Town Election 2008
Field of candidates for 14 open seats set; Bretschneider, Dooley, Zola will not run; Holdgate, Blount to run uncontested for SHAB
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 traditionally most contested races are for seats at the top of Nantucket government - the Board of Selectmen and the board holding the most sway when it comes to development, the Planning Board.

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

There are two people running for one five year term on the Planning Board - a sitting selectman and a former zoning board of appeals administrator.

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 submitted nomination papers on the last day.

And although the following citizens pulled papers: Sheriff Richard Bretschneider and Joe Dooley for Board of Selectman; Linda Zola and Anne Bissinger Poor for Planning Board; Wendy McCrae for HDC and HDC Associate ' none returned the signed forms by yesterday's 5 p.m. deadline and will not be seeking seats.

The following is a list of candidates who returned nomination papers and had them 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 a selectman 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 sits 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: Incumbent, island medical examiner; NHS team doctor.

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Two open seats for three-year terms

David Barham: A semi-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.

NANTUCKETWATER COMMISSION One open seat for a three-year term

Nelson Eldridge: Incumbent

SCONSETWATER COMMISSION One open seat for a three-year term

Gerald Eldridge: Incumbent I