On Aug. 10, for the first time since 2021, Rehoboth Beach will conduct a municipal election. There are four candidates – Suzanne Goode, Rachel Macha, Mark Saunders, Craig Thier. Regardless of your opinion of the candidates, it’s our opinion that having an election is long overdue. Community participation and civic engagement are vital parts of a functioning society.
On pages 34 and 35 of this edition of the Cape Gazette, all four candidates answer several questions on important issues facing the city. It’s a good sign that all four candidates participated without having to be convinced to do so. It means they're all engaged.
Commissioners have faced public scrutiny over their decisions a number of times since Rehoboth last had an election. A few examples include multiple Freedom of Information Act violations; the hiring of one city manager who left after 10 months; the hiring of another city manager who received a groundbreaking compensation package; increases in taxes and fees; months-long procedural delays in the construction of the new beach patrol building; and the continued halt on committee meetings.
It’s impossible to know if any of those issues would have been different if there had been an election in the past two years. However, incumbents and new commissioners alike appear to have felt emboldened to move forward with their decisions, because nobody challenged them during the election cycle.
This may not be the most important election in city history – those are almost always going to be reserved for mayoral election years – but the fact of the matter remains: All elections are important, because terms are for three years, and many future decisions will be made by whoever wins.
City residents, property owners and business owners can do their part in civic engagement by attending the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners’ Association Candidates’ Forum set for 10 a.m., Saturday, July 20, in the second-floor meeting room of the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company, 219 Rehoboth Ave. We encourage a strong turnout so voters can judge for themselves who they think is best for the city.
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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.
