On Thursday, May 15, Aquinnah voters head to the polls to choose between two candidates for one select board seat.
Incumbent Gary Haley, current chair of the board, is facing off against Chris Manning, Gay Head lighthouse keeper.
Both candidates spoke about their priorities at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Martha’s Vineyeard on April 21.
Aquinnah also has a number of open positions and the town is encouraging people to run write-in campaigns for town moderator, two open positions on the planning board, an associate position on the planning board and two library trustees positions.
The two select board candidates responded to questions emailed to them by the Gazette. Their answers, edited for clarity, style and length, appear below.
Gary Haley
Occupation: Master Electrician
Current or previous town board service or other relevant roles:
Select board member for three terms; Aquinnah wire inspector; member of the Aquinnah infrastructure committee; member of the Up-Island Council on Aging.
What encouraged you to run for select board?
The reason I first ran for the select board was because there was going to be an opening. The former member Spencer Booker, who had been on it for three terms, told me he had served his time. He told me it was time that I run for the board and that he would back me for the job. I thought about it for a short time and decided that it was time to jump in and give it a go. Aquinnah is a small town and I told some of the residents of my intentions and they were in favor. On election day, I won big and was all set to do my job as a select board member. Jim Newman, Juli Vanderhoop and myself made a great team. I’m at town hall every day or two, checking for compliments or complaints about town situations and gathering information to present to select board meetings moving forward. I believe each resident of Aquinnah should have the right to voice their opinion on certain subjects either in favor or not.
What is the most critical issue for Aquinnah?
One of the critical issues for Aquinnah is housing. The list of people searching for housing gets longer as time goes on. We are searching for ways to increase affordable housing throughout the town and Island. Aquinnah has more affordable housing than other towns right now, but we are always looking for more. We have a need for housing for the town residents who are getting older and need housing to start a family, so they can continue to survive. I sit in on the finance committee meetings and make sure there is no money spent foolishly and all is spent wisely. We have another duplex that just finished and will be ready for occupancy this month or in June. We had four units that were ready just last year and are now occupied with year-round tenants. We are looking for more areas to do more. Town of Aquinnah residents should vote for me because I put the time in.
Chris Manning
Occupation: Tisbury Police Officer
Current or previous town board service or other relevant roles:
Town constable; lighthouse keeper; former Aquinnah special police officer; former Wampanoag tribal ranger.
What encouraged you to run for select board?
I believe that a commitment to civic duty is important. Following the example of my father, Paul Manning, and my late grandmother, June Manning, I have tried to actively participate in the democratic process within the town, and have served in various capacities with both the town and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). Recently, I had been asked by some residents to consider running as a candidate for selectman in this upcoming election. If elected to the board of selectmen, I believe I can look at the issues facing Aquinnah with a new perspective, maintaining a balanced and pragmatic approach to finding solutions, while respecting Aquinnah’s culture, history and the wisdom of our elders.
What is the most critical issue for Aquinnah?
There are several issues currently facing the town, including rising taxes, affordable housing, the town’s relationship with the tribe and recruiting candidates for several open and upcoming vacancies within the town’s government and departments.
We need to identify ways to increase the town’s revenues, seek grant opportunities and take a pragmatic approach to the town’s budget, identifying potential areas for savings, and sensibly trimming the budget if and where necessary, while decreasing the burden on Aquinnah taxpayers and ensuring critical services are maintained and strengthened.
We need to prioritize creating opportunities for housing that are affordable and accessible, as so many working families with deep ties to Aquinnah continue to find it increasingly difficult to afford to live here. We can identify potential youth and elder lots, enable and incentivize affordable accessory dwelling units and year-round rentals, and review our current zoning bylaws, making responsible changes while maintaining Aquinnah’s unique character and geography. The housing crisis is a problem, which affects not just Aquinnah, but our entire Island, and we need to get creative in finding solutions that benefit Aquinnah’s families and increase our tax base, lowering individual taxes.
The town’s relationship with the tribe has been strained for many years from various disagreements and courtroom litigations. As an Aquinnah resident and tribal member, I have a vested interest in seeing both town and tribe succeed, and believe that such success is possible by working together to rebuild a strong partnership which benefits the entire Aquinnah community and maintains open and honest dialogue between the town and the tribe’s administration and Tribal Council.
Town election is Thursday, May 15. Polling hours are noon to 8 p.m. at the Aquinnah Town Hall.
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