The Island will have new representation on the Steamship Authority board next year after James Malkin announced he is withdrawing his candidacy for another term.
The Vineyard will have new representation on the Steamship Authority board next year after the sitting member announced this week that he is withdrawing his candidacy for another term.
James Malkin, a former Chilmark select board member who has been on the ferry line board of governors for six years, had submitted an application for a third term, but the Dukes County Commission in a statement Monday announced that he was pulling out.
The news comes just days after the state inspector general released a report that faulted the Steamship Authority’s management and board for wasting millions of dollars on a yet to be produced website.
In his withdrawal email to the county, which appoints the Vineyard member to the ferry line oversight board, Mr. Malkin said he had focused on getting a new general manager, new reservation system and an overhaul of the information technology systems.
“Having regard to the structure of the board and understanding of each members’ concerns and priorities, I chose a strategy of engagement vs confrontation, which I believed would most likely lead to positive results,” Mr. Malkin wrote.
With a new general manager and reservation on the way in 2026 and a review underway, Mr. Malkin said he was confident his approach was crucial to obtaining these results.
“I appreciate the tremendous support I have received from the County and so many Islanders and I wish the appointing authority success in finding a strong candidate who can navigate the cross currents of interest and opinion that was along our shores,” Mr. Malkin wrote.
Joe Sollitto, the Oak Bluffs member of the Steamship’s adivsory port council, said that he would miss Mr. Malkin’s expertise and willingness to listen to his concerns.
“He always had the Island at heart,” Mr. Sollitto said. “I don’t think some people appreciated the amount of time and energy he put into this position.”
Before his withdrawal, Mr. Malkin was one of several people who had submitted an application, according to Martina Thornton, the county manager. Ms. Thornton declined to share the applications of the other candidates, saying until after the deadline passed.
Don Leopold, a member of the county nominating committee, did say that Cameron Naron, an Oak Bluffs resident, had applied. Mr. Naron declined to comment while the process was still underway.
Mr. Malkin took over the Vineyard representative position from Marc Hanover in 2020 after interviews with 10 candidates.
With the loss of the incumbent, the county decided to extend the deadline for the Steamship board until Jan. 9. The county is expected to take up the appointment at some point in February.
The Steamship Authority board is made up of five members appointed by the port communities of Dukes County, Nantucket, Falmouth, Barnstable and New Bedford. The Island members each have a 35 per cent weighted vote.
Mr. Malkin is the current chair on the board, and also served as a member of the search committee for incoming general manager Alex Kryska.
Comments
Jim has worked tirelessly and
Gratitude Oak bluffsJim has worked tirelessly and I’m grateful for his service. The next rep needs to be aggressive and unapologetic to the powers that be. The thoughtful and respectful approach has proven not to work. The group that is there now needs tough love and full exposure. Whoever takes on this role should have a spine of steel and be ready to publicly break eggs
Perfectly said
Susan Desmarais Oak BluffsPerfectly said
Good! The entire board needs
R Scott Patterson EdgartownGood! The entire board needs to be replaced immediately after the damning report from the state outlining their lack of oversight of the incompetence of Davis’ disastrous tenure.
Agreed. If they actually
V. DarringtonAgreed. If they actually spent every day on the boats, they would witness the endless stream of problems firsthand. The leadership at the top of the SSA is nothing short of disgraceful.
All the best to Jim. It was a
Jackie NYC, formerly ChilmarkAll the best to Jim. It was a thankless job and yet he persevered.
A huge sigh of relief for you
Jane D Rossi West TisburyA huge sigh of relief for you, Jim! Thank you for your tireless efforts!
Thank you Jim, for your
Thomas S Hodgson West TisburyThank you Jim, for your service in a job where pleasing everyone is impossible.
The SSA need a complete
Jack EdgartownThe SSA need a complete overhaul. Jim you tried you’re were swimming with the sharks…
Now it is time for our elected officials on and off Island to step up…. We need real leadership, not sitting on the sidelines, like they have done all these yearsz
Great decision Mr. Malkin,
Ken Rusczyk OBGreat decision Mr. Malkin, enjoy your retirement.
It’s nice that the Vineyard
Islander Old IslanderIt’s nice that the Vineyard Gazette is approving positive comments about Mr. Malkin upon his wise decision to bow out, but the facts are the facts: as the Inspector General report pronounces, huge amounts of money got wasted and there had been profound mismanagement during the tenure of this representative. Can we observe that, please? Never had there been accountability for the General Manager and so this seems the same here, including for the extraordinary decision to maintain course by extending a contract to Bob Davis several tests ago with no performance goals to meet and then extending it again after retirement, after approving over a 10% raise to a salary that topped $200,000. If our newspapers are not allowing readers to observe facts, and look clearly for accountability, how we can we expect change? Mr. Davis’s tenure is an absolute mystery in the sense that he was such a failure, and Mr. Malkin is a part of that story, Mr. Malkin’s voice and his vote were of his own accord. I hope the Gazette by at least publishing a comment whoch reflects the facts of what happened in order to prevent a repeat, if we can count on our press. And yes, Mr. Malkin, please enjoy your retirement. There were ten candidates the County Commissioners chose from when they voted for him, too, they also own what happened. Islanders have known what the IG report has stated, but a report from the State has teeth, and it is tragic it took so long for something completely incontrovertible to the board to appear.
Thank you Jim for a job well
Jim Lodge Oak BluffsThank you Jim for a job well done.However I've come to the conclusion that if you want the job done right sometimes you need do it yourself.Thats why I'm throwing my hat into the ring breack some eggs and shake the SSA up top to bottom and make my Grandpapa JPL,s memory proud.
You’re right. The Gazette
Here We Go Again Vineyard HavenYou’re right. The Gazette screens comments!
I understand why people are focused on Bob Davis and are eager to pin the blame on him, but that misses the larger truth. The system itself has been broken for decades, with only an occasional good appointment interrupting a long run of poor ones.
Take Tisbury as an example. George Balco was educated, budget-savvy, and clearly understood what he was evaluating. Before him, the town had a selectman who effectively self-appointed. Now we’re right back there again a selectman who hasn’t solicited interest from others, allowing the role to default into another self-appointment.
This is the real problem. New voices not just young people, but anyone outside the usual circle are rarely given a genuine opportunity to step forward. It continually feels like the same “good old boy” network, where familiarity and popularity outweigh qualifications. No matter how much effort someone new puts in, the person everyone already knows is the one who gets appointed. Even if they’re not qualified, like has been the Port Council case.
The system is fundamentally broken. Bob Davis has simply become a convenient scapegoat for a dysfunction that runs much deeper and much wider. The same pattern shows up across other appointments as well.
Personally, I thought Jim Malkin was an excellent choice. I wish him well and hope he enjoys stepping away from what has become a largely thankless position.
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