Over a dozen candidates have tossed their names into the ring to become the Vineyard’s next representative on the Steamship Authority board.
But the Dukes County Commission, which will appoint the Vineyard’s board representative, has opted to keep the candidates’ names a secret for now.
“Out of respect for the 14 applicants, the County Nominating Committee will be screening in executive session and not releasing names,” Doug Ruskin, a county commissioner who represents West Tisbury, wrote in an email. “The committee will refer the finalists from that process to the full Commission for consideration, at which time the finalists[’] names will be released publicly. The Commission will of course deliberate in public session.”
The need for a new representative came after Jim Malkin, who has been the Vineyard board representative since 2020, withdrew his name last month from consideration of another three-year term. That led the commissioners to push back its application deadline for candidates.
Don Leopold, chair of the county’s nomination committee, said at least one candidate wanted to be left anonymous unless they were a finalist. Leopold said the names were being kept secret for now in recognition that other candidates may feel the same way and to not discourage applications.
“Any applicant who chooses to volunteer their names — at any time — is of course always welcome to do so,” Leopold said.
Leopold said the new term for the Vineyard’s Steamship board representative would begin on March 1, and his “best guess” for when finalist interviews would be scheduled is by the second week in February.
Malkin was chosen out of 10 candidates in 2020, so there’s slightly stiffer competition this time. The new representative will join just weeks after new Steamship Authority General Manager Alex Kryska began his position this month.