Seven candidates are running for seven seats on the Dukes County Commission on Nov. 3. Although county government has been abolished in most areas of Massachusetts, in 1992 Dukes County voters decided to preserve and reorganize their regional government by adopting a county charter. The charter was reconfirmed by voters in a referendum in 2006. In answers to emailed questions from the Gazette ahead of the election, the seven candidates responded to questions about the relevance and effectiveness of county government today. Responses have been lightly edited for style, but otherwise are the candidates’ own words.
Candidates
Leon Arthur Brathwaite 2nd
Age: 79
Town of residence: West Tisbury
Occupation: Retired director of staff development /AAO City of Newton; former chair of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination; former secretary of the Episcopal Dioceses of Massachusetts; currently West Tisbury personnel board member and vice chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party
How many years have you served on the Dukes County Commission?
Elected in 2012.
County government has been eliminated in many parts of Massachusetts. Why is it still relevant in Dukes County?
The county government provides the conduit for obtaining state and federal grants as well as town resources to provide countywide programs such as the MV Center for Living and Vineyard Health Care Access.
What do you consider the most important role of the Dukes County Commission?
I see the main role of the Dukes County Commission as oversight of the county budget, preservation of county property and assets, review and appointment of county representatives to the Airport Commission and Health Council, and identifying, facilitating and implementing regional initiatives and issues that impact the residents of Dukes County. The commission should play a key role in fostering communication, collaboration and cooperation among the six towns to reach fair and equitable solutions. I will help carry this out by working with my fellow commissioners, the county manager, the county advisory board, county-wide agencies, county residents and human services organizations.
How effective has the Dukes County Commission been in meeting its role and how would you improve its effectiveness?
The county has been effective in working with nonprofits on the Island to address the opioid crises, homelessness and management of ounty properties and assets. The commission should increase its knowledge base of state and federal laws and regulations as they affect the commission and its employees.
John Cahill
Please provide your name, town of residence, age and profession.
Age: 66
Town of residence: Tisbury
Occupation: Customer service
How many years have you served on the Dukes County Commission?
Two.
County government has been eliminated in many parts of Massachusetts. Why is it still relevant in Dukes County?
While there is much debate on the county’s relevancy, Islanders can all agree Martha’s Vineyard is a special place and we want to keep it that way. Our heritage is important.
Dukes County government allows us in simple and complex ways to do just that. Having an island-wide government entity allows “home rule.” Decisions and documents can be processed locally without turning to the ztate to make our decision or sign off on documents. Finally, the county government provides a ready mechanism for island-wide initiatives and coordination which we all realize how important that is in today’s environment.
What do you consider the most important role of the Dukes County Commission?
I believe one of our primary roles as a commission is to continue to build credibility with each of the town leaders and every Islander. The commissioners elected in 2020 will be a much different commission than even three years ago. We will be an energized, vibrant, smart and proactive commission. And I believe our goal and role is to demonstrate our talent and willingness to solve Islandwide problems.
How effective has the Dukes County Commission been in meeting its role and how would you improve its effectiveness?
One thing I learned over the past two years — change happens slowly in a democracy. Building trust with town leaders and Islanders will take time. We have a long road ahead of us.
However, as stated above, the commission is already much more pro-active in the community than ever before. Currently, all the commissioners are involved in several significant Island projects that will benefit all of us. This forward facing, pro-active positioning on the part of our commissioners is our best way to build trust with the community. That is what we must do to improve our effectiveness.
Keith Chatinover
Age: 20
Town of residence: Edgartown
Occupation: student and activist
How many years have you served on the Dukes County Commission?
Two.
County government has been eliminated in many parts of Massachusetts. Why is it still relevant in Dukes County?
County government is still relevant in Dukes County because we need to have a regional government structure in order to serve the Island when carrying out our government responsibilities six times over would be ineffective and inefficient. The county plays a vital role in facilitating Islandwide services, such as the social services department, where residents can access SNAP benefits and fuel assistance. For the small budget that Dukes County spends every year, we provide county residents with a terrific bang for their buck.
What do you consider the most important role of the Dukes County Commission?
