Letters of Support Absentee Ballot Request Form

118 Ashwood Street
Bethany Beach, DE 19930
(302) 539-5638
tony@mcclenny.org

June 22, 2010

Dear Fellow Citizens:

     Two extremely busy years have passed since I last asked you to vote for me to continue as one of your Town Council members.  It is my sincere hope that you believe you have been well served in my second term in office, during which, I was elected by fellow council members to be the Vice Mayor.  I have continued my periodic e-mail Newsletter through which I have attempted to keep interested persons informed as to what is taking place in our town. 

     I again ask for your support in our 2010 election for the Bethany Beach Town Council because we need individuals on the Council who initiate action using creative, problem-solving abilities, who have the capacity and effectively work together with other Council members and who prepare in advance for our discussions.

     Let me share with you some of the activities in which your Council members have participated during the past twenty-four (24) months. 

1. Vigorous solicitation of the US Congress for beach replenishment funding.

2. Working with fellow Town Council members to maintain excellent control of our budget

3. Recycling program initiated with weekly pickup in the summer

4. Establishment of ambulance service in Bethany Beach via our Fire Company

5. Upgraded community landscaping

     Some of my personal accomplishments include:

1. Selected on Planning Commission

2. Chairman of the Design and Review Committee for non-residential construction

3. Completed all available courses offered by the University of Delaware, Institute for Public Administration (the only councilmember to accomplish this certification)

4. Inspired several other Town Council and Planning Commission members to attend the Univ. of DE training classes

5. Attended almost every important Public Hearing, Planning Commission and Committee meeting held during the past several years

6. Completed FEMA courses ICS 100 and ICS 00700

7. Actively participated in Sussex County Association of Towns' monthly meetings to stay in touch and work with officials from other towns, county, and state

     Please exercise your privilege to vote by voting for those individuals, who ask questions, actively participate in their responsibilities, do what they say they will do and offer courteous responses, when they find themselves in disagreement with our town’s citizenry or fellow council members.  Civility is a characteristic we all need to embrace, if we are to continue to enhance our Town in a manner that recognizes everyone’s point of view.  At 64 years of age, I have both the time and experience to handle the job.  I believe what others think and say is important – thus I am an excellent listener and I truly care about the opinions of others.  In this regard, I would ask that if you have any issue concerning our town that you wish to discuss, please take a moment and contact me by telephone, e-mail or an in-home visit. 

     One of the major problems of concern to all of us now and in the foreseeable future is the unrestricted construction throughout nearby Sussex County.  This economic cancer is stressing our town services, our beaches and our road capacity.  Members of our Town Council must become more involved in seeking county, state and federal assistance in both slowing this residential development and in keeping our infrastructure up-to-date.  Beach preservation and replenishment, expanding existing or opening new state beaches to accommodate the growth in population, pedestrian and cyclist safety, drainage and flood water management and expanding our water reserves with an additional water tower are all challenges that require decisive leadership from the people you elect to our Town Council.

      For 30 years, I was employed as a retail business executive and operated 10 stores with 1,400 employees and annual sales of $140 million dollars. After my first retirement in 1993, a friend and I became one of the first Internet Service Providers (ISP) in the Washington, DC area and operated it successfully until mid 2000, when we sold the business and Claudia (my wife of 43 years) and I became full-time residents in Bethany Beach. 

     At personal expense, I created and continue to maintain a Bethany Beach website, which provides free space to many of our homeowner associations, the Bethany Beach Women's Civic Club, churches and our local businesses.  If your homeowner association needs a website, I can provide you with complimentary website space.

     To assist senior citizens and school students, who need a computer, during the past four years, I have collected, repaired and provided approximately 300 working computers to Families Connected in Millsboro, DE.  This group determines need and places the computers with those who cannot afford them.  If you have an old computer, don't throw it away, contact me and let's provide it to someone in need.  In my spare time, I teach evening computer classes for the Indian River Adult Education department. 

     During the last several years, I served the town as a member of the Budget and Finance Committee, Charter and Ordinance Review Committee, Communication Committee, Election Board, Planning Commission, and on the committee, which brought our Trolleys into service.  During that same period, I served our community as a member of the Board of Directors for The Friends of South Coastal Library and as a Board Member and Treasurer for the Bethany Beach Landowners' Association for several years.  Both Claudia and I are active in the Bethany Beach Disciples of Christ Church.

     If you believe, we should elect those who have been active in multiple roles for several years, who continue to be actively involved throughout our community, who seek additional educational training, who bring new ideas and energy and who can work with a variety of individuals and groups to enhance the quality of life here in Bethany Beach, please vote for me on September 11, 2010 in the Bethany Beach Town Hall between Noon and 6 PM.