By Peter A. Sutters Jr.

Independent Writer

Nantucket voters are set to have a full slate of options for the 14 open seats in town government when they head to the polls in April. Yesterday was the deadline for turning in nomination papers, and 20 people are vying for the chance to serve the island.

The two most traditionally contested races are for a seat at the top town of Nantucket’s local government, the Board of Selectmen and the board holding the most sway when it comes to development, the Planning Board. Sheriff Richard Bretschneider and fisherman Joseph Dooley did not return papers.

There are four people running for two selectmen seats, including both incumbents, two who have run before and come up short.

There are two people running for one five year term on the Planning Board, including a sitting selectmen, a former zoning board of appeals administrator, a co-owner of a permitting business and the former executive director of the Nantucket Housing Office. Leedara Zola and Anne Bissinger-Poor did not return papers.

The two open seats for the Historic District Commission were set to be somewhat fresh faces, as the two incumbents were not in the running, but then the current chair pulled papers on the last day.

The following is a list of candidates who pulled nomination papers and had them returned and certified.

Election day is April 14 at the high school from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 Board of Selectmen

Two open seats for three-year terms.

 Rick Atherton- Chair of the Finance Committee, Atherton is making a second consecutive run for the seat, losing by the slimmest of margins last year.

 Brian Chadwick- Incumbent- The former Nantucket Police officer has been on the board since, 2005, and also serves as an at large member on the Nantucket planning and economic Development Commission

David Gray- Plumber and former Department of public works employee, Gray has run for the board twice before and lost. He is a member of the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission and the Nantucket Conservation Commission.

 Whiting Willauer- Incumbent and current chair of the Board of Selectmen. 

Planning Board

One seat open for a five-year term

Michael Kopko- Current Selectmen and at selectmen representative to the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission.

 Linda Williams- Current member of the Historical District Commission and former administrator of the Zoning Board of Appeals. William has sat on numerous boards including the Commission on Disability and the NP&EDC.

School Committee

Two open seats for three-year terms

 Christine Elahi- Incumbent seeking her third term on the School Committee, works as the head house keeper for Nantucket Island Resorts.

 Robin Harvey-  Co-owner of the Seagrille, Harvey is making her first run at public office but has sat on many island boards and committees including the Boys and Girls Club, Nantucket Boosters, Athletic Director Search Committee and has coached various island sports teams.

 Timothy Lepore- Island doctor who is currently on the school Committee, Lepore is the island’s only surgeon and local expert on Lyme disease.

 Historic District Commission

Two open seats for three-year terms

 David Barham- A Partially Retired architect making his first run at public office, Barham has been active in preservation efforts on Nantucket including being a part of the South church Preservation Fund, Historic Structures Advisory Board and the Nantucket Historical Commission.

 Diane Coombs – Postal employee who currently sits on the Historic District Commission as an associate and the Planning Board as an alternate.

 Deborah Timmermann – Interior designer made an unsuccessful run for the same position last year and lost to the incumbent candidates.

 Dirk Roggeveen- Current chair of the Historic District Commission and administrator of the Conservation Commission

 John Wagley- Current alternate on the Planning Board and an associate on the Historic District Commission.

Historic District Commission associate

One open seat for a three-year term

 Diane Coombs- Incumbent

 Nantucket Housing Authority

One seat open for a five-year term

 Linda Williams- Incumbent

 Nantucket Land Bank

One open seat for a five-year term

 Allen Reinhard- Incumbent

 Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board

Two open seats for a three-year term.

Willis Blount- Local Fisherman and owner of the Ruthie B.

Fredrick Holdgate –Incumbent.

Nantucket Water Commission

One open seat fir a three-year term

Nelson Eldridge- Incumbent

Sconset Water Commission

One open seat for a three-year term

Gerald Eldridge- Incumbent