Ron Beaty, Candidate for West Barnstable Water Commissioner Advocates for Community Engagement & Education!

As a candidate for the West Barnstable Fire District, Board of Water Commissioners, I am of the mindset that the WBFD Board of Water Commissioners should start to serve as an active local public forum for the purpose of public education and community engagement concerning local water quality issues specifically, and wastewater policy matters in general. Anyone who claims that no water quality issues presently exist in the West Barnstable area is either engaging in wishful thinking or is simply not being completely honest. Most, if not all of the area suffers from excessive amounts of Iron in the local well water, with some areas being challenged by copper and acidity issues.  

Right now NOTHING is going on in West Barnstable to address the previously mentioned issues, and there really should be. As a result of pressure exerted by me, the current Board of Water Commissioners has held its first meeting in countless years. I understand that some people in West Barnstable might think that I would represent a change to the status quo if I were to succeed in being elected. At this stage of things, that is true, I would be a change in that I advocate for public education and community engagement regarding issues related to West Barnstable water quality and planning for the future. Sitting around and doing absolutely NOTHING like the present and past boards have done for years is simply an option that West Barnstable residents can no longer afford... 

What is I have outlined is not asking too much and certainly bears consideration by all parties concerned. It will not raise anybody's taxes, and will only have the result of us all learning something more about the topics in question. As for experience, in addition to an extensive formal education, I can also at least say that I worked quite expansively and successfully last year to prevent the County from continuing to pursue an "MWRA-style Cape-wide Sewer & Taxing Authority." Please vote on Wednesday, April 24th between the hours of 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the West Barnstable Community Building located on Route 149.