Split Vote Names Mr. Hanover as Governor

By JAMES KINSELLA
Gazette Senior Writer

In a 4-3 vote, the Dukes County Commission on Wednesday opted for
stability over new ideas, choosing Marc Hanover of Oak Bluffs as the
next Vineyard Steamship Authority governor.

Commission members Leslie Leland, Leonard Jason Jr., Paul Strauss
and John Alley voted for Mr. Hanover, an Oak Bluffs restaurateur who has
served for the past two years on the port council, an advisory board to
the boat line.

Commission members Robert Sawyer, Nelson Smith and Roger Wey voted
for Edgartown hotelier Mark A. Snider.

The two remaining candidates - Mr. Sawyer, who is a Vineyard
Haven resident, and Kenneth DeBettencourt of Oak Bluffs - received
no votes.

Following the 4-3 vote, Mr. Alley, chairman of the commission, asked
for and received a unanimous vote appointing Mr. Hanover to the
three-year unpaid post.

Following the decision, Mr. Hanover thanked the commission for
handing him the job, which is arguably the most powerful position on the
Vineyard.

He said he sees the value of restoring stability to the SSA, which
has been roiled by conflicts in recent years, including a move earlier
this year by Nantucket to explore secession from the boat line.

Mr. Hanover said he also wants the SSA to keep making improvements,
though many of them will be subtle. He also wants the boat line to
continue to give preferential treatment to Islanders and commuters, a
treatment that he said would be subsidized by visitors using the boat
line.

The new governor said he also will seek direction from the
commission, Island boards of selectmen, and Vineyard residents in
general.

In a brief interview after the appointment, Mr. Hanover said he
wants the SSA to emphasize customer service. He said he hopes to win the
confidence of commission members who did not vote for him at
Wednesday's meeting.

On Wednesday the commissioners also voted 7-0 to appoint Mr. Hanover
to serve the remainder of the term of former Vineyard member Kathryn A.
Roessel, who was found dead at her Vineyard Haven home Nov. 27. Ms.
Roessel's term expires Dec. 31.

A procedural glitch had threatened to prevent Mr. Hanover from
taking his seat at today's SSA meeting in Woods Hole. Because of a
peculiar staffing shortage at Dukes County Superior Court, Mr. Hanover
could not be sworn in on the Vineyard.

Undeterred, Mr. Hanover subsequently made arrangements yesterday to
travel and be sworn in at Barnstable Superior Court, which would enable
him to vote as the Vineyard governor today.

At the meeting this morning the search committee is set to recommend
a choice for a new general manager. A source told the Gazette that the
committee plans to recommend interim general manager Wayne Lamson.

Barnstable governor and board chairman Robert O'Brien welcomed
news of Mr. Hanover's appointment.

"I'm delighted," Mr. O'Brien said yesterday.
"I think the Dukes County commissioners should be congratulated on
an exceptionally fine choice."

Mr. O'Brien said Mr. Hanover's service on the port
council provides him with the background to start fully functioning not
only as a boat line member, but as chairman of the SSA which falls by
statute this coming year to the Vineyard member. "He walks in
there fully prepared," Mr. O'Brien said.

Going forward, Mr. O'Brien said, Mr. Hanover will provide
needed stability for the Steamship Authority. Two boat line members
- Ms. Roessel and the former Nantucket member, Grace Grossman
- died this year, and chief executive officer Fred C. Raskin
resigned this past summer.

Falmouth governor Robert Marshall said yesterday that he was glad
that the county commissioners "resolved their perceived confusion,
and have settled on a good, qualified person."

That said, Mr. Marshall has raised his eyebrows at statements by Mr.
Hanover questioning the boat line's decision to contract out
service between the Vineyard and New Bedford. "It was the only
economic sense that made any sense at all," Mr. Marshall said.

As for what Mr. Hanover's appointment means going forward, Mr.
Marshall said, "It's a marathon, not a sprint. What change
that will mean in the 35 per cent [vote], we'll have to
see."

Yesterday Mr. Snider said the most important thing in the SSA
selection process was the consideration of issues that are important to
the Vineyard.

"Marc Hanover will be a great member," Mr. Snider said.
As for himself, he said he absolutely will remain involved in boat line
issues.

Wednesday's vote by the county commission concludes a
complicated process that included the issuance of advisory letters from
the state ethics commission, the candidacy of county commission member
Mr. Sawyer, and the unexpected death of Ms. Roessel, who had been a
candidate for reappointment and who was the fiancé of county
commission member Mr. Smith.

At the meeting, the commissioners went around the table, making and
explaining their choices. There were two rounds of voting.

In the first round:

Mr. Leland voted for Mr. Hanover, citing his service on the port
council, where he has represented Oak Bluffs, and his 28 years of
business experience.

Mr. Strauss said he had been facing a dilemma in whether to vote for
experience or new ideas. He voted for Mr. Snider, seen as representing
the latter.

Mr. Smith said he was voting for Mr. Snider, noting that he has
known him for more than 30 years.

Mr. Jason voted for Mr. Hanover, citing the need for stability.

Mr. Wey voted for Mr. Snider, calling him the best choice.

Mr. Alley voted for Mr. Hanover, citing the need for stability and
cooperation.

The result was a 3-3 tie. Mr. Alley then called a recess. After
consulting with county manager E. Winn Davis, Mr. Alley then announced
he would reopen the voting with just two candidates, Mr. Hanover and Mr.
Snider. If the commission could not make a decision, he said, the vote
would be postponed until Jan. 5.

At that point, Mr. Sawyer, who no longer was a candidate, said he
would resume his seat at the table and cast a vote.

Mr. Jason objected, saying that Mr. Sawyer hadn't received any
votes and now was seeking to be the tie breaker.

Mr. Davis said Mr. Sawyer legally was entitled to vote on the
decision. As a candidate, Mr. Sawyer had chosen not to participate as a
commissioner in the interviews or cast a vote, so as to not pose even
the appearance of conflict. The state ethics commission had cleared the
way for him to participate.

Mr. Sawyer resumed his seat at the table.

In the second round of voting, Mr. Strauss changed his vote to Mr.
Hanover, saying since he cast the first vote he had decided that
stability in the SSA post was most important. Mr. Sawyer voted for Mr.
Snider, and in the end Mr. Alley cast the tie-breaking vote for Mr.
Hanover.

Given the guidelines the commission followed, Mr. Alley said Mr.
Hanover could best represent the Island.