At the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners’ Association candidates’ forum July 20, there were veiled but obvious references to Rachel Macha being the nonresident candidate in the room. The forum was preceded and followed by numerous letters to the editor and other social media posts criticizing Rachel for having a home in Florida.
Let’s be clear, the city charter (Section 3(a)) provides that three commissioners need not qualify as resident/domiciliary but must be a property owner. Given the paucity of full-time residents, this charter provision was no doubt included to make our board of commissioners as inclusive of all stakeholders as possible. Makes good sense. Over the years, there have been many nonresident commissioners, including most recently, among others, Susan Gay and Patrick Gossett (until a short time ago). Nonresident commissioners provide enormous contributions to our city and care just as much about our city, if not more, than many residents. At the very least, they are willing to put themselves out there to run for office and serve the community.
As for Rachel, I can speak from personal experience to her dedication and commitment to her responsibilities serving our city. I served with Rachel on the city planning commission during my tenure as vice chair and chair. I can categorically state that Rachel never once missed a meeting, even when she was in Florida. We dealt with many significant site-plan applications as well as the development of the comprehensive development plan. She made sure she was in attendance and followed through on other individual assignments from the planning commission. I am confident the same can be said of her time on the park, shade & tree commission.
For the last several years, Rachel has served with me on a key standing committee of a nonprofit organization in Rehoboth Beach. Again, she never missed a monthly meeting of our committee or been absent for follow-up work projects, even when she was in Florida.
Moreover, Rachel has a 25-year connection to Rehoboth Beach as a homeowner – longer than each of the other candidates. She and her husband raised a beautiful family in Rehoboth Beach, including their five children (triplets and twins). Rachel was raised in Wilmington and spent many more years in Rehoboth Beach before becoming a homeowner. The love and commitment Rachel and her family have for Rehoboth Beach is without limits.
I applaud Rachel for addressing the elephant in the room in her closing remarks at the forum. Her honesty and forthrightness, however, was met with a woman audibly saying, “Go back to Florida.” Given the commitment and contributions Rachel has and will make to our city, that was a shameful remark.
Rachel is the one candidate who will work diligently to effect positive change, ensure transparency and open communication, demand strict adherence to fiscally sound policies and accountability for missteps.
Please vote for Rachel Macha Saturday, Aug. 10 or by absentee ballot. Rachel will get the job done!
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