Rick’s Record

I am running for Select Board because I believe we can do better. When I stepped down from the Board seven years ago, I said that I would stay actively engaged with Town government as a member of the public, and I have. But today more than ever, Nantucket faces complex challenges that demand a renewed commitment to good government. I believe my years of service on the Finance Committee and the Select Board, balanced with my more recent experience as a concerned citizen, would be helpful right now on the Select Board. I have three priorities that reflect my commitment to good government.

The first is to practice fiscal restraint. Taxes for many are up 20% or more, and we have yet to feel the full brunt of capital overrides already passed and not yet borrowed. We still have the landfill, PFAS, Our Island Home, and numerous coastal resilience projects ahead of us to name a few. Will the increase in homeowner expenses force more of our community members to consider moving off-island? There are hard choices ahead. It won’t be easy.

The second is to strike a balance between maintaining a healthy island economy without sacrificing what makes Nantucket truly magic: our historic character and fragile environment. The proposed Surfside Crossing development, the expansion of the south ramp at the airport, and the proliferation of commercial STRs in our residential neighborhoods are just three examples of this challenge. Increasing the availability of affordable housing is critical, but we can’t build our way out of this; that’s why I co-sponsored the Neighborhood First article to convert existing homes into affordable housing, rather than relying solely on new high-density developments.

My third priority is governance. Our town's decision-making processes must be open, inclusive, and free from conflicts of interest. The recent lapses in procedural integrity serve as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding these standards. We should welcome and involve citizens in the Town’s decision-making process. Our regulatory boards and commissions should be supported, not undermined. We need a Town administration that reports to a single executive who, in turn, is held accountable by the elected members of the Select Board, as called for in our charter. The increasing reliance on consultants who are managed privately by Town staff is redundant, costly, and unnecessary. Leaving interested citizens to ask questions at the end of a polished power point presentation – often just before a final vote is taken – is not my idea of good government.

Of course, the most essential aspect of good government is choice. I’m running because you deserve a choice. As your Select Board member, I will champion transparency, advocate for citizen involvement, and work to streamline our government for greater efficiency and effectiveness. I hope that on May 21, you’ll vote for me. Thank you.

— Rick Atherton