The most important role of the Dukes County Commission is to facilitate and advocate for island-wide services that reduce taxpayer costs and government red tape. There are myriad issues and services where Martha's Vineyard would be better off under a single roof. We must continue to do this without spending money that we don't have. Under the superb leadership of county manager Martina Thornton, we have done just that: balancing our budgets like clockwork and tightening our belts where we need to. Our priority is to serve you, the residents of Dukes County, and provide you with efficient and reliable government service.
How effective has the Dukes County Commission been in meeting its role and how would you improve its effectiveness?
I am very proud of the work we have done in the past two years to reform county government and increase our responsiveness and quality of service. Fulfilling my campaign pledges from 2018, we updated our website and created a social media presence for the first time. Personally, I am making sure that I am accountable and transparent to voters by holding annual town halls in each of the six Island towns and traveling to Cuttyhunk once a year. Going forward, we should continue to advocate for islandwide governance that ultimately reduces taxes and increases the efficiency of government on Martha's Vineyard and Gosnold.
Tristan Israel
Age: 72
Town of residence: Tisbury
Occupation: Landscape business
How many years have you served on the Dukes County Commission?
14 years.
County government has been eliminated in many parts of Massachusetts. Why is it still relevant in Dukes County?
Dukes County government has proven it is an efficient vehicle to administer many human service programs and regional initiatives on the Vineyard. While there may be other models in Massachusetts that accomplish the same objectives on a county-wide basis, the goals are usually the same. I have always been an advocate for taking an introspective look at how our island model works and how can we improve the way we do business and deliver services.
What do you consider the most important role of the Dukes County Commission?
Most importantly, the Dukes County Commission facilitates regional initiatives and services that the island community wishes to support. The county is a willing conduit for those initiatives and service
How effective has the Dukes County Commission been in meeting its role and how would you improve its effectiveness?
The Veteran's agent, Healthcare Access, Health Council, emergency services, advocacy for social services including the elderly and homeless populations are just some of the areas where the County has had success in delivering great benefit to the Island. Revenue is always an issue for the county and how that can be maximized without further burdening taxpayers is a challenge. Looking at the model of how the county is structured and does business should always be an ongoing process to improve effectiveness.
Don Leopold
Age: 71
Town of residence: Chilmark
Occupation: Retired management consultant
How many years have you served on the Dukes County Commission?
Since June 2. Appointed to fill John Alley's unexpired term.
County government has been eliminated in many parts of Massachusetts. Why is it still relevant in Dukes County?
Before deciding whether to serve on the Dukes County Commission this spring, and be a candidate this fall, I studied the 2008 Dukes County Charter Study Commission's final report. After an impressive amount of input, work and thought, the commission recommended that "county government be retained," citing "strong recommendations against abolishment from our state representatives as well as from representatives of abolished counties," based on the importance of "maintaining local control of considerable county assets [and] providing a ready mechanism for island-wide cooperation to solve common problems." The report then identified three issues to be addressed: relationships within the county commission and with its appointees, the approach of county managers to their positions and poor public relations. I agree with the importance of maintaining local control of assets and of providing a mechanism for island-wide cooperation, and hope to help make progress on the issues to-be-solved.
What do you consider the most important role of the Dukes County Commission?
First and foremost, the commission must discharge its mandated responsibilities -- from appointing airport commissioners to beach management to homelessness prevention to registering deeds, etc. -- effectively and efficiently. Secondly, as stated above, to provide a mechanism for island-wide cooperation to solve common problems, by listening carefully to all members, both individual and organizational, of the Island community and by providing an island-wide perspective where helpful.
How effective has the Dukes County Commission been in meeting its role and how would you improve its effectiveness?
Since being appointed to the commission this spring, I have been very impressed by the commitment of and the energy applied by all of the commissioners and county staff to fulfill the commission's role. Further, the commissioners seem to work well together and with the county manager, engaging in open dialogue, respecting differing points of view and making decisions.
I have also seen tensions between the commissioners and at least some of its appointees, some of which has risen to the point of warranting community and media attention, which I believe has understandably hurt many people's confidence in the commission's effectiveness. Based on my admittedly limited experience with the commission to date, I believe we can become much more effective by listening better and becoming more engaged with of all of our stakeholders, by being much clearer about our roles and priorities and by communicating those priorities in much clearer ways to the Island community.
Christine Todd
Age: 64
Town of residence: Oak Bluffs
Occupation: Local advocacy, business administration, real estate sales.
How many years have you served on the Dukes County Commission?
