As we enter the final week before Lewes’ mayoral election, I have become more convinced I made the correct decision to run. Those residents who encouraged me to run gave me the initial belief that I may be the right person for Lewes. Now that I have had the opportunity to talk with a much broader number of you, it’s clear – we are a community ready for change. We are ready to be engaged and willing to serve if allowed.
Change starts with open, honest and accessible communication. The city has a lot of work to do to rebuild your trust, to be honest in what is shared, and to make it easy for anyone to find answers to their questions. Governing in isolation doesn’t work. We need to provide more opportunities for real dialogue through meetings, informal settings and interactions with the city and our neighbors.
This is critical, because no one person, elected or not, has all the right answers for Lewes. But together, utilizing the best ideas we collectively have, we have a much better chance of identifying and implementing fair and effective solutions to the real problems confronting our town.
I was born, raised and educated in Lewes, then went away for school and to start my career. When it came time to decide where my wife Rita and I were going to raise our children, we returned to Lewes. I’m not interested in trying to re-create the Lewes I grew up in; life doesn’t allow it. I ran for council and now mayor because I want to help prepare Lewes for our future, a future where one can raise a family with hope, retire without fear, and know that your government is open, transparent and willing to solve problems.
Thank you to those who have arranged and taken opportunities for me to meet and talk with neighbors, for the chance to understand your concerns and hear your suggestions. It has been a humbling experience, but more importantly, extremely encouraging. Every engagement underscores the same inescapable fact – our biggest asset is one another. Despite where we live, we share the same concerns, hopes and, most importantly, a steadfast commitment to our town.
I’m running to be part of the change that’s needed and to find ways to involve our community, not exclude it. I’m running to rebuild an open, transparent city government that serves all of us and has the courage to listen, discuss and then act. I hope you will vote for me Saturday, May 14.
-
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 newsroom@capegazette.com. Letters must be signed and include a telephone number and address for verification. Please keep letters to 500 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content and length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days. Letters restating information and opinions already offered by the same author will not be used. Letters must focus on issues of general, local concern, not personalities or specific businesses.
