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VOTE411 Voter Guide

2026 County Commissioner Dukes County

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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    Michael Charles Bellisimo
    (Dem)

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    Tristan R. Israel
    (Dem)

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    Randal Scot Milch
    (I)

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    Katherine E. Putnam
    (U)

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    Douglas Ruskin
    (Dem)

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    Christine CS Todd
    (Dem)

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    Richard G. Wharton
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

Of the services that your county currently provides, which do you consider most important?

What are the key issues facing your county in the next year and how do you plan to address them?

What steps, if any, would you take to make sure county services are available to people of all socio-economic backgrounds?

How will you facilitate collaboration among the towns and cities in your county?

What role, if any, can your office play in addressing climate and environmental issues impacting your county?

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Campaign Phone 774-563-0707
Campaign/Contact Email tristan.r@verizon.net
We assist in providing social services to the citizens of Duke's County
Finding financial resources to support and further enhance regional services in Dukes County.
Our programs are meant to provide services to all the citizens of Dukes County and many of them are already providing support to those of lesser means.
Clear communication as to those regional programs we administer or wish to implement in the future is paramount. Towns should be a part of any planning process leading to more regional services.
We continue to participate in local climate and environmental efforts and also energy efficiency and conservation.
Campaign Phone 2024949054
Dukes County provides the residents of Martha's Vineyard with a range of social services. Some are provided directly by the County; others are provided by third parties under contracts with the County on behalf of the Towns on the Vineyard. These services, ranging from help navigating complex health care and benefits programs to elder and homelessness assistance are the most important services the County currently provides.
Among the key issues facing Dukes County are: affordable housing, tick-borne diseases and allergies, and Island development. The County has no purview over these important issues and will not address them. Dukes County has over the last few years made significant contributions to the Island's Emergency Management planning which, under state law, is firmly committed to each Island Town. Dukes County will continue to work to assist the Towns in executing on the recently adopted Island wide Emergency Management Strategic Plan, including (we hope) Town agreement to the creation of a full time Emergency Management Coordinator position.
County Services are already available to residents of all socio-economic backgrounds.
The County stands ready to assist the Towns in collaborating on any issue important to them. We have offered our services to the Towns on multiple occasions.
Please see the answer above about Emergency Management.
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