News
Daniel Larkosh has had a change of heart since the Democratic primary, a race he won relatively comfortably back in September. In September Mr. Larkosh voiced strong support for a bill that would have placed the Steamship Authority under control of the state department of transportation.
He said this week he has changed his position on the so-called Pacheco bill, which was introduced by Rep. Matt Patrick, one of his backers.
School Books Grant
The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of funds to school districts, private and charter schools, and not-for-profit organizations operating a school located on Martha’s Vineyard to purchase books for school or classroom libraries used by students ages 5 to 13. The due date for the letter of application is Oct. 31. More information can be found at thetowerfoundation.org.
At first glance the race for Martha’s Vineyard Commission, the regional land use planning agency vested with broad powers by the state legislature, seems quite simple. There are nine candidates listed on the ballot and nine open seats on the commission.
But not so fast.
Melissa Freitag pitches herself as the all-rounder candidate.
“I have the strongest professional, educational and strongest contribution to local government as a package,” she said, adding:
“I have a history of public service, and not on a per-hour stipend. I’m not doing this for my own health. One thing I teach is that the state exists at the will of the people and it can’t function without the volunteerism of the people.”
She emphasizes her educational qualifications.
Tim Madden is tired of the negativity he has detected in parts of the race for state representative.
“If everyone had been running a positive campaign it would be fun, I feel like there’s been a bit of negativity,” he said, “I’ve been painted as a Republican.”
Mr. Madden is an unenrolled candidate who finished second behind Dan Larkosh as a write-in candidate in the Democratic primary.
Still, he soon zeroed in on what he sees as a key weakness in one opponent’s position on the Steamship Authority.
Jacob Ferreira is the only unenrolled candidate who will stay that way if he is elected.
“I entered this race without a party,” he said. “When I first registered to vote as an 18-year-old, I took that moment very seriously. I thought about at the time if I wanted to enroll with a party, and I couldn’t think of many things a party had done for my community, my family or myself.