Former Rehoboth Beach commissioner charged in political sign theft

A former Rehoboth Beach commissioner was arrested Nov. 4 after police say he stole political signs.

Rehoboth Beach Police said they received a complaint Oct. 30, that a candidate’s signs had been removed on multiple occasions. Mike Simpler, Republican candidate for the District 14 representative seat, released his own statement thanking the police for handling his complaint over “the orchestrated and persistent theft of my campaign signs over the last month.”

Officers investigating the complaint observed Richard Byrne, 78, of Rehoboth Beach, in possession of several of the stolen signs in the area in which they had been placed.

Byrne was taken into custody without incident and was charged with two counts of theft under $1,500 and two counts of criminal mischief under $1,000. He was released on his own recognizance.

“I’m grateful to the amazing Rehoboth Beach Police Department for their professional and attentive handling of my complaint about the orchestrated and persistent theft of my campaign signs over the last month,” Simpler said in a statement. “I appreciate the seriousness taken by the police toward the interference in the election process that has no place in Sussex County. From what I understand, the police undertook an investigation that included installation of cameras to determine the party responsible for stealing not just my signs, but my constitutional right to communicate with voters. Sign theft is not just property theft, it is an affront to our voters, their ability to participate in the electoral process, and to weigh the serious choices in front of them.”

Byrne served as a Rehoboth commissioner from 2018-21. He is also listed as a member of the 14th District Democratic Committee. 

Simpler faced Democrat Claire Snyder-Hall in the District 14 race to fill the seat vacated by retiring Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf. Snyder-Hall won with about 55% of the vote. 

Following the election, Byrne resigned from his position as president of Rehoboth Beach Main Street Nov. 6. RBMS released a statement to announce the news. 

“We are deeply saddened by the news reports regarding Dick Byrne,” the statement reads. “Mr. Byrne has stepped down as president out of concern for RBMS. In the interim, until our annual election of officers, our vice president, Suzie Martin, will serve as interim president.  We have a strong organization and can assure the members of our community that the work of RBMS will continue without interruption. We have no further comment at this time.”