Mashpee Select Board leader abruptly leaves seat, prompting special election in October

MASHPEE — With the sudden resignation of the Select Board chairman, a special election is now planned for early October.

Andrew Gottlieb, who resigned from the board July 24, said he realized it was time to walk away even though there "is more work to be done."

"All of a sudden I realized, from my perspective, that the time had come for me," said Gottlieb. "I think it's a healthy thing."

In a letter addressed to Mashpee Town Clerk Deborah Dami, Gottlieb resigned officially. David Weeden, the board vice chair, accepted Gottlieb's resignation the next day at a weekly board meeting.

Gottlieb was last elected on June 23, 2020, according to town records.

Select Board members typically serve three-year terms.

During the July 25 meeting, the Select Board re-organized, voting John Cotton in as new chair, and Weeden remained vice chair.

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The Board of Selectmen set a special election date of Tuesday, Oct. 4, to fill the seat, according to Dami.

Gottlieb has moment of clarity, he says

While Gottlieb's resignation was abrupt, he said the decision wasn't prompted by any specific event. The weekend before he resigned, Gottlieb said he was enjoying activities that usually help him recharge from a busy week. Instead, he worried over certain elements within his work with the town, and was unable to relax.

"Part way through, I was kind of grinding my teeth — and a combination of things were sticking in my head and making me not enjoy what I was doing," he said. "I had a moment of clarity."

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Gottlieb said he realized his approach to the work was changing.

"Public service should be something you do — it’s not who you are," he said. "The truth of the matter is, I’m all in on what I do. And if I can’t be all in, in what I’m doing, then I don't find it gratifying."

Resignation shocks Select Board

Carol Sherman, a member of the Select Board, was notified by Gottlieb on July 24 about his resignation, and said she was "completely taken off guard."

"We never saw it coming. It was a shock. He sent me a text late Sunday afternoon and he said it wasn’t open for discussion," Sherman said. "I’m going to miss him. I miss him already."

Other Select Board members, she said, feel they need his expertise.

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"I don't know what happened to make him make this change, but he said he couldn’t be 100% effective — he couldn’t do it — and he just wanted to be done," Sherman said. "But, he also said he's still here. We can still call him."

A long service on the Board of Selectmen

Gottlieb was first elected in 1987, and also served in 1990. He was elected again in 2014, 2017, and in 2020. Throughout his time as a public official, he was known to be outspoken, especially surrounding environmental issues.

As the executive director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, Gottlieb's professional endeavors surround water quality throughout Mashpee and beyond, and he was significantly involved in Mashpee's clean water initiatives.

Most recently, Gottlieb spoke to the Times about the importance of having elements that would clean freshwater bodies in Mashpee in the town Watershed Nitrogen Management Plan.

At Monday's meeting, Weeden said Gottlieb's resignation was unfortunate.

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"His input and contributions to this board will be greatly missed," Weeden said. "I have developed a fond appreciation for everything he brings to the table. I will miss his presence and input in subsequent discussions."

Mashpee Town Manager Rodney Collins said he respects Gottlieb's intellect and called him a person of true convictions.

Collins said he also admires Gottlieb's passion for the town's clean water initiatives. His impact on the town will live long past his time on the Select Board, he said.

"When you have strong views, some people are going to like them and some people disliked them," Collins said. "But I think the majority certainly respected him. And, I for one, would fall into that category.

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Community will also miss Gottlieb's contributions

Alana Doyle attended the July 25 Select Board meeting when Gottlieb's resignation was officially announced.

"We are losing the involvement of people who are genuinely dedicated to the best interest of our community," Doyle said. "Small groups of individuals are organizing the harassment of those they don’t like or disagree with by interfering in their personal lives outside town government. This is discouraging behavior."

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Doyle said she didn't always agree with Gottlieb's assessment of certain issues.

"I have sat in this room for many meetings and been in admiration of his research skills and the time he dedicates to understanding the issues before him," she said. "He knew what he was doing."

Gottlieb's absence opens new opportunities

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Gottlieb said his absence is an opportunity for fresh perspectives.

"A community with new energy, associated with some of these initiatives, can achieve a lot," he said. "This is an opportunity to move forward and is not, in any way, a derailment." 

With more free time, Gottlieb will focus more on the association, and the organization's initiatives. 

"For those who think this signifies the end of hearing from me, they are going to be really disappointed," he said. "It's just evolve or die."

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Andrew Gottlieb, chair of the Mashpee Select Board, resigns