Selectman Kerry Scott faces challenger

By Aubrey Gibavic - March 29, 2007

Oak Bluffs voters go to the polls next month to elect town officers. Among the races voters will be asked to decide is a two-way race for one seat on the board of selectman.

McKinley "Mac" Starks is challenging incumbent Kerry Scott for her seat on the five-member board.

Mr. Starks, the town custodian, made an unsuccessful run for the Oak Bluffs board last year. Ms. Scott is coming to the end of her first three-year term and is running for a second. She owns Good Dog Goods on Circuit Avenue. Voters will cast votes from 10 am to 7 pm on April 12 at the town library meeting room.

Following are the questions and responses.

1. Why do you think you are the best candidate for selectman?

Mac Starks: I'm the best candidate because I have a working knowledge of town government. I deal with every department head in the town of Oak Bluffs every day. I've dealt with everybody in town, I've learned how to create alliances, compromise, and work for the good of the town worker. I am a taxpayer, and I understand that there are good people in town that can solve the problems that need to be solved.

Kerry Scott: I have demonstrated my strong and lasting commitment to Oak Bluffs and the people who live here.

2. If elected, what will be your priorities for Oak Bluffs?

Mr. Starks: The top priority is to inform the taxpayer and give them the truth about what is happening. Our leaders are supposed to work for the town of Oak Bluffs, the town of Oak Bluffs is not supposed to work for our leaders. It's about representing the people.

Ms. Scott: My single greatest priority is restoring public confidence. I will continue to 'shine the light' on Oak Bluffs, proudly pointing to the things we do best and working on those areas that could use some improvement.

3. Concerning employment contracts, how might the situation be handled better in the future? What can you as selectman do to make sure things are done differently?

Mr. Starks: We have a situation in town now that never should have gotten into the newspaper, because we have a system of doing things. When there is a problem such as the contract situation in town, that's an internal thing. That should have gone to the board of selectmen; from the board of selectmen it should have gone to the personnel division. That's what the personnel committee does, they deal with these things.

Everybody has a misconception of what went on, and nobody is explaining to the taxpayer what actually went on. The town administrator works at the pleasure of the board of selectmen. And if the town administrator is doing something unauthorized, then somebody that the town administrator works for should know about it. And if they don't know about this, then we have a breakdown in policy.

We have a five man board, and in my country the majority rules. If you're outside of the majority, you have to find ways to work with the majority to get done what you want to get done. That means building bridges, building alliances, and compromises. And that's the way I'd have to go.

Ms. Scott: Going forward, we need to foster a climate of transparency and trust. Most of the "heavy lifting" is behind us now, so we can all feel hopeful about the future of Oak Bluffs. We must honor our obligations to our taxpayers and voters. It really is that basic.