Rehoboth Beach Mayoral Race
July 16th, 2008 by Joe CiccantiWho is best suited to be Mayor of Rehoboth Beach?
From WGMD News:
“Rehoboth voters will go to the polls August 9th. The candidates for Mayor are Commissioner Paul Kuhnz and incumbent Sam Cooper. The candidates for town commissioner are non-resident incumbent Dennis Barbour, resident incumbent Ron Paterson and non-resident and non-incumbent Lorraine Zellers.”
Commissioner Paul Kuhnz had some rather harsh words to say about Mayor Cooper at this month’s candidate’s Forum. Kuhnz says he makes himself available to the people of Rehoboth, but he asks the people of Rehoboth when they ever see Sam Cooper around. Here is the quote:
“When is the last time you saw Sam Cooper on the boardwalk? When was the last time you saw Sam Cooper in a restaurant downtown or shopping in one of the shops? I’ve never seen him on Rehoboth Avenue. I have seen him walking in the neighborhoods walking his dogs. That’s great, but I have never seen him outside of his neighborhood except for driving.”
Is there anyone from Rehoboth who either agrees or disagrees with that statement?
Furthermore Kuhnz says, “The Mayor needs to be the ambassador of the community. The mayor needs to be involved with the community–both on the business side and the residential side.”
Here is a quote from Mayor Cooper regarding his relationships to the business people in Rehoboth:
“I would confess that I probably am not down meeting with business people enough, but I have a business to run of my own and put a lot of time in for the city, but I don’t do enough. I would admit it.” He also said, “I do think that I’ve always leveled with the citizens of Rehoboth Beach and have been honest with them. I’ve told them exactly as I see it.” Cooper adds that on the other hand, Kuhnz has tried to cover things up.
“My opponent has clouded what he has proposed in the past–here at this forum–he has tried to cover it up.”
Other highlights of the candidates’ forum include an issue brought up about police cars on the roads. Commissioner Kuhnz stated the following:
“I think we need to get the police cars off Rehoboth Avenue. I think… Especially during the summer, speeding isn’t something that we need to think about.”
Again if you live in Rehoboth or visit Rehoboth for that matter, do you agree or disagree with that statement?
Kuhnz further adds,
“One of the big things we need to look at is upgrading Baltimore Avenue. I am afraid we are going to lose a lot of the businesses on Baltimore Avenue if we don’t do the streetscape.”
Now Kuhnz was talking about tourism here. He is looking for ways to improve the city for the enjoyment and benefit of the visitors: ”To encourage tourism, we need to go back and think about what the vision is for the city–from the city’s perspective, from the residents’ perspective, as well as from the business owners. I think the secret is to make the experience of the visitors better…I think we have a very safe environment, but the friendly environment needs to happen. We do now have policemen walking the streets, and I think that’s great, but they need to be smaller ambassadors, if you will, for the city–giving out directions, helping people where they need to go, giving directions to stores–to services.”
Concerning some proposed projects in the City, Mayor Cooper stated,
“I think the big issues that have come out in this election is the convention Center and the parking garage. I do not favor either of these projects as my challenger does–as Mr. Kuhnz has been a big supporter of these two projects–I do not. I don’t think we can afford them. I’m not sure we need them.”
To hear more on the issues discussed and debated, click on the following links:
www.wgmd.com/newspost/uploads/REHO%20FORUM%201.mp3
www.wgmd.com/newspost/uploads/REHO%20FORUM%202.mp3
July 16th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Why would anyone complain about police cars being on Rehoboth Ave? Completely forget about their use for catching speeders for a second, people should realize its a quick way to scroll up and down the avenue looking for suspicious activity and showing a police presence (a good thing IMHO) in the community. You can do the same thing on a bike much slower, or foot patrol even slower.
I’m just not really sure I understand Kuhnz’s thinking then he wants police cars off the avenue.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:19 am
i apologize for the misinterpretation. i was referring to the fact that the first thing that most visitors see when entering our city is a police car. i thoroughly appreciate the services that our police provide for our city, keeping us safe and relatively crime-free. by no means do i want to see speeding on rehoboth ave. i agree, it is a quick way to monitor activity entering the city. I just believe that there is a way to perform these needed activities in a much less intrusive and much more visitor friendly fashion.
paul kuhns
July 17th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
1. What business does Mayor Cooper run? I didn’t think he’s had a job for the past 20 years- if running rentals for his mother is a business- I have pity for all the hard toil that must entail.
2. And if Kuhnz is concerned about the speed limit- Why doesn’t he propose a change in the city ordinance to increase the speed limit on Rehoboth Ave. Don’t suggest the Police ignore violators- change the law and really show how ridiculous his notion is.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
if anything, i would prefer some sort of solution that helps people to drive more slowly down rehoboth ave. 25 miles per hour is the law and i agree with it. we all need to be cognizant of the pedestrian and bike traffic that also uses the avenue.