Three vie for one seat on Oak Bluffs board of health

By Aubrey Gibavic - April 5, 2007

Two novice players in Oak Bluffs politics are campaigning to oust one of the longest lasting political figures in town. David Caron and Chip Mitchell are running against incumbent Linda Marinelli for the one open seat on the board of health. Voters will decide the winner at next Thursday's town-wide election.

Mr. Caron has been a pharmacist at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital for nearly 10 years, and this is his first foray into town politics. He moved his family to Oak Bluffs four years ago.

Mr. Mitchell, a builder, has lived in Oak Bluffs for 13 years. This is his first run for political office.

Mrs. Marinelli is a former selectman and longtime Oak Bluffs political figure. She is coming to the end of her second term on the board of health, of which she is currently the chairman. The winner will serve a three-year term, and join William White and Patricia Bergeron on the three-member board.

If elected, what steps would you take to improve the board of health?

David Caron: I really want to create an atmosphere at the board of health where we serve the people who live and work in the town. I want to create a user-friendly board, where we're still upholding the standards of the Commonwealth, yet kind of applying a sense of decency and a sprit of cooperation with the people that we work with. The biggest thing I would like to do is restore a sense of decency and sense of cooperation to the board.

Linda Marinelli: I always have tried to keep public health my number one priority. To make sure that the food that's being put out passes under law, that they have their PIC's (person in charge) aboard and that the place is clean. Those are my main priorities.

Chip Mitchell: My main thing would just be to make it a much friendlier board where people aren't so afraid of going in front of it. I know a lot of the restaurant people in town and they're just horrified at what goes on. It's what's kept a lot of good people from coming in to town. They have great experiences when they've met with selectmen and they've met with building officials and planning boards, they have nothing but praise. It's only when they go to the board of health...that they get a very bad impression of the town at that point.

Linda Marinelli

David Caron