Massachusetts has fourteen counties, but only five have active county governments. County Commissioners oversee these county governments, though their structure varies. Dukes County elects seven Commissioners to two‑year terms, with no term limits, 7 seats are up for election. The other counties, Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth, elect three Commissioners to four-year terms, with no term limits. Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth Counties have 1 seat up for election. Across all counties, Commissioners meet regularly, usually twice a month, to manage county budgets and schedules and oversee key functions such as jails and houses of correction, courthouses, registries of deeds, agricultural high schools, recreation facilities, and solid waste management.
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Campaign Phone
5082081760
I consider the County’s public health and environmental services among its most important responsibilities. Cape Cod’s drinking water, wastewater infrastructure, coastal resources, and public health challenges do not stop at town lines, which makes regional coordination essential. The County also plays an important role in providing services that individual towns may struggle to deliver efficiently on their own, from septic and water-quality programs to emergency preparedness and human services. I believe the County is at its best when it uses its regional scale to solve problems that no single town can effectively address alone.
The most urgent issues facing Barnstable County are housing affordability, wastewater and water quality, and the growing cost of living for year-round residents. These challenges are closely connected to a broader demographic problem: too many working families and young people are being priced out of the communities they call home.
I believe the County needs to take a more active regional role rather than leaving each town to solve these problems independently. On housing, I support creating new tools to help year-round residents afford homes while addressing the impact of properties that sit vacant for much of the year. On wastewater, I want to expand regional financing and reduce the cost of sewer and septic improvements for year-round h
County services must be accessible to everyone, regardless of income or immigration status. I support income-based assistance, grants, and low- or no-interest financing for costs like septic and sewer improvements. I have also introduced legislation restricting the use of County property for federal immigration enforcement and protecting residents’ personal information from being disclosed for immigration-enforcement purposes. The County should also work with towns and community organizations to ensure residents know what services are available and can access them safely.
Cape Cod has 15 towns trying to solve many of the same problems 15 different ways. I want the County to change that. I would create regular working groups of town managers and select board members around housing, wastewater, broadband, and shared services; expand County grant-writing support so smaller towns are not competing with larger communities for the same funding; and pursue joint purchasing where towns can lower costs by buying together. On wastewater and housing especially, the County should develop regional financing programs that towns can opt into instead of each community having to build its own from scratch.
Environmental protection is one of the clearest reasons we need county government. Our aquifer, coastline, and watersheds do not follow town borders. On the Assembly, I helped secure $1.3 million for Falmouth wastewater projects and supported expanding County financing for septic and sewer upgrades. As Commissioner, I would push the County to lower the cost of wastewater improvements for year-round residents, coordinate water-quality projects across towns, and pursue state and federal funding for coastal resilience. Climate policy also has to recognize affordability: we cannot protect the Cape by pricing working families out of it.
Campaign Phone
508-419-2249
Barnstable County's most important role is protecting the resources that all 15 towns share. That includes water quality planning, coastal protection, emergency preparedness, and scientific support provided through the Cape Cod Commission and county departments. Clean drinking water, healthy estuaries, and reliable public health services affect every resident, business, and visitor. County government works best when it provides expertise and coordination that individual towns cannot efficiently provide on their own.
The biggest challenges are water quality, housing affordability, and rising costs for residents. Growth must be aligned with available water and wastewater capacity. I support workforce housing, ADUs, and smaller-scale development, but not oversized projects that overwhelm infrastructure. As Commissioner, I will push for stronger water planning, lower county fees where possible, and greater accountability from regional agencies so residents receive measurable value for every tax dollar spent.
County services should be accessible to everyone regardless of income, age, or location. I would prioritize outreach through local libraries, senior centers, community organizations, and online platforms to ensure residents know what services are available. I also support simplifying application processes, expanding digital access, and evaluating county programs to ensure resources are reaching those who need them most while maintaining transparency and fiscal responsibility.
The Commissioner's role is to bring people together around shared challenges. Water quality, transportation, public health, housing, and coastal resilience do not stop at town boundaries. I will encourage regular collaboration among town officials, residents, nonprofit organizations, and business leaders. The county should serve as a facilitator and information-sharing hub, helping towns learn from one another and pursue regional solutions while respecting local control.
Protecting Cape Cod's environment is one of the county's core responsibilities. My focus will be on practical measures that protect drinking water, wetlands, estuaries, and coastal resources. The county can provide science, planning assistance, and regional coordination while helping towns prepare for sea-level rise, flooding, and water quality challenges. Environmental protection and economic vitality are not competing goals—our economy depends on preserving the natural resources that make Cape Cod unique.
