Chilmark select board chair James Malkin announced Tuesday that he will not be running for reelection in April.

Mr. Malkin will have been a select board member for three terms – nine years – by the time he steps down. 

“I feel that the town is in good shape,” he said at the select board meeting this week. “I think we have a solid staff and I think we’ve made progress in terms of hiring and people that we have working in town and I think the town is pretty well positioned for the future.” 

Mr. Malkin is also the Martha’s Vineyard representative on the Steamship Authority board of governors. Currently at the end of his second term, Mr. Malkin would ideally like to finish a third term with that board.

“I think that three terms is a good amount of time for having learned what you need to learn and then starting what you need to do in any elected and appointed office,” he said. “I would like and intend to do Steamship for three terms as well, should the Dukes County Commission appoint for me a third term.”

Mr. Malkin also announced at the meeting that Matthew Poole will be running to replace him.  

“I think he’s gonna be a great select person,” Mr. Malkin said. 

No one else had pulled nomination papers as of Wednesday, according to town clerk Jennifer Christy.

Mr. Malkin felt like it was the perfect time to step down as he looks forward to having more free time to spend with his family. 

“A sign in the Chilmark Chandlery used to say, ‘beware the ebb tide,’” he said. “At 77, the tide of my life is ebbing. There are things that I want to do with family and travel and it’s time for a new generation to work with the select board and the town.”