Fourteen candidates are running for nine seats on the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. The Gazette emailed questions to all the candidates asking them about their reasons for running, qualifications, and to speak to the unique mission of the 41-year-old regional planning agency.

Christina Brown
Town: Edgartown
Occupation: Retired, former assistant, Edgartown planning board

Reason for Running

I hope to continue my work as a member of the MVC, with particular interest in more affordable housing for people who live and work here and in seeing an economy which is stabilized.

Qualifications

I am a longtime member of the Edgartown conservation commission and the Edgartown affordable housing committee.

Commission’s Unique Mission

I believe the MVC has given the Vineyard a strong tool over the last 40 years to work with town boards, private groups, and concerned citizens. Each has played a part in maintaining our unique community and must keep working closely together.

The MVC should continue to gather the masses of data about traffic, water quality, open space, where and how people live and work here. Towns have used this data to make the decisions and practical actions that guide growth — such as where or if to sewer, how or if roads should be widened, zoning and land use regulations.

The DRI approvals by the MVC, with conditions, have given developers a better understanding of what fits here. Towns aren’t getting proposals for development that are way out of line but are getting proposals for gradual growth.

I hope the MVC and towns and citizens will continue the lively debates about the future of the Vineyard!

Available Time Commitment

Parts of 10 days reading, thinking and meeting.