When voters in Chilmark head to the polls on Wednesday, April 26, they will elect a new select board member to fill the seat that’s been held by Warren Doty for 24 years.
Marie Larsen, a retired school administrator, and Russell Maloney, a real estate broker, are both seeking the position. The two candidates responded to questions emailed to them by the Gazette. Their answers, lightly edited for style and length, appear below.
The annual town election will be held at the Chilmark Community Center. Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m.
Marie Larsen
Occupation: Retired administrator at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, retired co-owner of Edgartown Seafood with husband
Previous or current town board service or other relevant roles: Charter School Board, hiring committees.
What encouraged you to run for select board?
I attended the Finance Advisory Committee hearings on the FY24 budget cycle in January and February. A wise Chilmarker once said if you want to learn about town government, go to FinCom meetings, and she was right. I learned a great deal and became even more excited about our local government, and concerned about its problems. I have continued to attend these meetings, and plan to do so in the future. In fact, my attendance at these FinCom meetings was the catalyst for my decision to run for the select board. Proper governance requires constant vigilance. We all have an obligation to be part of the solution. I now have the time and energy to serve, since we sold our business to three young Edgartown islanders. I have passed that torch and am ready to continue on another path. I have lived and worked on this island for 40 years and I have an intimate understanding of the complexities of our Vineyard economy, and Chilmark’s place within it. I want to help preserve for my children and grandchildren what has been protected for us by those who came before.
What is the most critical issue Chilmark is facing?
The taxpayers of Chilmark have a number of large capital expenditures on the horizon - the HVAC at the school, upgrades to the dock in Menemsha, Peaked Hill affordable housing, and paying our share to rebuild the high school, to name a few. These are big ticket items and we need to get current spending under control to pay for these expenditures and to keep the tax rate affordable for young people and people in town on fixed incomes. And of course, we have just started to pay for our new fire/EMS stations in town.
What efforts need to be made to address that issue?
We need to have a capital improvement plan in place, and to stick to it. Town governance should not be about crisis management. This concept has been on the table for years but has yet to be fully articulated and implemented. We need to plan for our future, and I hope to play a role in that.
Why should residents vote for you over the other candidate?
Community matters. I have lived and worked here for 40 years. I have the time to serve and have a deep commitment to this town. I believe my skills acquired over the years at the Charter School, at my small business, and through living in the complex Vineyard economy will serve me well as a member of the Chilmark Select Board. I am ready to serve.
Russell Maloney
Occupation: Real estate broker
Previous or current town board service or other relevant roles: Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, board of directors for the Island Autism Group
What encouraged you to run for select board?
Some of our townspeople asked if I would consider running and I gave it serious thought. It’s a big responsibility but I believe I am capable of being a successful select person.
What is the most critical issue Chilmark is facing?
The most critical issue is housing. More specifically, finding a balance between providing housing with acceptable density while preserving our natural resources.
What efforts need to be made to address this issue?
While we await the return of the housing bill from the legislature, we can make a better effort at promoting those programs which we already have in place, i.e. youth lots, accessory apartments, homesite housing to name a few.
Why should residents vote for you over the other candidate?
Residents should vote for me because I am experienced, proven, capable and trusted. If elected I promise our townspeople that I will always be available to listen, to learn and to lead.
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