Persinger, Stevens win in Dewey Beach election

Gary Persinger and Bill Stevens were elected to two-year commissioner terms in the Dewey Beach municipal election Sept. 26.

The election was a rematch of the 2018 election, when Persinger, Stevens and David Moskowitz first met as candidates, and Persinger and Moskowitz prevailed over Stevens. 

Persinger will serve his third term as commissioner. As in his two previous victories, he was the top vote-getter with 535 total votes, 340 absentee and 195 by machine. 

“I’m excited and thankful to voters,” he said. “It’s time to get back to work.”

Stevens’ 416 total votes, 242 absentee and 174 by machine, boosted him over Moskowitz’s 349 total votes, 240 absentee and 109 by machine.

“I’m really happy with the voter turnout and results,” Stevens said. “I look forward to continuing to help Dewey every way I can to accomplish our short- and long-term goals.”

In a Sept. 28 email, Moskowitz said, “I am looking forward to spending more quality time with my daughter Morgan and enjoying our great town in the off-season.”

The election concluded an eventful campaign in which resident Dave Davis challenged Moskowitz’s eligibility as a candidate, and Highway One community engagement director Peter Briccotto announced his intention to run but withdrew from the race without filing as a candidate.

The Dewey Beach Board of Elections denied Davis’ challenge that Moskowitz did not meet requirements of a resident commissioner per town charter. 

“After a very troubling Dewey Board of Elections hearing indicating that the town didn’t fully understand the scope and facts of the situation, I filed an appeal with the Delaware Board of Elections commissioner,” Davis said. 

The state commissioner ruled that charter requirements speak to qualifications of an individual to serve as a resident commissioner as opposed to running for the office, and stated if Moskowitz met requirements in charter section 5b, he was eligible to serve in office. 

“It took eight days to receive a response and when it was issued, it clearly missed the key clause in section 9 of the charter relating to the requirement that a resident commissioner candidate must adhere to section 5 requirements,” Davis said.

Davis said he submitted a supplemental argument, and said the commissioner chose not to take it into account and let his original decision stand without explanation.

“This all means that the town did not follow the charter in this matter, and that is as troubling as anything I’ve seen in my 13 years as a Dewey property owner and volunteer,” Davis said.

Briccotto announced his intention to run July 22, held a fundraiser that netted more than $3,300, and stated several times he would file election paperwork, but never did. In an Aug. 26 Facebook post, Briccotto stated he decided not to run and that he would return campaign contributions within the week.

Persinger and Stevens will be sworn in at the town organizational meeting at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 3. Commissioners will also vote to appoint a mayor and a secretary for one-year terms each. The next monthly town commissioners meeting is set for 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 10.