YARMOUTH – Town officials in the Upper and Mid Cape were able to give input directly to the governor’s office yesterday.
Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito came to Cape Cod as part of Governor Charlie Baker’s initiative called, the Building Stronger Communities Tour.
Polito visited Sandwich in the morning and Yarmouth in the afternoon.
At the Yarmouth meeting, which took place at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, Polito explained the reason for the tour.
“What I hope to achieve here is a real snapshot of where the Cape is today and where they want to go and how we at the state level can be a better partner to support their success,” Polito said.
Three of the region’s state representatives at the Yarmouth session said they were hoping to discuss a range of issues with Polito.
State Representative Tim Whelan (R-Brewster) said he wanted to focus on education funding.
The opiate abuse epidemic was first on the list for State Representative Sarah Peake (D-Provincetown).
State Representative Brian Mannal (D-Centerville) said he wanted to discuss the wastewater issue on the Cape and the newly completed 208 plan that will guide the region in working on the issue.
The lieutenant governor said that she and Gov. Baker both began their political careers serving in town politics and they appreciate the importance of local government in quality of life issues.
“We want the next generation that chooses to lay their roots here on the Cape to be successful and all of that is a continuation of what the community leaders do each and every day here on the Cape and in other parts of the state,” she said.
Polito said she actually has a local connection to the Cape with her family having a home in Yarmouth and her husband’s family living in Hyannis.
“I grew up here as a young girl and I continue to spend a lot of time here not only in the summers but throughout the year to visit family. And as a mom, I have two young children that are having that same experience and I’m thrilled that they can really experience all the Cape has to offer,” she said.