Melinda Loberg was sworn in as a Dukes County commissioner Thursday after a 4 to 3 vote by the county commission on Wednesday night. She will fill the seat left vacant by Paul Strauss, who retired earlier this summer.

“This is not what I saw myself being at this time in my life,” Ms. Loberg said on the phone yesterday. “But I was encouraged by folks in the community who I respect.”

Ms. Loberg, a resident of Vineyard Haven, has come to the Island for summers her whole life; she moved here full time in 1999.

She is a volunteer and clerk on the board of directors of Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard. Since 1999, she has been a volunteer EMT on the Vineyard, winning EMT of the year for 2008. She is president of the Tisbury Volunteer Ambulance Association.

She is also the president of the board of directors for the Tisbury Waterways Inc. She has worked on the water subcommittee of the Island Plan and is chairman of the Lagoon Pond drawbridge committee.

“I don’t expect to make an impact immediately,” she said. “I have a lot to learn.”

In two years, she plans to run for re-election.

“I think it’s important for the people to have a say in this,” she said.

She encourages people to write to her or approach her on the street with ideas.

“We would benefit from the public’s interest and input,” she said. “There’s a tremendous amount of talent and expertise on this Island.”

In other business, the county commission heard the last of the public comment on the new beach rules at their meeting Wednesday. There was little debate or opposition and the rules were passed.

Organizers of any gathering involving commercial activity on Joseph Sylvia State Beach or gatherings of 50 or more people will have to speak with the county manager.

“That only took a year,” said commissioner Tristan Israel. “About a year? That’s pretty good.”