Among the many natural assets enjoyed by Delaware’s Cape Region is an abundance of qualified people willing to put themselves forward for public service. That’s especially evidenced now with the COVID-19-postponed Lewes election scheduled for Saturday, July 18, and the Rehoboth Beach election set for Saturday, Aug. 8. Lewes has two seats to be filled for three-year terms; Rehoboth has three.
This week our focus is on Lewes and its choices.
All five Lewes candidates bring strengths but only two will be elected. Kay Carnahan and Andrew Williams stand out as the best candidates to help shape the town’s future over the next three years. Incumbents Fred Beaufait and Dennis Reardon have served capably and with unwavering commitment for four and three terms, respectively. They well deserve the thanks we offer for their service. But it’s time for a change.
Lewes has had a rough run for the past three years. New perspectives and visions are needed. Carnahan and Williams offer that opportunity. Carnahan has amply demonstrated her commitment to the town through 19 years of service on the planning commission. That gives her deep knowledge of the community. Countless public hearings she has attended have given her great familiarity with the viewpoints of the town’s people on a wide variety of issues. She is dedicated, thoughtful and analytical, and she knows the town’s comprehensive development plan inside and out. If it’s possible to earn a seat on council, Carnahan has done that many times over.
Williams brings a younger generational perspective. A Lewes native, he comes from a long family line with public service running through its blood. He and his wife are raising their children in Lewes, they both have ties to Lewes’ single-largest employer – Beebe Healthcare – and Williams’ profession as a data analyst can certainly help inform good decisions.
If Carnahan is elected, candidate Tim Ritzert – who has familiarized himself with Lewes’ inner workings by attending lots of meetings at all levels – would be a good replacement for the planning commission seat she would vacate.
That’s our two cents. Now it’s up to the voters to show their support and appreciation for the candidates by casting their ballots.
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Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood.
