Tomorrow is election day in Chilmark. Three candidates are running for the seat left vacant by the death of selectman Herbert Hancock this spring. Polls at the Chilmark Community Center will be open from noon to 8 p.m.

The three candidates come from varied backgrounds. Elizabeth Pickett-Gray owns the Pickett House on South Road, and has never before held town office.

Marc R. Villa is semi-retired, formerly the owner of a timber business. A commercial pilot, he served on the Chilmark finance committee for six years. He is an airport commissioner and has served for five years.

Frank M. Fenner Jr. served on the town finance committee for six years and managed an Island-based refuse business along with other businesses. He was born and raised on the Island.

The Gazette spoke with the candidates by telephone this week.

Frank M. Fenner Jr.

Vineyard Gazette: Why are you the best choice for the job, and what do you bring to the office?

Mr. Fenner: "I believe that I have a casual style that fits in with most people in Chilmark. I also believe I am exceptionally productive. It should show through the various businesses I have gone through. I have been successful and productive. I am not in it for the limelight. I am in it to produce and solve issues and move onward. By growing up here, I have a better understanding of town rivalries, the differences. I believe I would bring a good viewpoint. The best thing I bring to the job is an ability to listen and to work with all townspeople, employees of the town and elected officials to improve the life in Chilmark.

Gazette: Townspeople have voted to indefinitely postpone the expansion projects for the library and town hall. How should the town proceed?

Mr. Fenner: With the library, to me it is kind of sad. There was not a clear idea of what the plan was for the library, the process has not been completely clear to everyone. No one had a chance to vote the plan. With the town hall, I don't see any alternative to what is being offered. The plan for the town hall is a good one, but we haven't discussed alternatives, we haven't discussed alternative pricing or other uses of the buildings. We have the old Menemsha School. At town meeting we revived the planning committee on what should be done. They could come up with an idea that would alter our direction for town hall.

Gazette: What do you see coming into the foreground in town in the next couple of years? What should the selectmen be focusing on?

Mr. Fenner: The town's financial issues are going to be in the limelight for a few years ahead of us. We need a good inventory of town-owned properties. We need a good capital plan that addresses the main issues. We need to look at providing youth lots and affordable housing. The youth are a tremendous asset to the community, and we really need to spend a lot of time on that. We are getting to be an older community, the median age is moving up. There are a lot of issues in the future involving senior citizens.

Gazette: Everyone is in favor of providing affordable housing in town. What do you propose we do to address the problem?

Mr. Fenner: We need to get the community and all the town boards to meet together and exchange ideas and work toward a common goal. I would like to see some kind of system that serves the future. We don't just need five lots today, we need five lots next year and the following year.

Elizabeth Pickett-Gray

Gazette: Why are you the best choice for the job, and what do you bring to the office?

Ms. Pickett-Gray: I can bring a different perspective to the office, compared to the two other candidates. I am a single mom with two children, who gave up a high-status business in film to move here. I believe the office needs foresight and courage, that comes from the heart. I will make decisions on my own. I will gain knowledge from the experts and form my own opinion.

Gazette: Townspeople have voted to indefinitely postpone the expansion projects for the library and town hall. How should the town proceed?

Ms. Pickett-Gray: We really need to take time to look ahead at what we are doing. How is this going to change the town, our finances? We need to plan for the future so that what happens in our town doesn't happen haphazardly. We have to think smart. We can grow, but at a reasonable pace that doesn't jeopardize our small rural community.

Gazette: What do you see coming into the foreground in town in the next couple of years? What should the selectmen be focusing on?

Ms. Pickett-Gray: You need to see well ahead of the trends, earmark those that are good and balance it out. I think we face huge growth. There are a lot of changes ahead, growth, changing budgets. We shouldn't just jump on the boat.

Gazette: Everyone is in favor of providing affordable housing in town. What do you propose we do to address the problem?

Ms. Pickett-Gray: I think we can go back to the planning board and see what we can do. In Chilmark we have youth lots that have worked for 30 years. How can we lay it out so that there is not one affordable housing section. These lots should be all over Chilmark. I think we really have lost out. A lot of people have moved away, we should have addressed this sooner. We need to design a program that Chilmark can use.

Marc R. Villa

Vineyard Gazette: Why are you the best choice for the job, and what do you bring to the office?

Mr. Villa: I have a fair amount of experience with the town. I am well versed in town finances. I am well versed in the inter-town relationships, because of my terms on the airport commission. I have work experience running various companies with large budgets and large office staff. The key part is that I believe I can bring to Chilmark a willingness to put in the effort, to see that the town looks carefully at its decision making process in all of its upcoming major decisions.

Gazette: Townspeople have voted to indefinitely postpone the expansion projects for the library and town hall. How should the town proceed?

Mr. Villa: Those presenting the library project have been asked to be more precise in the financing, hence a decision at town meeting was postponed until the numbers are available. There is a deadline in order for the library to not lose the grant that is involved, therefore a special town meeting has been designed for this purpose. This makes sense to me. It will be far more clear to the town exactly what is being asked. As far as the town hall, there seems to be little question something needs to be done to satisfy the need for additional and appropriate space. It was agreed at the town meeting and I certainly accept it, that the decision on the town hall project be postponed to the annual town meeting to give the townspeople an opportunity to review and explore other possibilities.

Gazette: What do you see coming into the foreground in town in the next couple of years? What should the selectmen be focusing on?

Mr. Villa: I differ with the existing selectmen, the town needs to take a more comprehensive view of both the physical needs of the town and the financial picture of the town rather than deal with one project at a time. We do have a potential need to reconstruct the ambulance and fire facility. We have to look beyond the physical needs. There are other issues. There is affordable housing, dredging, work on the harbor. All the issues will potentially impact us.

Gazette: Everyone is in favor of providing affordable housing in town. What do you propose we do to address the problem?

Mr. Villa: Affording housing is a big one. I am not sure. I don't believe people are in agreement on this issue. I believe the affordable housing issue has to be addressed by the planning board and then by the finance committee. I would hope we find a way to assist affordable housing through zoning and through the use of existing town land, but I am extremely hesitant about using taxpayer funds.