It seems that sexist politics is on the agenda locally in Rehoboth's commissioner races featuring four candidates. Don't forget to get an absentee ballot and vote! One of the more interesting aspects of this election is that apparently the powers that be, including some who used to be part of the powers that be, seem intent on pushing candidates that will result in a board of commissioners comprising only seven men. It's 2024, and in this day and age, it strikes me as somewhat a regressive throwback in politics to a long-bygone era when women were relegated to the sidelines to be quiet while men governed – and that is a situation best left in our increasingly distant past.
I wonder why some legacy folks in Rehoboth are so desperate, even to proxy some new faces, but only to try to hold onto power, and why they only see men as the key to their goal. As for the small-town power they seem to crave, they appear able to only accomplish profligate spending and silly waste that intentionally excludes the public – see the three FOIA opinions against them in the last six months as example. Some of the legacy folks go so far as to tell us all to stop interrupting the men (according to some recent letters to the editor), as they know best! Maybe it's time during this election to show the legacy folks the uselessness and silliness of this outdated and chauvinistic sentiment.
Let's leave the past to the past and push the City of Rehoboth Beach forward. Thankfully, the people and voters have other exceptional choices from the legacy's preferred candidates, including one full-time resident woman with superior credentials who will focus on what is good for Rehoboth, not just what is best for the few.
It is for this reason that I am solidly behind Suzanne Goode for commissioner. She goes to the meetings habitually, knows the issues and speaks up for the good of the people. She is the only candidate who stood up with a group of more than 40 residents to say enough, and successfully worked with others to try and hold the current commission accountable for its foolish decisions with our money and the intentional violations of our charter. Not a single other candidate was present when it mattered in real time. Not one.
Suzanne will continue to stand up for all of us as a commissioner, and that must scare a lot of the folks who like the way the city runs now – for the few, with the money of the many, and behind closed doors. She will do her level best to stop that insidious culture – the one of insider deals, the waste and the dismissal of the concerns of full-time residents, businesses and nonresident owners alike. For this election, there is only one smart choice for all of us, and that's why Suzanne Goode is the single candidate who has earned my only vote Aug. 10!
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.
