CAMP Rehoboth Candidate Forum
On Saturday August 13, voters in Rehoboth Beach will go to the polls to elect two City Commissioners. Incumbents Stan Mills and Toni Sharp and challenger Richard Perry are seeking to fill three positions. All three candidates responded to our questions.
Introduce yourself to the readers of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth and explain why you are running for office.
Stan Mills: I am campaigning so I may continue to represent you as I have for the past nine years. I want to be certain the City stands by its obligation to not only serve the people but keep them informed about what is happening in Rehoboth Beach. I have been your advocate for optimizing communications between the government and you, including plans for the commissioners meetings to be broadcast from the new Commissioners’ Room so everyone can watch when and where they choose.
I want to keep my fiscal hat on and responsibly help guide the City Hall project and upcoming Lake Avenue Streetscape project to completion just as I did with the Boardwalk Reconstruction. I believe we need to do the best we can to maintain our identity—what makes Rehoboth Beach the special place it is—with focuses including our beach, boardwalk, trees and streetscapes and I intend to stay diligent on those fronts. Simply put, as a Commissioner, I want to work with my fellow Commissioners to keep Rehoboth Beach the place we all have come to love.
Rick Perry: My name is Richard Perry. I am a full-time resident running for Commissioner because I deeply care about our collective future. I believe I can deliver common-sense, logical approaches to issues confronting us. I will not chase solutions to issues that do not exist. I will focus on real issues. Before moving to Rehoboth Beach, I was Chief Operating Officer, Managing Member and General Counsel of an SEC-registered investment advisor, several bank holding companies, and an investment banking firm. I previously served as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, and a partner in several national law firms before founding a small boutique law firm. I specialize in banking, corporate and securities law. I graduated from American International College, Springfield, MA, and received my juris doctor from Suffolk Law School, Boston, MA. I am active in numerous charitable organizations and their boards. I have funded and worked in the US and around the world to rescue children from slavery and young women from sexual exploitation, personally delivered aid to victims of HIV/AIDS in Africa, and funded and helped construct housing for homeless children and families in Africa, Guatemala, Mexico, and South America.
Toni Sharp: I have spent my three years as a Commissioner being engaged with residents, business owners, and visitors to our city and listening to as many points of view as possible. I have focused on turning consensus into action and getting things done.
I was raised in Dallas, Texas by a family who valued no-nonsense straight talk, self-reliance, and a deep sense of community. I spent my career working for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and have applied my professional skills to benefit our city. My communication experience and ability to bring diverse opinions together to accomplish a goal have served me particularly well on the Commission.
I began visiting and renting year-round in Rehoboth Beach in 1996 and by 1999, decided to build my home near the Elementary School and Silver Lake, becoming a full-time resident in May 2011.
I am running for re-election to finish what I started in 2013. Then I promised to focus on the following:
- Creation of a long term financial plan with critical milestones and deliverables.
- Improved communication between the city and our residents and businesses.
- Implementation and enforcement of the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP).
I am happy to say that these priorities have already seen some action needed to fulfill these promises. I have successfully pressed for the city to adopt a five-year financial plan and a capital budget next year. One of my proudest accomplishments is securing the funding to hire a city communications specialist. Our new specialist affords us the capability to communicate more effectively and begin public opinion research to gauge the concerns of our citizens.
But there is, of course, unfinished business, and I want to be a part of continuing to move the City forward. Our city will be much better off if we focus on long-term planning, preservation, and public opinion. We need public opinion research to help direct city policies and ordinances. We need a citizens’ advisory group to consult with commissioners on important issues. And we need to continue to work to preserve the essential character of the city we all love. I will use my persistence to make these things happen if I am re-elected.
Two years ago, there was controversy surrounding the ocean outfall project and the new municipal complex. Last year’s controversy was the proposed changes to pool and noise ordinances, and this year, the Commission is discussing the possibility of extending parking meters on Rehoboth Avenue during the off-season. How have these discussions shaped your campaign?
Stan Mills: Any topical issue has a tendency to shape a campaign. I make my campaigning more personal. I knock on doors, talk to people as I take my dogs on walks, or converse via phone and email. I believe a Commissioner must keep an open mind until all of the relevant and salient points are presented in public view so as to make an informed judgment and vote on the issue. Receiving input from constituents is vital to my decision-making process.
Rick Perry: Controversies over the pool and noise ordinances, residential zoning, the ocean outfall and municipal hall complex projects—and let’s not forget about trash— have had a profound impact on my campaign. Too often, resolution of these issues has taken place in the absence of any rationale and without regard to far-reaching consequences—intended and unintended—especially economic consequences for the city and our citizens. These controversies highlight the way our city is governed. First, many of our elected officials are overly-reactive to a small, but vocal, minority of citizens rather than the majority. Second, our elected officials often chase solutions to problems that do not exist and approach resolution of issues with preconceived and predetermined outcomes. Like many, I do not support extending parking meters into the off-season on Rehoboth Avenue—but I do appreciate the quick response the discussion point engendered. If our business community perceives that there is a parking problem, another way to address the issue might be time limits (i.e., three or four hour maximums) to ensure turnover. These controversies reinforce my belief that citizen involvement is essential before taking action.
