Dewey candidates: Largely a matter of style

After more than an hour of questions and answers at Dewey's recent candidate's forum, the major difference among the three candidates running for two seats in the town's 2016 election appeared to be style. It wasn't until question 12 of 13 that the difference was put into words.

The question, coming from the audience, was short and to the point. As a member of council, how could a candidate's relationship with other council members be more collegial and cooperative?

Challenger Gary Persinger both said it was important to recognize there will be differences, but work through differences in the best interest of the town.

Incumbent Courtney Riordan agreed. "I would be as collegial and cooperative as a I can," said Riordan, giving the shortest answer of the night.

Incumbent Gary Mauler, on the other hand, said he wouldn't have a go-along-get-along attitude and that he wouldn't be afraid to ask the tough questions, even if it meant ruffling a few feathers along the way.

"Sorry," he said.

The Dewey Beach Civic League hosted its annual election forum Aug. 27 at the Dewey Beach Lions Club. By the time the event started all the seats around eight tables were taken and a small group of people was standing around the room's edges.

The format is simple enough: three-minute opening statement by each candidate followed by about a dozen questions, with a one-minute response. After a two-minute closing statement, free food, beer and wine were provided when it was all done. Emcee Rob Marshall, civic league and club member, kept things moving, and it was all done in about an hour and a half.

From the opening statements, two approaches emerged. Answering the questions or using the time to express frustration with council.

Persinger, a member of the town's planning commission and of the comprehensive plan working group, started off by giving a small bit of background after first describing himself as the who's-that-candidate candidate.

He said he's been a property owner for 30 years and that Dewey has a wide variety of challenging issues that he finds interesting. He said he enjoys challenges and the homework associated with being a part of a small group that will make important town decisions.

Riordan, a year-round resident and former mayor, said he wanted to preserve Dewey as small resort community that embraces a number of different lifestyles.

He said revising the comprehensive plan, sea level rise and flooding from Rehoboth Bay, and the future creation of a town hall were all projects that will go a long way in determining the town's future, and Riordan said he wanted to participate in the process.

Mauler, seeking his third term on council, immediately brought up an accusation against Mayor Diane Hanson that she threatened him by saying he would be sued by a town employee if he ran for council. That threat only made him more determined, he said.

Mauler then noted the town's live streaming service hadn't worked in two years – something he would return to more than once – and said he would be the candidate to fight for the rights of the property owners.

In terms of the issues – flooding, public safety, parking, infrastructure, the town's financial health, the comprehensive plan update, construction of Lighthouse Cove, a new town hall, sea level rise, and trash – the three candidates fell, generally speaking, in line with each other. There were no new issues raised. The difference was primarily in delivery.

When asked about public safety concerns associated with Northbeach, Riordan and Persinger recognized the status quo was unacceptable, but also said council passed an ordinance that gives the town the power to pass additional costs associated with unexpected expenses to business owners and, they said, that ordinance should be given time to work.

Mauler, who voted against the ordinance, used the question to point out the town had approved $25,000 for an analysis of the police department during this year's budgeting process. He said it was supposed to be done by May, but, he said, it hadn't even started yet.

Mauler didn't mention that shortly after the budget was passed in March, police Chief Sam Mackert suffered a serious heart attack in May, and has been out on medical leave since. At the time, Town Manager Marc Appelbaum said the study would be postponed until Mackert returned.

On the question of sea level rise, Riordan said it's happening, but noted the passage of a new floodplain management plan in late 2014, showing the town has made some progress with how it will address the issue.

Persinger said the issue is potentially expensive, but he said the town can't fund it all, and it would have to look for grant money.

Mauler used the question to accuse Hanson of committing the town to spend $50,000 on a $104,000 infrastructure study without consulting the rest of her council members first. He said Hanson potentially committed the town to raising the accommodations tax to pay for improvements the study finds are necessary.

Riordan quickly said to his knowledge there had been no commitment made by the town to raise the tax.

The only time all three candidates agreed on something was during their closing statements when they said if elected they would work on getting the public more involved in the process. The election is Saturday, Sept. 17.