The Massachusetts primary is next Thursday, Sept. 8, and two Democrats, Robert W. Ogden and Marc R. Rivers, are in a primary runoff for county sheriff. Neal J. Maciel, an unenrolled candate from Vineyard Haven, will be on the ballot in November. The Gazette emailed customized questionnaires to each announced candidate for office asking them to answer two general questions: why Martha’s Vineyard voters should elect them and what their qualifications were for office. The county office candidates were also asked why the job they are seeking should matter to local voters.

Marc R. Rivers
Oak Bluffs Democrat
Dukes County Sheriff Candidate

Statement

A sheriff needs to be someone who is approachable, a good listener, fair, and someone who genuinely cares about others. I am that kind of person. I am one who is not afraid of hard work and I will work for the people of Dukes County. I will listen to, and address, the concerns of the people in our community. I have the vision to reach out to others and create a team effort in our community, to conquer the challenges we face. I have a personal motivation to help in the fight against all addictions that currently affect our community. Both my parents had issues with drug and alcohol addiction and I lost my sister at the tender age of 28 to an addiction. I will take on these and many other battles from the heart with the purpose of making our community a better place for all.

Qualifications

I was self-motivated to put myself through the police academy where I graduated in 1996. I have the unique skill set of having worked both sides of law enforcement as both a police officer for four years as well as a corrections officer. I am the only candidate with hands-on experience of 13 years as a deputy sheriff at the Dukes County house of correction where I worked the overnight shift. During this time, I worked with the other deputy sheriffs, I ran many overnight shifts. It was there where I learned to handle adverse situations every night. I learned to listen to people from many walks of life that were under great duress, with so many different scenarios that must be dealt with on a daily basis. Each situation is different from the next and these are crucial skills you can only gain from first-hand experience. I have always given 110% to every endeavor in my life and will continue to do so as the Dukes County Sheriff, if elected.

Why Voters Should Care

The sheriff’s office has Islandwide jurisdiction. That means that this department can be utilized throughout the Island for many of the needs that our community is facing. The sheriff’s office could be so much more in our community by creating programs related to any aspect or need. Better resources for the addiction epidemic, improved technology for our senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, youth activity programs to support our kids and try to deter drug or alcohol use and to educate and support men and woman going through domestic violence issues. The possibilities are endless. Through grant writing and partnering up with other organizations, the sheriff’s office could do so much for our community. The sheriff’s office belongs to our community.