I’ve been coming to Rehoboth since childhood, and it’s been the source of so much joy and great memories. Now, I'm spending time here with my own family making memories. There are some interesting candidates running to be part of Rehoboth’s future, but it’s up to us to choose leaders who work for all of us. Only one candidate fits that criteria – Suzanne Goode.
When the million-dollar mistakes were being made, when taxes and fees were exploding, and when backroom decisions were being undertaken, there were crickets from the other three candidates, especially the two guys being pushed so forcefully as having the right experience. Well, where was all that experience when it mattered this year? Why were they silent when they could have lent their voices to the citizen chorus demanding accountability from today’s leaders? Why did they not join the dozens of stakeholders in calling for investigations of the illegal activity the commission has undertaken? Where were their objections to the exorbitant tax and fee increases, especially in light of the newly found budget surplus? With all due respect to the two men who want to sit with the five men already on the board, excluding any women's voices, their deafening silence and lack of any protest of the leadership mistakes happening today does not bode well for their presence on the board tomorrow. Promises are easy, but it’s simple to counter them with our own eyes, and their invisibility so far on the issues that matter is too hard to cover up. Remember when it counts, they were nowhere to be seen or heard, and it was a woman on the outside who was our main voice.
Thankfully, we can now all support Suzanne Goode, who has been vocal, visible and effectively supporting us. That woman has the moxie to strongly challenge the boys’ club status quo and speak out when others cower. She pushed successfully with others for the attorney general to review the illegal actions of the commission, and she’s been a loud voice of common sense for all things fiscally affecting our town. If only the water committee had listened to her, we wouldn’t be facing outrageous fee increases next year, and a massive new utility that’s unfunded on the horizon. It’s funny that so many who aligned with the chair to ram through big fees on us are now maligning her as they cover their own flanks. We’re all better off for her thoughtful and informed engagement of the issues, and it’s time to give her the authority to speak formally for all of us as she has so eloquently done already.
I want Suzanne Goode in the room going forward, and on the commission to shed light, her wisdom and her courage to the boys’ club that works against everyone. We can all rest easier with her on the commission knowing that million-dollar mistakes and corrupt decision-making can be a thing of yesterday when she is working for all of us for the brighter tomorrow we deserve.
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