The Massachusetts primary is next Thursday, Sept. 8. Five candidates are vying in the Democratic primary for the state representative seat now held by retiring Rep. Timothy Madden; two other candidates not enrolled in any party will appear on the November ballot. 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 legislative candidates were also asked about their priorities.

T. Ewell Hopkins Jr.
Oak Bluffs Democrat
State Representative Candidate

Statement

To speak with a stronger voice at the state house, as your state representative, I will focus on building alliances between the Island communities, town of Falmouth and the greater Cape and cultivating a shared vision for the Cape and Islands. The common threads that draw us together are stronger than our differences. I pledge “access for all” through a process of predictable, in-district office hours, focused on service to others, and a commitment to transparency in government.

Qualifications

I have a demonstrated record of community service, advocacy for affordable housing, and promotion of sustainable economic development on the Cape and Islands. Education: bachelor’s degrees Boston University School of Management, 1982.

Elected: Oak Bluffs planning board, Oak Bluffs Democratic town committee (chairman), Democratic Council of Martha’s Vineyard (president), Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard (president).

Past Service: affordable housing committee (chairman), Housing Fund (executive director), board member Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands Inc., board member Plum Hill (Waldorf School), Unitarian Universalist Society of MV parish committee, Boy Scouts of America, cub master, Metro West Mental Health Association (Framingham, board chairman, 1988-1990).

Priorities

Based on the voices I have heard in our district, here are a few of the issues I will focus on as state representative:

• The list of environmental initiatives is long and clearly a priority.

• Promote better housing strategies for young and old.

• Heal opioid addiction crisis.

• Local control and earmarking resulting revenues resulting from any room occupancy tax on weekly rentals.

Additional important issues facing our district:

• Guarantee pre-K education for our children.

• Implement sustainable economic development on the Cape and Islands.

• Elder care initiatives.

• Work to address economic inequality.

• Increase civic engagement.