REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — Susan Stewart was elected mayor of Rehoboth Beach on Saturday, defeating three other candidates as voters also selected two commissioners to serve on the city’s governing board.
Stewart received 632 votes, according to the city’s official results. Suzanne Goode received 177 votes, Craig Their received 203 and William “Jake” Raak received 23.
Patrick Gossett and Mark Saunders won the two available seats on the Board of Commissioners. Saunders received 852 votes, Gossett received 813 and Jeffrey Goode received 239.
A total of 1,098 voters cast ballots in the election, including 624 who voted in person at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and 474 who voted by absentee or early ballot. The city had 1,586 registered voters for the 2026 municipal election.
Stewart, a city commissioner for nearly a year, previously served on the city’s planning commission, stormwater utility task force and mixed-use task force. She has said she wants to manage growth while preserving what makes Rehoboth unique and improve collaboration and communication in city government.
She will succeed Mayor Stan Mills, who decided not to seek another term after nearly two decades of service to the city. Mills said he will have served 18 years by the end of his term, including six years as mayor.
Gossett, an incumbent, has said planning for Rehoboth’s next 20 years requires balancing the needs of the city and its residents. Saunders, also an incumbent, has pointed to his work on the city’s Streets and Transportation Committee and public safety efforts.
The three winners will be sworn in at the Sept. 18 commissioners meeting.
