At first glance the race for Martha’s Vineyard Commission, the regional land use planning agency vested with broad powers by the state legislature, seems quite simple. There are nine candidates listed on the ballot and nine open seats on the commission.
But not so fast.
The total number of candidates running is actually 10; James Athearn of Edgartown is running as a write-in candidate. Mr. Athearn, the owner of Morning Glory Farm, gathered the required signatures to get his name on the ballot but forgot to file his nomination papers in time to meet the deadline.
Mr. Athearn has served on the commission since 2000 and is chairman of the Island Plan committee. He was also among the top voter-getters during the last election and is well respected among his peers.
Several commissioners running against Mr. Athearn offered praise for him this week, perhaps to the detriment of their own campaigns.
Technically all 10 candidates are running against each other for nine at-large seats on the 21-member commission. But because at least one commissioner must be elected from each town, and no more than two can be elected from each town. John R. Breckenridge of Oak Bluffs and Katherine Newman of Aquinnah are almost certain to win seats. Mr. Breckenridge is an appointed member seeking election for the first time, while Ms. Newman is seeking reelection.
Two candidates are running from Tisbury: incumbent Peter Cabana and challenger Holly Stephenson. Ms. Stephenson is the only candidate who does not currently serve on the commission.
Two candidates are running from Chilmark; E. Douglas Sederholm and Chris W. Murphy. Mr. Sederholm is the current chairman of the commission who is seeking reelection, while Mr. Murphy is an appointed member now running for an elected seat.
Two candidates are running from West Tisbury: Linda Sibley, the longest-serving commissioner who has served since 1992, and Andrew Woodruff, owner of Whippoorwill Farm, who was among the top vote-getters in the last election.
In telephone interviews this week (Ms. Stephenson could not be reached because she was off-Island and Mr. Woodruff did not return a phone call), most candidates said the commission was doing a good job protecting the Island and promoting the goals outlined in the enabling legislation that created the land use agency in 1974. Many said the commission should take a harder line enforcing the condition for projects approved as developments of regional impact (DRIs). Others said they supported creating an Islandwide committee that would establish regulations for renewable energy.
Mr. Athearn said the commission continues to serve as an “important filter” that keeps out certain developments that would otherwise threaten the rural character and fragile environment of the Vineyard.
“At the very least, the existence of the commission keeps people on their toes . . . it helps them improve their own projects and make them better for the Island,” he said.
He said he was impressed with the current makeup of the commission.
“I am always struck by the smart and impassioned people we have on this Island . . . we have a lot of people on the commission who are quite dedicated and qualified,” he said.
Mrs. Sibley said she was optimistic the commission might work toward finding an acceptable rate of growth for residential and commercial development in the coming years. She also said the Island Plan will play a key role in creating a blueprint for the Vineyard’s future.
She said the commission should work to take on regional issues, but not at the expense of individual towns.
“I have always been fascinated by the role of a regional planning agency in the middle of a region largely governed by the town meeting form of government. We have a responsibility to protect this Island . . . but we also have a responsibility to work with our towns,” she said.
Mr. Murphy said he supports adopting stricter policies for enforcing conditions for DRIs. “We can’t be the police of the Island, but we can provide support to the individual towns to make sure what needs to be done gets done. We should be a tool for the towns . . . if they need help solving a problem, we should be there with solutions,” he said.
Mr. Sederholm said the commission can do a better job communicating with applicants and helping them comply with conditions. He said he also supports an Islandwide approach to developing renewable energy sources.
“Balancing the need for renewable energy and protecting the natural beauty of the Island is no easy task . . . but it is one of the most important things we are facing,” he said.
Mr. Cabana is another proponent of an Islandwide renewable energy plan. He said he differs from some his fellow commissioners in that he supports harnessing offshore wind. He is in the process of writing a book about renewable energy and hosting a series of lectures on the subject at the Vineyard Haven Public Library.
“It’s what I am passionate about. I think the commission can and should play a role in guiding the Island toward renewable energy,” he said, adding: “It will take a paradigm shift in our thinking in regard to our energy policies. We need to stop thinking in terms of six Island towns and start thinking in terms of one Island.”
Mr. Breckenridge said he hopes the Island Plan will help create a more sustainable Vineyard.
“The world is changing fast and some would say the Vineyard is changing even faster. We should remind people we have this wonderful piece of legislation that was created to protect this Island. We have something very precious here on the Vineyard . . . and we have the tools and the means to protect it,” he said.
Ms. Newman said the commission has a difficult job in balancing the integrity and character of the Vineyard while moving forward with sustainable economic development. She said she supports taking a more active more in promoting affordable housing and renewable energy.
“I think we’re going to see more windmills and wind turbines over the next few years. We should start asking how many of these [windmills] do we want and where should they be located,” she said.
Ms. Brown said the commission continues to be an important part of Island planning. She said the commission should continue to respect the unique qualities of the towns.
“I think we are very aware that each town has its own personality and unique attributes. I think the commission and the individual towns have shown a willingness to work together for the good of the Island, and I hope that spirit of collaboration continues,” she said.
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