Whelden Defeats Gibson In Landslide In Race For Clerk Of Courts Seat

Democrat Colleen Whelden claimed victory Tuesday in the race for the Nantucket Clerk of Courts seat, defeating independent Charlie Gibson in a landslide.

Whelden, who has served as the Nantucket Superior Court office manager for 10 years, captured 5,270 votes from island residents, or nearly 80 percent of the ballots cast in the race.

Gibson, the deputy chief of the Nantucket Police Department and its longest-tenured officer, finished a distant second with 1,382 votes.

"I am grateful to my Clerk, Mary Elizabeth Adams, for giving me such an amazing example of what a Clerk of Courts is and always should be," Whelden told the Current Tuesday night, referring to outgoing Clerk of Courts Mary Adams. "I also want to give a shout-out to my late mother-in-law, Gertrude E. Whelden. She lit that flame back in 1970 for all of us women!"

The race had been relatively subdued, although Whelden built a visible presence around the island with yard signs and bumper stickers. Gibson, however, did not campaign for the position, declining to take out any advertising or distribute promotional materials, and did not speak to the media about his candidacy.

Gibson did not respond to a message seeking comment following Town Clerk Nancy Holmes' announcement of the results Tuesday night.

Whelden has worked in the Nantucket Superior Court Clerk's Office since March 2014. She was originally hired to an entry-level position of case specialist before working her way up to her current position as office manager.

“My goal is to continue to serve all of the residents of Nantucket County that seek assistance and provide them with equal access to justice,” Whelden told the Current over the summer. “Although a day in court is rarely the highlight of anyone's week, it is my hope that when people leave the courthouse, they feel as though they were attentively listened to and treated with respect.”

Whelden will be taking over the reins of her mentor, Mary Adams, who has held the Clerk of Courts seat since 2010. Adams announced earlier this year that she would not be seeking reelection after 14 years as clerk and nearly 20 years in the Superior Court office.

Adams was appointed to the clerk's position in 2010 to complete the term of outgoing clerk Pat Church. She was elected to the post in 2012 and again in 2018.