Vineyard voters go to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in the 2012 presidential election. And while the big draw is the race for president and large turnouts are expected here as elsewhere, Vineyard voters will also makes choices on a host of other state and local issues, from a close Massachetts Senate race to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission to medical marijuana.

Editor’s Note: Fourteen candidates are running for nine seats on the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. At least one and not more than two may be elected from each of the six towns. In interviews with the Gazette, candidates answered questions about the recent vote on the roundabout, the issue of whether the commission should review large houses as developments of regional impact, and the role of the commission on the Vineyard.

Editor’s Note: Five candidates appear on the ballot for seven seats on the Dukes County Commission. One write-in candidate has announced her candidacy. If no write-in qualifies for the seventh slot, the seat will be filled by appointment via the county commission and Dukes County clerk of courts Joseph E. Sollitto Jr. Write-in candidates must receive at least 25 votes to be considered. In interviews with the Gazette, the candidates answered questions about county management and its future role on the Island.

Tisbury town administrator John Bugbee has officially left his position at town hall, selectman Tristan Israel confirmed this week.

Mr. Bugbee served as town administrator for nine years. At the Sept. 4 selectmen’s meeting the board announced that Mr. Bugbee’s contract would not be renewed and that he would leave his post sometime in the months ahead.

Assistant town administrator Aase Jones will be acting town administrator, Mr. Israel said.

The Martha’s Vineyard Democrats opened a political headquarters yesterday, Nov. 1, at the Mansion House library in Vineyard Haven. The office will be open from noon to 8 p.m. daily through election day. The headquarters will be used for phone banking, canvass operations and distribution of political materials for President Barack Obama, Elizabeth Warren for senate and Bill Keating for congress.

Volunteers are needed in two to three-hour shifts to make phone calls. Bring a cell phone and laptop to get started; training will be provided.

The Tisbury department of public works last week unveiled an ambitious plan to build a public walkway along a both sides of a section of Beach Road spanning the town harbor and the Lagoon Pond.

At a joint meeting with the planning board and the DPW, architect James Weisman of Terrain Associates Architects, presented a conceptual draft for a harbor walk.