Well, that was fast!
Ten days after he filed his petitions to run for mayor, Commissioner Ed Chrzanowski withdrew from the race. What?!? He was asking citizens to vote for him one day and withdrew the next? That just doesn’t make sense.
The more we learn about why he dropped out, the more it smells of a backroom deal. The commissioner says he dropped out of the race after talking to Mayor Paul Kuhns, and receiving “assurances,” including “more inclusive decision-making.” But who is being included? Did they make a pact? Don’t we, the citizens they swear an oath to represent, deserve to know?
In his letter regarding his decision to drop out, Chrzanowski also referred to Mayor Kuhns’ “commitment to make operational, structural and personnel changes.” Citizens also deserve to know what changes our mayor and a commissioner discussed, and what “commitments” were made. What kind of operational changes? And who among the staff does he intend to replace? If the mayor wants our votes, he needs to come clean and tell us what deals he has made in secret.
Secrecy and behind-the-scenes deal-making have been a hallmark of the current mayor and commissioners. City committees were formed, and then met in private, in violation of state public meeting laws. Literally hundreds of emails were sent to and from commissioners and Clear Space Theatre to make a plan to circumvent our zoning laws, but they were not made public until forced to by a FOIA request.
In addition, why did Commissioner Chrzanowski drop out 10 days after he filed to run for office? He didn’t file until the last possible day, after the other two candidates had filed, giving him time to have discussions with the other two mayoral candidates before he went public with his campaign. What was discussed, or promised, in the 10 days between filing and the day he dropped out? We, the citizens, may never know what that discussion entailed.
And what does Ed’s sudden withdrawal say about his commitment to the city and its citizens? It certainly doesn’t demonstrate a serious commitment to serve.
His commitment, however, may look pretty solid when compared to some of the other candidates. Hugh Fuller, a local businessman, filed to run for commissioner literally in the last hour possible, and then wrote on Facebook “Praying for guidance this was the right decision.” Does that sound to you like someone committed to public service to our citizens? Is this just a game for Mr. Fuller?
And our current mayor, who spends much of his year in Florida and at his home in Maine, just put his Rehoboth Beach house up for sale with only a verbal assurance that he will remain here in our city. Are we being asked to vote for him and just hope he sticks around?
The voters of Rehoboth deserve an honest answer!
We need candidates and elected officials who represent the citizens, not their own special interests.
We need candidates who are truly committed to work hard in the best interests of both the residents and the businesses in the city. We need candidates who have proven that they do not do business behind our backs.
Fortunately, we have three excellent candidates who exemplify the kind of dedication and ethics we need in our city government. Stan Mills, Jay Lagree and Patrick Gossett all have outstanding records of service to the city. We don’t have to wonder how they will govern; they have proven their leadership and commitment.
I encourage all my fellow citizens of Rehoboth Beach to look carefully at the candidates and their records. We need elected officials who will not conduct city business out of our view, and who have demonstrated experience and commitment to us, the voters. We need Stan Mills, Jay Lagree and Patrick Gossett. They deserve your vote by absentee ballot or in person on Aug. 8.
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