Held at Venus on the Half Shell Saturday, Aug. 29, the debate drew what Dewey Beach Civic League President David Main said was a record crowd. The civic league sponsors a candidates’ debate every year.

Incumbent commissioners Diane Hanson and Rich Hanewinckel and incumbent Mayor Dell Tush seek re-election. After a year’s absence, former Commissioner Dale Cooke eyes a return to town council.

They were joined by newcomers James “Zeke” Przygocki and Rick Solloway.

Przygocki, a U.S. Air Force veteran and United Airlines pilot, said he’s Dewey’s newest, oldest face – while new to the political scene, he met his wife in Dewey in 1987, and the pair has lived on Bellevue Street since 2005.

With a brassy, confident demeanor, Przygocki said he was running on a platform of honesty and transparency.

“What you see is what you get,” he said. “I don’t have any hidden agendas.”

When asked about the controversial redevelopment of Ruddertowne, Przygocki said the town was ignoring a source of revenue by refusing to compromise.

“By staying where we are, we’re losing an opportunity,” he said. When answering a later question on funding the town’s legal defense, Przygocki said Dewey should consider initiating a face-to-face dialogue with Dewey Beach Enterprises.

“This can be done and over with,” he said. “Let’s just sit down and talk. We’re spending a lot of money, and no one in town has talked to the developers.”

Solloway brought a few of his own ideas to the table. A Read Avenue resident for more than 10 years, Solloway joined the board of adjustment in April and the public intoxication committee on Aug. 14. In his opening statement, he proposed devising what he called a blue-sky comprehensive plan, consulting residents, vacationers and business owners develop a decade-long vision for growth.

Dewey passed its first comprehensive plan in 2007.

“Either you grow, or you wither,” Solloway said.

One question addressed the financial health of the town – with mounting expenses, is a property tax in Dewey’s future? Solloway said no.

“I don’t think we’re even remotely close to that,” he said, adding that other streams of revenue need to be sought out before taxing the public. A certified public accountant, Solloway said his background in finance would serve town council well.

After a year away from politics, former Commissioner Dale Cooke is back – in a sense.

“If you’re looking for a politician, you’ve got the wrong guy,” he said. Cooke said he’s an honest, hard-working public servant. And right now, he said, the last thing the town needs is a politician.

“I think it’s obvious that the commissioners aren’t getting along right now,” he said. “Personalities are strong in this group. Someone needs to be humble enough to back off.”

During his year away, he continued to serve on several committees and never missed a town meeting. In light of four pending lawsuits against the town, Cooke said he supports fully funding Dewey’s legal defense.

“They need to know the town’s willing to defend itself to the hilt,” he said.

The three incumbent commissioners faced tough questions about open government and discord on council. Hanewinckel, Hanson and Tush answered questions about funding for the Bayard Avenue project, open government and inefficient town meetings.

“We should not be letting special-interest groups interfere,” said Tush, referencing the influence of Citizens to Preserve Dewey (CPD), a vocal citizens group. While CPD supported Tush’s previous bid for mayor, divisions over holiday bonuses and personnel policy have since soured relations.

Tush said the state provides leadership training and classes in government free of charge to all elected officials; of the current commissioners, she said she alone took the courses.

“You have to do this with honesty and integrity,” she said. “I feel I bring that to the table.”

One question addressed the town’s recent decision to decline stimulus funding for reconstructing Bayard Avenue. Tush opposed the decision.

“The stimulus money would have greatly helped us,” she said. Tush said state officials encouraged her to take the money now and find ways to fund the difference later.

“We could have found ways to get this project going,” she said. “This isn’t a new problem.”

Hanson blamed Tush for a lack of harmony on council.

“At least four of us are a very good team,” she said, drawing murmurs from the crowd. “We need to identify our goals.” She said her background in human resources and teambuilding enables her to take point on contentious issues.

Hanson described her decision to reject stimulus money as a Catch-22: either she would jeopardize the town’s budget by committing to a project without a price tag, or she would postpone improvements to Bayard Avenue.

Ultimately, she said, she took the cautious path.

Responding to a question about overlong town council meetings, Hanson suggested placing a time limit on individual agenda items.

“Public comment is essential to the democratic process,” she said.

Hanewinckel said his objective and analytical personality allows him to be a balancing force on council.

“I tend to take the high road,” he said. “The most important thing besides skills and background is being a team player.”

He said the Bayard Avenue decision should have been made with greater transparency, rather than a hurried consensus obtained through a series of phone calls.

“It’s a shame that it came down to the last three or four hours before the deadline,” he said. “There should have been an emergency meeting.”

Buoyed by Dewey’s recent victory in the board of adjustment appeal – the Superior Court upheld the board’s decision to deny Dewey Beach Enterprises a building permit for a 35-foot, mixed-use structure at Ruddertowne – Hanewinckel said he supports buttressing Dewey’s legal defense.

“In for a penny, in for a pound,” he said. “I personally pushed to get one of the best land-use attorneys on the last case – and we won. Having the right guy on the job is imperative.”

After closing statements, candidates left the debate table in favor of the lunch table. Many rattendees stuck around to chat with the hopefuls and discuss their performances amongst themselves.

“I thought everybody sounded good,” said Commissioner Marc Appelbaum. “I think people have some great options.”

Former Mayor Pat Wright said insightful questions revealed the differences between candidates.

“I thought the two newcomers were refreshing,” she said, referencing Przygocki and Solloway. “The issues from the past two years have cost the town a lot of money.”

However, she said, she’d like to see the candidates a little less chummy at the next debate.

“I have a real problem with the team-player attitude,” she said. “I want all my commissioners to be independent.”

The candidates will next meet Friday, Sept. 4, at Venus on the Half Shell for a forum sponsored by the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce. The candidates will convene a final time Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Two Seas restaurant for a forum sponsored by Citizens to Preserve Dewey.

Cooke summed up the atmosphere of concern and hope by affirming Dewey’s singular way of life.

“We’re not Philadelphia,” he said. “We’re not D.C. We’re Dewey, and we’re a good little town trying to get things right.”