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.

Ernest Douglas Sederholm
Town: West Tisbury
Occupation: Attorney

Reason for Running

I seek another term on the Martha’s Vineyard Commission because I care deeply about our community and this beautiful place we call home. Much of our country has been degraded by inappropriate development. We read about it and see it on the news all the time. That doesn’t happen here, in good part because of the work of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. The MVC is the only Islandwide body charged with making sure that Martha’s Vineyard doesn’t get ruined by inappropriate development. It was created to protect “the unique natural, historical, ecological, scientific, and cultural values” of the Island from development and uses that would impair them. The development threat will never cease because the real estate values here are so high. Some development is inevitable and necessary to sustain the Island economy; but it must always respect and preserve the natural beauty of the Island on which our quality of life that is so dependent. I hope to continue this important work.

Qualifications

I have served on the Martha’s Vineyard Commission for 14 years. In that time I have served as chairman of the commission and chairman of its land use planning committee. From time to time I have been asked to chair other commission committees. I currently serve as chairman of the committee responsible for drafting a revision of the commission’s DRI water quality policy.

I have been a practicing lawyer for over forty years. My experience representing Islanders in all sorts of civil matters has helped me understand the financial and housing challenges many people face in trying to live here.

I also serve on the board of directors of Polly Hill Arboretum, one of the Island’s treasures.

Commission’s Unique Mission

Overall, the MVC is doing a pretty good job of making sure that development projects fit into the character of the island. At the same time, the Commission has responded to concerns of developers and some town officials that it sometimes reviews projects that have limited regional impact, by raising the threshold for its review of commercial projects. I have found that the commissioners I work with are sensitive to the concerns of the applicant, town officials and abutters. We can always do a better job by making the DRI review process more user-friendly.

Available Time Commitment

As much time as it takes to do the job right.