Toni Sharp: Controversies often arise as a result of a lack of planning and clear explanations of what is going on. A centerpiece of my campaign is advocating for public input coupled with better city communications that go a long way to understanding our direction.
Many of these controversies can be solved if we work together. But we have to do a better job of soliciting ideas from citizens and explaining why we are taking the actions to respond to them. I feel we did a good job explaining the need for a new municipal building, but we must keep our citizens informed on its progress and the impact on their daily routines. The uproar over the proposal to extend parking meters could have been avoided had we asked the opinions of others, listened to them and openly discussed the ramifications of the proposal on parking and on revenue before the Commission considered it.
What message do you have for the LGBT community in Rehoboth Beach?
Stan Mills: I have the same message for anyone in the LGBT community as I have for any other segment of our populace. If you have a concern or ideas to help Rehoboth Beach continue to be the well balanced, friendly and wonderful City it is, please reach out so that I can express it to the Board. A public servant is the voice of the people. Everyone’s input is desired.
I am a member of and support CAMP Rehoboth’s mission and purpose. I am proud to have participated in a past CAMP strategic planning session (as president of the RBHA), outwardly supported rezoning to allow the community center to become a reality, wielded one of the shovels at groundbreaking and I continue to volunteer at CAMP.
On a personal note, I applaud Steve Elkins and CAMP Rehoboth for two and a half decades of service to the LGBT community and, in doing so, to all of Rehoboth Beach.
Rick Perry: The LGBT community has long been a pillar of Rehoboth Beach and a vital part of the civic and social fabric of our society and our city’s economic well-being. We have reason to be proud. We deserve respect but we must also recognize our obligation to be respectful. Issues that affect all of our citizens also affect each of us in the LGBT community. We need to be mindful that some still do not fully embrace us. We live in dangerous times—LGBT communities, in particular, are targets—as we tragically witnessed in Orlando. We are not alone—as the barbaric mowing down of innocent people in Nice, France demonstrates. These events could happen here—at a bar, restaurant or 4th of July fireworks. As a Commissioner, I will work with our fine police and fire departments and other first responders to ensure that they are fully prepared to prevent, and if necessary, deal with any such attacks in Rehoboth Beach.
Toni Sharp: I am proud to be a part of a community that values the energy, creativity, and understanding of all our citizens. We are one city, with “room for all.” The spirit of cooperation that we find in Rehoboth Beach does not happen by accident. For instance, the city, working with CAMP Rehoboth for many years, trains summer police offers in being aware and sensitive to issues facing of our LGBT community. My commitment is to lead on behalf of the entire community by listening and finding common ground.
What makes your vision for Rehoboth Beach unique?
Stan Mills: Rehoboth Beach has come a long way since its founding in 1873 as a Methodist camp meeting destination to being considered the “Nations Summer Capital.” Certainly in my 18 years here I have witnessed remarkable change.
Just look around at how great everything looks. We have a beautiful city. Is everyone happy about everything that goes on in our city all the time? No. But, I strive, as a resident City Commissioner to bring to the table my uniqueness in work performance and service to the community. From actions as simple as picking up blown paper pizza plates on the boardwalk to donning a hardhat to inspect construction sites, or canoeing in Silver Lake to clean up trash or developing legislation or meeting with Army Corps of Engineers about beach nourishment, I try to serve every day as the best elected official I can be. As your Commissioner for the last nine years I believe my actions have reflected the will of the people.
As to my vision for Rehoboth being unique, I keep my eye on the prize—the value and character of our community—by looking forward to our future, bearing in mind the significance of our past. I want a better fiscal plan for the City. I would like a Boardwalk maintenance plan of action, a tree planting plan and more focus on recommended initiatives within the CDP, such as Baltimore and Wilmington Avenue streetscape improvements, as examples of ways to better our community. These are all topics of interest garnered from the voices of our constituents—those I serve.
I ask for your vote.
Rick Perry: My vision for Rehoboth Beach is uniquely guided by my experience that prepared me to bring common-sense, businesslike, and financial perspectives and a fresh viewpoint to the Board of Commissioners. I want to preserve the character of Rehoboth Beach without sacrificing progress or infringing on property rights. I envision Rehoboth Beach as a community that recognizes the changing demographics of our families and friends and responds to their needs without creating unnecessary impediments to their enjoyment of life in Rehoboth. I believe there are ways to address problems without penalizing the many for the mistakes of a few. I will focus on real issues and stop wasting time on non-issues. I will be open-minded, listen to the viewpoints of all citizens—not just hear words—and treat everyone fairly. I want to build a harmonious and vibrant city that we can all proudly call our home.
Toni Sharp: The city’s Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) outlines a vision of a welcoming city with a well-kept beach and boardwalk, green and safe neighborhoods, and a bustling business community. This is a vision I share. Together we need to continue to implement the CDP. I will continue to solicit and listen to all points of view, and bring my positive attitude, energy and enthusiasm to do the work you expect of your commissioners with a sense of accountability. I ask for your support on August 13 so I may continue to represent you in making this vision a reality.
Photos: The 2016 City Commissioner candidates gathered at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center for the Homeowners’ Association and CAMP Rehoboth Candidate Forum on July 22.