After hearing all four candidates for Rehoboth city commission at the candidates’ forum July 20, the choices are clear as to who has both the expertise to address citizen concerns and the ability to build consensus among the seven commissioners.
This year, the biggest issue is financial management. What started as concern over a budget deficit has changed, now that we know the city has in excess of $45 million! The general fund balance alone is $20 million, with another $25 million invested in T-bills. So, the focus of fiscal responsibility must be on strategic planning for the future as well as staff accountability and transparency.
No one is more capable of addressing these challenges than Craig Thier. He has 20 years of expertise in financial planning, forecasting and accounting processes. No other commissioner or candidate this year brings this much-needed expertise. Craig wants to overhaul our planning process, with increased accountability in managing budgets. He’ll advocate for multi-year projected forecasts, and using some of the surplus to offset increases in taxes and fees.
Craig has also held elective office, as a school board president, where he navigated complex issues to achieve consensus among fellow board members, communicating with the public throughout the process.
The balance among growth, tourism and livability has always been, and will also continue to be, an important issue for Rehoboth. Mark Saunders is uniquely positioned to steer the city toward smart growth. An active member of the community since 2005, he led the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners’ Association to record membership by focusing on communication with members – providing updates on key city issues and surveying to determine what citizens most want. As a result, he has a deep understanding of property owners’ concerns.
Mark’s passion for the city is palpable. He will represent us with integrity and energy to move the city forward.
On another front, I’ve heard one candidate for Rehoboth Beach commissioner telling voters that it’s time to get rid of the old guard in our city government. As a former commissioner, I can assure you there has been no old guard running the city. We’ve always had a mix of old and new commissioners. During the three years that I served (2019-22), there were five new commissioners, including myself, and two different mayors.
The city faces serious challenges. Craig Thier and Mark Saunders, both full-time city residents, are the right candidates for right now.
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