Endorsements stir tension in Rehoboth race

With less than a week to go until voters head to the polls in Rehoboth Beach’s annual election, the endorsements for one candidate from a number of unknown community organizations is being questioned.

There are three candidates for two commissioner seats in the city’s annual election – Chris Galanty, Jeffrey Goode and Susan Stewart. Sitting Commissioners Edward Chrzanowski and Francis “Bunky” Markert are not running for re-election.

Late last week, Stewart raised concerns about three endorsements for Goode after receiving a text message from Goode’s campaign saying he was the only candidate endorsed by the Rehoboth Beach Civic Association, the RB Citizens Alliance and the Rehoboth Beach (South) Homeowners Association. Stewart said no one in town has heard of these three organizations.

The endorsement of the Rehoboth Beach (South) Homeowners Association prompted the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners Association to quickly issue a statement saying they, as an organization, do not endorse candidates.

“In order to avoid any confusion among voters, there is no relationship between the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners’ Association and Rehoboth Beach (South) Homeowners Association, an organization of which we are not aware,” said Susan Gay, RBHA president. “As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit civic organization, RBHA does not endorse, support or oppose any candidate for public office. This is a core tenet of our bylaws and a requirement for our nonprofit status.”

When reached for comment, Goode said he only knows a limited amount about these three nascent civic organizations. They are a grassroots initiative by citizens to provide an alternative and counterweight to the RBHA, Goode said.

These citizens view the RBHA as supporting the status quo and prefer his candidacy to the other candidates for commissioner, said Goode, adding that he knows at least one person involved in organizing the new civic groups. However, he said, that person preferred to remain anonymous and, instead, spend time growing the organizations.

“There are many voters frustrated by what is going on in Rehoboth, and especially now, given the scurrilous attacks intensifying on my wife and me,” said Goode, whose wife is sitting Commissioner Suzanne Goode. “Some people across various neighborhoods in town have started efforts to counter the RBHA’s direction. I have been told that these new groups will go public in their own way in their own time.”

Goode said he’ll take the endorsements.

“I appreciate that people are finally getting more involved here to counter the wave of slander and bullying led by certain insiders,” said Goode.

Stewart said the endorsements raise a serious issue because Goode cannot confirm whether they even exist. She said Goode would have had to communicate directly with each one in order to receive and confirm an endorsement.

If the organizations were created after Goode sent out the marketing text, then that’s also a problem, said Stewart.

“Let’s consider, for the sake of argument, that someone falsely claims an endorsement from an existing organization without actually obtaining it,” said Stewart. “That’s not just unethical; it constitutes voter fraud. There is no evidence that these groups exist, and the burden of proof lies with the person making the claim. So far, Jeffrey has failed to substantiate any of it.”

About 48 hours after Goode was asked to explain the endorsements, a website for the Rehoboth Beach Civic Association went live. There’s only one page, with no information on the group, but it does provide a way for people to become part of a mailing list.

Property owner Tom Gaynor, who is actively engaged in a lawsuit with the city over the hiring of City Manager Taylour Tedder, responded to the Gazette’s inquiry on the RBCA’s website.

Gaynor said he’s encouraged many people to form community organizations to support Goode, and he’s delighted that folks have taken his advice.

“I created the RBCA with friends and supporters, and it’s going live just now to counter some of the aggressive attacks and slanders against the Goodes,” said Gaynor. “I hope other folks interested in a more positive future here will work together with me and others to break the monopoly of the RBHA and its insider games.”

Tedder began working as city manager in May 2024. Among other things, his contract calls for a $250,000 annual salary, plus $50,000 in moving expenses and a $750,000 home loan that will be forgiven in full if he stays for seven years.

His immediate predecessor, Laurence Christian, was hired at a starting salary of $160,000. Christian was on the job for less than a year. The city manager prior to Christian was Sharon Lynn, who began with a salary of $120,000, but it had risen to $141,250 by the time she left in May 2022 after a decade on the job.

A lawsuit was filed in Chancery Court by Gaynor and others alleging the city violated its charter and the Freedom of Information Act when discussing and voting on Tedder’s contract. In a decision issued May 28, Vice Chancellor Bonnie W. David said claims the city violated its charter can move forward, while claims the city violated the FOIA cannot.

The commission recently discussed and dismissed a settlement offer that demands the resignation of the elected officials who were on the board of commissioners when Tedder was hired. Following the election, the only elected officials who will remain will be Mayor Stan Mills and Commissioner Patrick Gossett. 

As of press deadline Aug. 4, the organizers or mission for the RB Citizens Alliance or the Rehoboth Beach (South) Homeowners Association could not be verified. The two organizations, as well Rehoboth Beach Civic Association, do not appear on GuideStar, a website that contains information about nonprofit organizations. Rehoboth Beach Homeowners Association does appear on that website. 

The election will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9, in the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, 229 Rehoboth Ave.