"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer."

John F. Kennedy

About Phil Gross 

My Values 

​​I was born in 1962, in Wilmington. Our my Mother's family owned and ran a family lighting business in Wilmington known as Grossman Electric and later know as Gross Lighting when my father took it over in the 70's. I had gone to Pilot School and Sanford for grade school and Delaware Technical and Community College, University of Pennsylvania, Haverford Evening Adult Education for Business Management, Finance, Marketing, Color Line and Design.. I was non declared as I knew the business world was for me and wanted to start from the bottom and move up.


I worked summers for the family business and then after a couple of years of living in Philadelphia working for various companies found myself back in Delaware. I began my over 30 year career at our families business in 1984 and remained there until the devastating fire in 2013 that destroyed not only the business but also my apartment above. At that point, I needed to find a place to call home, so I chose Old New Castle. Old New Castle gave me peace and I was in love with what it had to offer.


I was lucky enough to be hired by the Clarion Hotel as a front desk clerk as I needed a job fast and didn't have a vast amount of work experience other than my business. I quickly moved up to sales manager. After about 3 years, I realized that retail was calling me to come back, so I left. 


In the Fall of 2016, I was offered and took a position with Dollar Tree as a corporate/management trainee.


I am happy and very proud to call the City of New Castle my home.


Below are some of civic and social accomplishments:
In the City of New Castle:

Involved with the Alliance, Separation Day, A day in New Castle, River Ride and various smaller committees. 

Outside the City of New Castle

​8/2009 – Present: Run several Meetup social, business and music groups

7/2011 - Present: Run Green Drinks Of Delaware (an environmental group)
8/2011 – Present: Blue Rocks Stadium  Wilmington, DE
Co-organizer of the Judy Johnson Memorial Event

8/2011 – Present: Delaware Social Network – Meetup.com Groups
Organizer and event planner

1/2012 – Present: New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
Group Leader – Referral Group – Ambassador
5/2008 - 6/2011: Blue Rocks Baseball Stadium  Wilmington, DE
Leader – Booster Club
5/1984 - 5/2000: Murray Comic Club (Mummers Organization) Philadelphia, PA.
Asst. Parade Marshall - Sergeant at Arms - Treasurer - Vice-president - President
5/1984 - 5/2000: Happy Wanderers (Clown Alley 8) Philadelphia, PA.
Sergeant at arms - Treasurer - Vice-president - President - Professional Clown
1995 – 2000: Jewish Community Center Wilmington, DE

1989 - 1994: President of the Downtown Business Association
Singles and Meetup Social group leader and event planner (Current)
New Castle County Chamber Ambassador (2016 - 2017)
Jewish Community Center Board Member (1998 - 1999)


General Accomplishments and affiliations:
#1 Lighting Store in 1990 Delaware Today
#2 and #3 Lighting Store The News Journal Readers Pole
Sports Awards—wrestling, cross country, baseball and Presidential Fitness Award
Jr. Achievement Award – Project of the Year Commendation  1987
New Castle Jaycee’s 2014-present
New Castle County Chamber of Commerce  2000-present
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce 1990-present
The Apollo Business Networking Group  1997-present
Delaware Social Network 2013-present
Delaware Business Network 2014-present
ALA, American Lighting Association 1999-2013
Jr. Achievement instructor 1984-1988

  • Family comes first. 
  • Equality and pride.
  • Integrity matters.
  • Justice should prevail. 
  • Service above self. 
  • Honesty is a given. 
  • Humility is a gift. 
  • Bipartisanship is a must. 

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For City Council

Phil Gross