Mayoral Candidates Face the Issues in the Eve of the Election

On the day before the election, Paul Kuhns calls voters and leaves messages. As a two year city commissioner, Kuhns is relatively new to the political arena in Rehoboth Beach. But he says he is coming to the table with a new perspective. "I think the incumbent mayor is willing to wait for something to happen," he says. "If it's not broken, why fix it? Where as from my experience you have to focus, one year, 10 years, five years out."

Incumbent Mayor Sam Cooper has been in politics in Rehoboth Beach over two decades. A six tern mayor, he wants to preserve Rehoboth Beach. "To me, it's about preserving what people like about Rehoboth," he says. "Sometimes I think I should be defensive. I don't want to change a whole lot but I know change is going to come, within the framework of what we've had."

Both candidates admit there are major differences between the two of them. "Finances is probably the biggest thing that separates us, but again I work to preserve the Rehoboth that I like," Cooper says. On the other side, Kuhn says it's about focusing on the future. "How do we finance these things, what do we really need, how do we find out what we get involved with the public," are some of the questions he raised. "The mayor position is to be a face in the community."

Signs for both mayoral candidates line the streets of Rehoboth Beach. But whatever their differences are, both candidates say they want what's best for the city.

Residents of Rehoboth Beach will be able to vote at the convention center tomorrow. •

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