There have been many changes in two decades since my wife and I became homeowners, taxpayers and voters in Rehoboth Beach. And as we watched many other seaside resort communities become overbuilt and homogenized by the outside pressures, our town (somehow) kept its soul. Or most of the best part of it.
Involved citizens, (mostly) diligent elected and appointed officials and hardworking city employees all helped in the fight. But over time there seems to have been one constant: Mayor Sam Cooper.
And that's why it strikes us as sheer folly to replace Mayor Cooper in the August election with, it seems, the only argument from his opponent(s) being he has been here too long. We should drain Lake Gerar, outlaw saltwater taffy, make popcorn illegal on the Boardwalk and family cookouts in the neighborhoods, and close The Back Porch Cafe under such logic.
We have a clean, safe, generally well run, successful city with low taxes. We are fighting to preserve our neighborhood character and expand our distinctive tree canopy. We have added to the local infrastructure with a handsome large bridge, Boardwalk replenishment, new Main Street, and municipal complex project, among others. And we now must tackle a mandated ocean outfall project, about which Sam Cooper is an expert.
Re-elect Sam Cooper in August. It ain't broke, so no need to fix it.
Stan Heuisler
Rehoboth Beach