 18 districts were announced around 9:40 p.m. election night.

Unofficially, Deaver finished with 11,400 votes and Ayotte had 9,182 votes.

Deaver thanked her supporters. "I have a wonderful team," she said. District 3, the fastest growing district in the county, changed this election cycle, and Deaver said she had 10,000 new voters to reach.

In District 2, incumbent Sam Wilson has also retained his seat, easily defeating Democrat Gary Wolfe and Libertarian Ronnie Fitzgerald Jr. Wilson unofficially tallied 7,821 votes to 5,299 for Wolfe and 331 for Fitzgerald.

In District 1, Republican Council President Mike Vincent ran unopposed after winning a primary against Scott Witzke.

Deaver said her first priority would be to work on extending broadband throughout the county as a strong economic development tool. She has also proposed a adequate public facilities ordinance that would require infrastructure be in place before projects could be approved.

Deaver said she has not altered in her commitment to open government; she maintains a personal website devoted to county information.

Sussex County Councilwoman Joan Deaver, left, gets a thumbs up from campaign manager Betty Deacon after winning another four-year term in District 3. (Photo by: Ron MacArthur)