I'm running for Dewey Beach commissioner to contribute my financial skills combined with my love of the town.
Times are going to be more difficult, and there will be less income when the inflow of DBE (Hyatt/Lighthouse Cove Residences) building permit money dries up. This will happen in the near future as the town's needs for infrastructure improvements escalate. My diverse skillset (CFA/CPA/MBA/MS/SPHR) and experience (nearly five years as Dewey Beach investment chair watching over $4.6 million in funds) make me a strong candidate to help during these times.
A few months after buying my home, problems arose. My HOA had a reported $300 in savings, over half a million dollars in needed repairs, and the pool had an unwelcoming barbed wire fence. I joined the HOA board, leading as the president, and worked on all facets of the problem from prioritizing (wants vs. needs), financing, communicating to the other homeowners, working with various tradespeople, the town, the county, engineers, fire marshals, you name it and we focused on it. Before and after pictures are on my campaign website at http://www.DeweyBeach2018.com under "Bio." I promise to extend my financial expertise and hard work such as demonstrated in this example to the Town of Dewey Beach.
Another reason I'm running is what recently happened in Dewey. Picture a citizen attends an audit committee government meeting alongside others, including reporters. Attendees are handed meeting materials (which are considered public). The reporters leave with the materials, no issue. It is a public document after all. The citizen who had been criticizing the subject of the audit leaves with the same civic document and is charged with theft and disorderly conduct. He will now have to spend money on a lawyer. He is also unable to contact any Dewey audit committee member or commissioner until after the upcoming election! Unfortunately, I am not describing a third world country. I am describing Dewey Beach in 2018.
The citizen will win in court and Dewey Beach will be paying for the legal fees using town money that it desperately needs to save. But it's not just the result that I'm worried about, but the actual process of how a citizen can lose their First Amendment rights in Dewey Beach. If elected commissioner, I will work hard to proactively bring everyone into the discussion so we can avoid problems like this and save the town time and money.
An influential U.S. politician once said, "If you agree with me on nine out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist." To that end, I have begun and will continue reaching out to Dewey stakeholders to get their input on their suggestions for Dewey's future. We are all neighbors and everyone's opinion is important. I want to bring this community even closer together. Give me the chance and I will work hard to ensure Dewey Beach's future.
David Moskowitz
Dewey Beach Investment chair and candidate for commissioner
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