“Just how independent is Commissioner Kuhns?”

In his letter to the editor last Friday, Rehoboth Beach City Commissioner Paul Kuhns asserts that he is one of the “independent thinkers”on the city’s board of commissioners.

When Mr. Kuhns ran for the seat two years ago, seven of the 16 signatories on his petition were local realtors and developers. Earlier this month, Mrs. Kuhns submitted a petition to run for mayor with five of the l5 total number of signatures representing local realtors and developers.

Consider those statistics and compare them with Mr. Kuhns’s regressive voting record on planning and zoning issues affecting all Rehoboth Beach property owners. Is Mr. Kuhns primarily serving the interests of the real estate machine, and just how “independent” is he?

Timothy C. Spies, Rehoboth Beach

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“Save Our City should be applauded for PAC”

Paul Kuhns is wrong about political action committees (PACs) (Cape Gazette. May 23). I can say this as someone who has worked on campaign finance reform for years.

First of all, a PAC is required under Delaware state election law if an organization is involved in political activity. The purpose is to provide greater transparency by reporting requirements for contributions raised to influence elections.

PACs hold contributors to a high standard of accountability. Unfortunately, too many interest groups refuse to comply with state law and the lack of strong enforcement often allows them to get away with it. In 2007 in Dewey Beach, Citizens to Preserve Dewey formed a PAC to comply with the law and amazingly enough was criticized for it by other groups that thumbed their nose at the law. We naturally asked the Delaware Elections Commission to investigate their failure to comply.

Save Our City in Rehoboth Beach has chosen along with other citizen groups to form a legally required PAC and should be applauded for it – not criticized. Anyone who thinks less of them for compliance does not understand the value to the electorate of PACs and the reporting they require.

Joan Claybrook, president Public Citizen, Washington, D.C., and Dewey Beach owner

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“Save Our City not a special-interest group”

City Commissioner Paul Kuhns, who fails to acknowledge that he sought Save Our City’s endorsement two years ago, continues his malicious attack on the organization in his letter to the editor last Friday.

Save Our City (SOC) is a citizens action group committed to community interests, not “special interests.” Its mission includes preservation of our neighborhoods, the protection of trees and the support of our business community. Judging by the ferocity of his attack, Mr. Kuhns’s goals for the city must be quite different. People’s belief in the goals and mission of SOC is demonstrated in part by the mailing list for its newsletter, which goes to over 700 Rehoboth Beach property owners. Mr. Kuhns’s constant efforts to slur the organization and by inference its supporters reflect poorly on his judgment and call into question his ability as a city commissioner to act in a fair and impartial manner.

Cookie Brusnighan, Rehoboth Beach

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“Save Our City uses upfront approach”

It is my hope that this letter can help clarify the understanding of the reason for the existence of a political action committee (PAC). This type of organization is governed under Title l5 of the Delaware Code and is required if a group of citizens desire to come together for a common concern or to support a candidate and solicit contributions in order to communicate with a mailing or help a candidate run for office. A report must be submitted giving names and dollars spent. It is a public record and allows for access to the record.

It seems to me that this is an upfront and open way to conduct an effort to bring about a needed change in legislation, write new legislation or support that person running for office who subscribes to the same goals of the organized group. I have always gone on the premise that there is strength in numbers.

That is the reason I joined in the efforts of Save Our City, because the organizers of the group had as the primary goal the follow-through needed to achieve the vision and goals of the adopted comprehensive development plan and sustain those goals in the current update.

Rehoboth Beach is a beautiful treasure. Walk the streets and experience the feel of a sense of community. We can grow and improve without losing that original charm and the very reason so many of us decided to live here. I, for one, intend to keep striving toward that vision.

Think about it as we approach summer and another important city election. Check out the ins and outs of the requirements for a PAC by calling the state Board of Elections at 302-739-4277.

Mable Granke, Rehoboth Beach.