Richard G. Wharton

Supports affordable and workforce housing development on Martha's Vineyard, noting the MVC has consistently backed affordable housing, helped create hundreds of income-restricted units, and channels millions of dollars toward island affordable-housing initiatives, while advocating that such housing be built responsibly with regional impacts accounted for.

“The MVC has consistently supported affordable housing development and has helped create hundreds of income-restricted units while securing millions of dollars for affordable housing initiatives across the Island.”

vineyardgazette.com·As of June 2026

Wharton advocates for supplier diversity and equity in Steamship Authority contracting, arguing that diversity, equity and inclusion should be on the SSA's agenda and that Dukes County commissioners, who appoint the island's SSA board representative, have a responsibility to press for it.

“In a recent interview with WGBH radio I was asked why the Steamship Authority continues to vastly underperform in the area of supplier diversity. From their research, WGBH concluded that diversity, equity and inclusion weren't even on the SSA radar. Shouldn't it be and shouldn't that message be clearly delivered by the county?”

vineyardgazette.com·As of October 2020

Defends the Martha's Vineyard Commission's regional review authority as the Island's protection against overdevelopment, emphasizing preservation of water quality, open space, and fragile environmental resources (including concern over nitrogen pollution of the great ponds) while balancing economic development with environmental and community protection.

“For more than 50 years, the Martha's Vineyard Commission (MVC) has been the Island's first line of defense against overdevelopment... Nitrogen pollution threatens the great ponds... If the MVC is reduced to local-board status, its ability to protect water quality, preserve open space, manage traffic impacts and encourage workforce housing will be dramatically diminished.”

vineyardgazette.com·As of June 2026

Wharton frames the Dukes County Commission's most important role as fiscal stewardship: county fees and the 2.5% town assessment obligate the county to deliver value for services, and in partnership with the elected, independent treasurer, the commission must ensure the county 'earns and effectively allocates every dollar' in its budget.

“County fees and a 2.5% assessment to each town comes with a responsibility to deliver value for services to county residents. ... our most important role is ensuring the county earns and effectively allocates every dollar in, or influenced by, our budget.”

vineyardgazette.com·As of October 2020

Wharton says the county's effectiveness has been hindered by a lack of transparency and clear communication of the value of county government. He has been 'a vocal supporter of keeping the county treasurer an elected and independent position accountable to the voters and not the commissioners,' and he stands for transparent, responsible and accountable county government.

“A key hindrance to effectiveness has been a lack of transparency and clear communication of the value proposition of county government to the people of Dukes County. In the area of transparency, I have been a vocal supporter of keeping the county treasurer an elected and independent position accountable to the voters and not the commissioners. ... I stand for improvement in communication, and in defense of transparent, responsible and accountable county government.”

vineyardgazette.com·As of October 2020

Wharton supports Dukes County providing access to regionalized direct social services - preventing homelessness and supporting veterans and healthy aging - as a core justification for county government, so that these services do not remain out of reach for residents.

“Where gaps exist, the county can provide access to regionalized direct social services, preventing homelessness, supporting veterans and healthy aging that would otherwise be out of reach to residents.”

vineyardgazette.com·As of October 2020