Joe Taccogna of Marstons Mills has served as chair of the Barnstable Democratic Town Committee for the past two years and was recently elected to a second term. He joined in 2022 and immediately put his shoulder to the wheel, working to find us a new meeting location - the Osterville Public Library — which is equipped with much needed zoom
technology.

Joe also encouraged members and nonmembers alike to gather for a weekly chat on issues of interest at a cafe in Hyannis. Unfortunately, that cafe is now closed, likely due to the impact of ICE on our immigrant community and which continues to be an issue for our committee’s focus. Meanwhile Joe is looking for a new gathering spot - so anyone with a
suggestion, let us know at bdtcomm@gmail.com.

Asked what drew him to join our committee, Joe said, “I was first drawn to organized politics as a student in 1972, canvassing for George McGovern in the dairy country along the Canadian border in upstate New York. Since then, I have participated in local government wherever I have been. After several years of following the goings on here in Barnstable, I sought out the Barnstable Democratic Town Committee to get more actively
involved.”

Asked if he has a particular focus for our committee, Joe said, “My goal for the BDTC is that every registered Democrat in town know who we are, what we are working on and to encourage active participation.”

Born in the Bronx, Joe grew up on Long Island. “I went to school in upstate New York, followed by time in Portland, Maine, and Providence, before settling in Queens as I began my career.” Joe said he worked in corporate legal services, corporate compliance and government relations. “I transferred to Chicago for several years before coming back East. We split our time between the Cape and homes in Connecticut and then Rhode Island before settling on the Cape full time.” Reflecting on the tasks ahead, Joe said, “These are troubling times for all of us.  We on the Cape, and in Barnstable specifically, face significant challenges in terms of our environment, water quality, housing challenges, managing development, threats to our immigrant communities and more. I believe we as Democrats can play a role in supporting leadership that will work together to seek solutions to these challenges.”

Our committee meets at 6 pm. the last Wednesday of each month at the Osterville Public Library. Please join us.