Six years.
County government has been eliminated in many parts of Massachusetts. Why is it still relevant in Dukes County?
Dukes County consists of seven towns, including Gosnold. Each town has its unique character but there are universal island-wide needs that, if approached and dealt with collectively, can provide better solutions for all. This is where the county can step in to help. By all towns in Dukes County working together to address concerns that know no town borders, concerns such as climate change, emergency preparedness, homelessness, addiction, housing insecurity, social services for our most needy, and more, there can be a sharper, more collective focus on the issues at hand and a collaborative approach to addressing them which will reduce duplication of effort and perhaps lead to better services at, perhaps, a lower cost to the towns.
What do you consider the most important role of the Dukes County Commission?
One of the most important roles of the county commission is to identify services that are in demand Islandwide, to identify the gaps in those services and to step up to fill those gaps. The county has already done this with veterans affairs, social services, homelessness, substance abuse concerns and more. We are also charged with maintaining the Dukes County courthouse whose valued services must continue. Maintenance and management of State, Eastville and Norton Point beaches also falls under the purview of the county and requires an ever vigilant eye. It is imperative that the county work with the towns and existing agencies on the Island (i.e. MV Hospital, Community Services, clergy, schools, MV Commission, law enforcement, emergency management, to name a few) to identify the collective needs of our Island and how to meet those needs. And, above all, be willing to go to Boston to work with the legislature to effect change that will translate to more financial support to our Island
How effective has the Dukes County Commission been in meeting its role and how would you improve its effectiveness?
The county has succeeded in advocating for more town support of addressing Islandwide issues through the county which will lead to a more comprehensive and collaborative approach to problem solving in our community. The county continues to work toward increasing awareness of the challenges we face that must be dealt with Islandwide, such as climate change, emergency preparedness, homelessness, substance abuse, social services for those most in need, and other concerns. Increased effectiveness of the county will come with the increased awareness of the need to collaborate and cooperate as an island-wide community toward addressing concerns that effect us all. We are facing pending significant health-related challenges with regards to climate change and other developments, such as storms that may occur more frequently and with much greater strength, housing issues resulting in homelessness and home insecurity, vulnerability pertaining to fire, mental health concerns, etc.
Richard Peter Wharton
Age: 57
Town of residence: Oak Bluffs
Occupation: Healthcare administration and management
How many years have you served on the Dukes County Commission?
None. I have served three years on the Martha's Vineyard Airport Commission.
County government has been eliminated in many parts of Massachusetts. Why is it still relevant in Dukes County?
Dukes County, first incorporated in 1695, survives as one of the original 14 Massachusetts counties only after reinventing itself under new Charter in 1995. Where other counties failed, Dukes County has an opportunity to thrive. Citizens deserve effective and efficient oversite of county assets such as the airport and registry. Where gaps exist, the county can provide access to regionalized direct social services, preventing homelessness, supporting veterans and healthy aging that would otherwise be out of reach to residents. Appointment authority to the Steamship Board of Governors ensures our voice is heard by this critical lifeline and economic driver. Each of these critical areas are unique to Dukes County, but we must never forget that our relevance is earned every day, when county authority and responsibility, are held accountable to the electorate.
What do you consider the most important role of the Dukes County Commission?
County fees and a 2.5% assessment to each town comes with a responsibility to deliver value for services to county residents. The commission serves as the legislative body of county government. In partnership with an elected and independent treasurer, our most important role is ensuring the county earns and effectively allocates every dollar in, or influenced by, our budget.
How effective has the Dukes County Commission been in meeting its role and how would you improve its effectiveness?
A key hindrance to effectiveness has been a lack of transparency and clear communication of the value proposition of county government to the people of Dukes County. In the area of transparency, I have been a vocal supporter of keeping the county treasurer an elected and independent position accountable to the voters and not the commissioners. In a recent interview with WGBH radio I was asked why the Steamship Authority continues to vastly underperform in the area of supplier diversity. From their research, WGBH concluded that diversity, equity and inclusion weren’t even on the SSA radar. Shouldn’t it be and shouldn’t that message be clearly delivered by the county? With appointment authority to Steamship Authority board comes a responsibility from county commissioners to provide better answers to the people of the island. I stand for improvement in communication,and in defense of transparent, responsible and accountable county government.
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