To the Editor:
Democracy Belongs to All of Mattapoisett.
Expanding the Select Board isn’t about politics – it’s about rejecting fear, embracing inclusion, and ensuring every voice is heard.
The fight over expanding Mattapoisett’s Select Board from three to five members should have been a straightforward story of democracy in action. The measure passed at Town Meeting, cleared the State House, and earned the governor’s signature – a textbook example of local government working as it should.
Instead, it has been twisted into a spectacle of fearmongering and personal attacks, with a small but loud faction determined to turn a commonsense reform into a culture war.
“At its core, this isn’t about politics – it’s about whether Mattapoisett will choose representation over exclusion, progress over paralysis.”
This change is anchored in a crucial democratic truth: broader representation is essential for effective governance. More seats mean more perspectives, more accountability, and decisions that reflect the full spectrum of Mattapoisett’s community.
Yet a small but vocal faction has chosen to distort this effort. Instead of debating the merits, they’ve resorted to personal attacks against the proposal’s author and her family – accusing them of trying to “rule the kingdom of Mattapoisett” and even warning that the town will become “the new Ptown.”
The latter is not only absurd – Provincetown is a thriving, inclusive community – but revealing. It says more about the accusers’ fears and prejudices than about any genuine concern for local governance.
The subtext of these attacks is unmistakable: “You don’t belong.”
That message is not just offensive – it’s un-American. The family at the center of this storm has lived in Mattapoisett since the early 1970s. They have contributed to the town’s life for decades. They belong every bit as much as anyone else.
This is not about party politics.
It’s not Democrat versus Republican.
It’s not “us” versus “them.”
“It’s about good governance versus dysfunction. Inclusion versus exclusion. Progress versus fear.”
The only reason this is being politicized is because a small group is afraid—afraid of change, afraid of losing control, afraid of a system that works for everyone, not just a select few. The author stands by this reform, and rightly so. Every resident—regardless of background, identity, or how long they’ve lived there—deserves a voice in shaping Mattapoisett’s future.
That’s not radical. That’s democracy.Expanding the Select Board is not about consolidating power; it’s about sharing it. It’s about ensuring decisions are made with fairness, transparency, and respect for all.
Mattapoisett’s future should not be dictated by fear, misinformation, or exclusion. It should be built on openness, representation, and the belief that the community is strongest when every voice is heard.
“Show up. Speak out. And make it clear: in Mattapoisett, everyone belongs.”
Sincerely,
Eileen J. Marum
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