Tjark Bateman, Patrick Gossett, & Rich Sargent

On Saturday, August 14, voters in Rehoboth Beach will go to the polls to elect two of the three candidates running for the Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners. All three candidates—incumbent Richard Sargent, and challengers Tjark Bateman and Patrick Gossett—responded to a series of questions from CAMP Rehoboth. Their responses follow.

Tjark • My name is Tjark A. Bateman. My first name is pronounced with a silent "T" and most people say it like "Ch-ark". I have been raised in the area my whole life. I went to grade school in Georgetown and summers in Dewey. My family then moved to Henlopen Acres. I attended Rehoboth Junior High School and High School at St. James School in Hagerstown, Maryland. I graduated college from High Point College with a Bachelor of Science in Business. I was President of my Fraternity for two years. I was Vice President of the College Management Society for two years. My two brothers and I are owners and operators of Boulevard Ford-Lincoln-Mercury in Lewes and Georgetown.

I’m running for Commissioner because we need a change. We need to be more proactive and not reactive to issues in the city. I feel that I have the drive to get things done. We need to treat small city government as that short and simple. I want my daughter to grow up in the great city that I did.

Patrick • Like so many of us, my partner, Howard Menaker, and I began as occasional visitors to Rehoboth Beach, rented for the season for a few years, and then bought our home here. After purchasing the home in 1996, we were awarded the Town and Cottage Award for outstanding residential renovation and were featured on the Rehoboth Art League’s Cottage Tour in 1999. I am a member of the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners Association, the Rehoboth Historical Society, and active in CAMP Rehoboth activities.

As a member of the Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission for the past 6 years, I have played a key role in authoring the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP). The CDP is a pro-active, forward-looking vision and vehicle by which Rehoboth Beach can properly manage its future. As a Planning Commissioner, I have worked with city, county and state officials on these issues to make sure we do not lose our sense of place, the reason we all choose to live and vacation here. I have developed in-depth experience working with the current codes and regulations, making me uniquely qualified to help implement the CDP as a member of the City Commission.

My experience also has prepared me to step up to the City Commission and deal with other issues such as the health of our lakes, beaches and green environment, and the support of our business community.

Rehoboth Beach is experiencing "growing pains," and we need to manage the growth before it manages us. In the past few years we have seen our roads stressed beyond their capacity, countless trees cut down, quiet neighborhoods overtaken by enormous new homes that do not fit the character of Rehoboth Beach, and green spaces disappear. But through the implementation of real and innovative solutions we can preserve the character of Rehoboth Beach before it is irreparably damaged. That is why I am a candidate for City Commissioner.

Rich • I have served as Rehoboth Beach City Commissioner for the past nine years. Prior to my election I served on the Planning Commission for three years, and I have been a full time resident of Rehoboth Beach since 1990.

Nine years ago, when I first ran for Rehoboth Beach Commissioner, I promised that I would do all I could to preserve and protect the small town character and charm of Rehoboth Beach. I have worked hard to keep that promise and want to continue to address issues such as density and size that have such a profound impact on our community.

Tjark • Long-range plan for beach replenishment. The beach is part of our heritage, our name and our identity.

The Comprehensive Development Plan needs to move forward in a timely manner and proactively.

The CDP will help address a true tree ordinance and an architectural review board. These will help us preserve our "Rehoboth Style Homes."

We need to look at the floor area ratio (FAR) and a 30-day demolition permit.

I want to work harder and more proactive to promote downtown businesses. Getting more use out of the convention center. The more business conventions that come to town the more money for all businesses.

I do not have a concern with metering handicapped parking but we need to look at the accessibility to the boardwalk and businesses downtown.

We need to better design and maintain our lakes and parks. We need to better manage the waterfowl. I do not support any plan to kill the waterfowl at our lakes.

We need a more proactive pet program for the beach. A registration and fine program to monitor the program. This would help pay for the program.

Patrick • Action must be taken now to protect the Rehoboth Beach we love.

Most dramatically, a number of large parcels of land inside the City are targets for townhouse or condominium development. These include the Rehoboth Beach Elementary School property, Walls Cottages, Epworth Methodist Church, Oak Grove Motor Court and BayMart Shopping Center. To avoid canyons of townhouses, or new McMansions all over town, the City needs to have the tools to prevent adverse impacts on the neighborhoods and adjoining properties.

