CHATHAM – In running for select board, Carol Gordon, founder and president of the South Chatham Village Association, wants to be a voice for all residents.

“I listen to what people have to say,” she said. “I’ve tried to be an effective communicator and try to be a critical thinker. And I represent all of Chatham.”

Gordon is one of four candidates seeking a single three-year term on the board in the May 14 annual town election. Incumbent Shareen Davis is not seeking re-election.

Gordon operates the Nantucket House bed and breakfast in South Chatham, which she started with her late husband Jerry in 1999. After founding the South Chatham Village Association a year later, she became more involved in the town and its government, joining the board of health and helping secure a National Historic Register designation for South Chatham. She is currently in her second term on the health board and was instrumental in the cleanup of property on Mill Hill Road. Last year she was the sponsor of a town meeting petition article to limit the select board to one representative on the affordable housing trust.

 “I’m running because I want the community to have more of a voice in town government,” she said. “For too long, important decisions have been made by a few people. The community needs more transparency with no personal agendas. We need to talk about issues, and most importantly what’s on the minds of the community. I will listen to what our community wants.”

If elected, Gordon said she would hold office hours to encourage residents to bring issues and ideas directly to her.

 “I am not bound, nor will I ever be, by private interests and pressure for more development,” she said. “I am curious and not afraid of asking questions.” People who ask questions at public meetings should be respected, she added. “Not just a perfunctory ‘thank you for your input.’” Residents hold a wealth of knowledge and should be listened to, she said.

Affordable housing is a major issue in town, and while Gordon doesn’t dispute the need, she said it’s important to “do it right.” Too often major decisions regarding recent housing projects have been made by a few elected officials and ignored residents' input.

 “I just think people have not felt heard about” the Meetinghouse Road and Main Street affordable housing developments, she said. 

She said she is pleased that the Center For Active Living is likely to get closure at the upcoming town meeting with additional funding to make changes to the existing facility on Stony Hill Road to accommodate council on aging programs. “I’m just happy it’s coming to fruition, finally,” she said.

She also agrees that it’s important to support year-round residents, but isn’t sure if the residential tax exemption is the right way to do it. She supports the finance committee’s proposal to delay implementation for a year and commended the committee for setting up a working group to study the issue.

 “We have to wait and see what they come up with,” she said. “They have a big job ahead of them.”

Originally from Lancaster, Penn., Gordon worked as a nurse and ran an advertising and public relations agency. She frequently visited a friend who had a home in North Chatham. “That started my love of Chatham,” she said. When she and her husband decided to relocate, the only place they wanted to look was Chatham.

 “As soon as I moved here I felt connected,” she said. In 2006 she authored a cookbook, “Sleep On It,” which featured recipes from inns around the country.

 “This campaign is not about me,” Gordon said. “It’s about what I can do for the people of Chatham and what we can go together.”

 CHATHAM – While there will be a robust race for the select board at the May annual town election, with four candidates seeking one seat, only one candidate is running for two spots on the Monomoy Regional School Committee.

 Heather Morgan is the sole candidate for the two three-year terms on the school committee. Town Clerk Julie Smith said the second seat will be filled either by a write-in candidate or through election by the select board and remaining school committee candidates following the May 14 election.

 Meredith Fry, Carol Gordon, Brian Phillips and Randi Potash are all seeking the one three-year term on the select board. Incumbent Shareen Davis is not seeking re-election.

 The only other position on the ballot is a five-year term on the housing authority. Incumbent Shirley Smith is running for that seat.

 Applications for early voting by mail are now available on the town clerk’s webpage, according to Smith. Polls at the community center will be open May 14 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.