Kopko to run for Planning Board
BY PETER B. BRACE INDEPENDENT WRITER
Selectman Michael Kopko filed papers at the Town Clerk's office on Monday, seeking the one open seat on the Planning Board now held by outgoing Chairman Frank Spriggs.

Kopko, who has a year remaining on his three-year term on the Board of Selectmen, said he wants the extra work as a Planning Board member because he wants to be more involved with growth management of the island.

Since being elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2006, Kopko has made a point of attending most Planning Board meetings and speaking out on what he feels are important island growth and development issues.

"Obviously, I think the Planning Board is a key regulatory board in terms of regulating how the island develops and grows and that's something that I'm very passionate about," Kopko said. "I don't think it's a secret that I've been critical of the Planning Board, and so it gets to the point where you sort of say, 'Stop being critical of them and get in there and do something about it.' "

Major development flashpoints for Kopko are the unnecessary paving of island roads, preservation of the rural character of the island and saving the Dreamland Theater from unscrupulous developers. Kopko said he hopes to bring more consistency to the Planning Board in reviewing and ruling on applications. Like other selectmen before him, including John McLaughlin and Spriggs, Kopko does not feel that being a selectman and a member of the Planning Board would detract from his commitment to either board.

"I think that I'm going to have to cut back on a couple of other things that I do," he said. "I was appointed to Park and Rec, but I think that I've done all that I need to do there and that [seat] is up in June. I think I would probably lighten my load in other ways and really focus on the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board."

Although he admitted that he loves being a selectmen, Kopko could not say whether he would defend that seat in 2009.

Also throwing their hats into the ring for the 2008 town elections are incumbent Selectman Brian Chadwick, Christine Elahi, who is defending her spot on the School Committee and firsttime candidate David Barham, who is running for one of two open seats on the Historic District Commission. As of press time yesterday afternoon, no other candidates had filed papers. The deadline

is 5 p.m. on Feb. 19. I