Democrats back in charge of Barnstable County board

By Geoff Spillane
Posted Jan 2, 2019

Democrats have regained control of the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners.

BARNSTABLE — Democrats have regained control of the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners.

Moments after being sworn in to a four-year term Wednesday, new commissioner Ronald Bergstrom, of Chatham, was unanimously selected chairman of the three-member board for the coming year.

Bergstrom, a Democrat, narrowly defeated incumbent commission Chairman Leo Cakounes, a Republican, in November’s election.

Commissioner Mary Pat Flynn, a Democrat from Falmouth, was unanimously chosen as vice chairman, unseating Commissioner Ronald Beaty Jr., a Barnstable Republican who held the post in 2018. Bergstrom and Flynn nominated each other for their respective posts.

Flynn and Beaty are midway through their terms, which expire in January 2021.

While Bergstrom’s ascent to the top of the regional government’s executive branch may seem fast, he is no stranger to Cape politics, having served in elective positions for more than two decades.

Bergstrom served six terms on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, the county government’s legislative branch, including eight years as its speaker. He also was elected to four terms on the Chatham Board of Selectmen, serving from 1998 to 2010.

Bergstrom said a primary goal as he starts his term is to meet with the Cape’s boards of selectmen and citizens to promote the role of the county, offer insights into services it offers and discuss what the county can do for them.

“During the election, people asked me, ‘What does the county do?’” he said.

Among the initial tasks facing Bergstrom in his leadership role will be development of a fiscal 2020 budget for the county and carrying out an early retirement plan, which was approved by the state Legislature last month, for eligible employees.

Bergstrom also expressed hope that the three commissioners would work as a team and be equal contributors, with Barnstable County Administrator John “Jack” Yunits Jr. continuing to focus on the day-to-day operations of the regional government.

“Though a Democratic Party majority now controls the Board of Barnstable County Commissioners, as the lone Republican, I shall make sure that the voice of fiscal restraint, transparency and public accountability will continue to be heard within our Cape Cod Regional Government,” Beaty wrote in a Twitter post shortly after the meeting.

John Ohman, who holds the honorary title of dean of the Assembly of Delegates, having represented Dennis there for more than 20 years, attended Bergstrom’s swearing-in ceremony.

“Ron is uniquely well-prepared for this position,” Ohman said. “He has a vast repertoire of tools to use to be successful in his first term as chairman.”

https://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20190102/democrats-back-in-charge-of-barnstable-county-board?utm_content=GTDT_CCT&utm_term=010319