Nantucket Select Board: Candidate Questions, Round 1

They want your votes.

The 2022 Annual Town Election on Tuesday, May 10 is fast-approaching. Today we launch a series of questions for the four candidates vying for two seats on the Nantucket Select Board, the island's lead policy-making body. With current Select Board member Kristie Ferrantella not running for a second term, and the other incumbent, Matt Fee, seeking another three-year term, that means there will be at least one new face on the board this year. Fee is being challenged by Brooke Mohr, Henry Sanford, and Cliff Williams.

Question #1: Describe your platform and why you are running for the Select Board?

Matt Fee: I’ve been involved in Government since the mid nineties. Initially, I ran claiming “I’m not a politician”, which is ironic, because now as the longest serving member, I realize government moves at its own speed, and “politics”, building consensus toward common goals, is critical to achieve meaningful, lasting change. I’ve been fortunate to be involved in the One Big Beach creation , Community Preservation adoption, Coastal Resiliency planning, Covenant Home formation, and Finance Department turn around, to name a few.

There’s still plenty to do. Adopting Compact Community Human Resources best practices, improving transportation options, supporting historic preservation, improving harbor water quality, addressing PFAS pollution, re-envisioning landfill operations, targeting energy self sufficiency, and understanding the costs of major decisions before they are adopted: basically applying fiscal discipline and common sense to continue to improve the management and quality of life on Nantucket.

None of these goals are achievable without a vibrant, engaged community. And there’s no “community” without housing for island residents. While we have made strides, there is more to accomplish to turn the islands recognition of the issue into action that results in “heads in beds”.

Don’t mistake my lack of yard signs, ads and posters for a lack of commitment and passion for the job. I purposely run a low key, no cost campaign. I’m not beholden to any donors or interest groups. I firmly believe if we plan ahead and make good long term decisions for the island, if we take care of what makes it special, it will take care of all of us. And to do so, I’ll talk with anyone. I enjoy reading and researching, so the job is never boring. I bring experience, vision, a willingness to speak up, and financial acumen to the Select Board and hope to be elected to continue to be a fair, independent voice.

Brooke Mohr: I am running for Select Board because I want to have a seat at the table where the decisions are made about how our community prioritizes initiatives and allocates resources. I have attended nearly every Select Board meeting for more than 4 years, so I understand well that the job demands attention to many smaller-sized decisions along with the big-picture ones.

While each individual decision carries importance on its own, taken together they build a pattern that determines the direction our community is taking. I applaud the Select Board’s strategic plan which has created a framework of goals against which individual decisions can be evaluated.

There is no question that our housing crisis is THE most pressing issue we face. The impact of the shortage of stable and attainable housing ripples through all facets of island life. We have unfilled jobs across the public, non-profit, health care and business sectors. While the pace at which we are creating deed-restricted housing for our year-round community has accelerated in my 5 years on the Housing Trust, we are falling behind. Home prices are skyrocketing faster than household incomes, making home ownership impossible. Striking the right balance in our supply of housing for workers and visitors is essential to a sustainable economic future.

In addition to housing, I am committed to supporting our human services network to ensure that our neighbors are cared for in their times of need. I am a founding director of the Nantucket Resource Partnership, an organization created for that purpose. I also believe we can do more to foster a culture of equity and inclusion, so everyone who visits or lives here feels welcome.

Our environment must be protected to keep our residents and visitors healthy and to continue to attract visitors. We must continue the work that has been done to assess the short- and long-term impacts of sea level rise and to determine how to prioritize our investments as we adapt.

Governing Nantucket is an extraordinary balancing act. I know that our ability to find the healthiest balance for our community rests on our willingness to listen to one another, and to carefully consider what personal sacrifices we can make to preserve and protect the one thing makes our island home so unique – an enduring commitment to one another that we get to experience together in one of the most beautiful environments in the world.

Henry Sanford: As a candidate for the Select Board, I see a need for realistic solutions that address Nantucket’s harbor, housing, and long term financial planning. There are more than three issues facing Nantucket, and in times of great challenge innovations must occur. I am confident in navigating the choppy waters, and hopeful that Nantucket's best years are ahead of us.

I was born here in 1984, raised here and graduated from Nantucket high school in 2003. I now find myself a father and small business owner with my amazing wife, Amy. I consider myself lucky, particularly when on open water or with family and friends. This is the perspective which frames my definition of what it means to live on Nantucket.

My main priority will be implementing policies that protect the health of our water resources. Water is open space that must be prioritized. To start, a request to move inner-harbor wake buoys and promote a “Natural is Beautiful” landscaping campaign will jumpstart awareness. I will promote warrant articles that address Harbor health and promote a sustainable, local shellfishing industry. I will listen to science and the stakeholders to craft sensible regulations for voters to consider.

Regarding housing, the Town must focus on public-private partnerships. The Town has many constraints as a housing developer.

A collaborative effort with private entities can provide a more flexible, efficient approach. The conversation needs to move from creating housing to preserving housing. This could mean the expansion of the covenant program, or the purchase of housing deed restrictions by private organizations, similar to what has been done successfully with conservation deed restrictions. The Town should start selling its excess land to the Land Bank, or into private conservation, for the purpose of raising funds that support infrastructure beneficial to the year round population, including housing.

Limits of growth must be recognized. Honest, critical thinking is necessary to optimize decisions as we strive for the most sustainable version of Nantucket. My responsibility is to put our local citizens first. I promise not to be swayed by special interests or wealth, but by facts and reason. My door will be open to everyone, regardless of any disagreements. With these motivations, I am ready for the work required should you honor me with the position. Personal responsibility for our future lies in all our hands, serving on the Select Board is my way to contribute to that future.

Clifford Williams: My platform is simple, I was born here, I have lived here most of my life, my family has been on the island for over 300 years. I have watched people come and go, most of them experts in whatever it is they do? They have a lot of great ideas that we are still paying for, meanwhile they are all long gone! I think the island is circling the drain. Every time I watch a BOS meeting we are doing something else that is taking us in the wrong direction. We spend a lot of time on things that are not important, but not much time on the things that do. I believe most people have given up and don't trust our leadership and I hope to turn that around. I have put forth solutions to some of the critical issues, not just talked about them. I have put in a citizen article on gasification and incineration at the landfill, I have an article in for employee housing and I have the land to do it. I was on the Finance Committee for 9 years and believe I have the understanding of how state and local governments work and with that knowledge to make the island a shining example of how a town should be run.