In order to preserve our city’s unique character, we need to:

• Implement the Comprehensive Development Plan.

• Develop a site review process which examines lot coverage, setbacks, height limitations, preservation of trees, and the scale and the character of new buildings.

• Undertake a comprehensive revision of the city’s ordinances. We must avoid the pattern of passing "band-aid" legislation that fixes one problem and creates others.

• Pass a tree ordinance.

• Develop historic preservation guidelines and incentives, so the cottages that define Rehoboth Beach are not lost forever.

Rich • Development and preservation. Since my election to the Board of Commissioners, we have completed the first two phases of our downtown revitalization, required at least 40% natural space on each lot and prevented the demolition of single family homes to build townhouses.

Unless we want our residential areas to become an impersonal collection of McMansions and our commercial areas to become canyons of townhouses, we need to address issues of height, size and density.

Tjark • I feel that the city supports HB99 and so do I.

Patrick • As a life-long supporter of GLBT rights, a Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund-endorsed candidate, and a member of the Rehoboth Beach GLBT community for over ten years, I firmly believe HB99 needs to be passed now. There can be no middle ground on human and civil rights.

Rich • I support HB 99. I made the motion for the City of Rehoboth Beach to officially adopt a policy of non-discrimination based on sexual orientation and I was proud that the Commissioners unanimously passed the motion. I am hopeful the State Legislature will recognize the importance of equality for all Delawareans.

Tjark • I feel that the city needs to be more proactive on the balance of many other issues.

Patrick • Rehoboth Beach only encompasses one square mile. Neighborhoods and businesses have grown up next to each other because of the beach itself. Our city offers an opportunity to reside in quiet neighborhoods by the ocean, and to enjoy local restaurants, entertainment and other businesses within walking distance. We need both the residential neighborhoods, which are the soul of our city, and the businesses, which are its economic engine, to sustain one another.

The city needs to make it easier for businesses to do business, not create obstacles. But solutions which respect both residents and business owners must be found, or they will fail. For example, ordinances regarding noise, trash and deliveries should be reviewed with input from businesses and their residential neighbors. Once solutions are found and ordinances written, they must be equitably enforced throughout the city. The unequal enforcement of ordinances is never a fair solution.

We can, and must, continue to resolve these issues together.

Rich • Ideally businesses and restaurants providing entertainment would be able to be as loud as they want and residents would be able to enjoy complete silence in their homes. The proximity of our residents and businesses is part of Rehoboth’s character, but it also presents conflicts especially with noise.

We need to compromise. Businesses should keep noise to a reasonable level, but residents ought to understand that we live in a City. Concessions must be made by both sides.

Most importantly, we have to make sure that enforcement of the noise ordinance is fair. We should not be staking out restaurants and issuing citations, but we need to respond to complaints and ongoing problems.

Tjark • My comments to the GLBT community are simple. We are all here to live and work. We are all people. People that want to live here and have businesses here. I support all people. My slogan is "Preserve Rehoboth’s Past to Enhance Its Future." This is what I will do for you and the city of Rehoboth Beach. So get out and vote for Bateman on Saturday, August 14th. If you have any questions please e-mail me at tjarkb@netzero.net or call 227-6377.

Patrick • The GLBT community of Rehoboth Beach is recognized as one of the most vital anywhere. We have gone from a marginalized minority, to a respected voice in our city, to a position of leadership in remarkably few years. CAMP Rehoboth and other GLBT organizations have helped citizens of Rehoboth Beach, whether gay, straight, year-round resident or summer visitor, come together to make "create a more positive Rehoboth." Due to the work of our community, the major issues in Rehoboth Beach today aren’t gay or straight issues; they are issues that affect everyone’s quality of life.

With our Community Center plans moving forward and fundraising well on its way to our goal, we will make another positive difference in our city. The Community Center will benefit all Rehoboth Beach residents and visitors in many ways, and will be the heart of the entire community.

I am proud to be an active member of this community, and I ask for the strong support of the GLBT community on election day, Saturday, August 14.

Rich • I look forward to the day when people no longer take notice of a person’s sexual orientation. Until that day I will continue to make sure that The City of Rehoboth Beach recognizes the importance of diversity and equality. We will continue to offer sensitivity training to our employees and follow our official policy of non-discrimination based on sexual orientation.