Continuing our focus on politics, we talk to Mark Forest, a Democrat who is being challenged by Republican Leo Cakounes in the race for a seat on the Barnstable County Commission.
Excerpts from Mark Forest’s bio as provided on his website:
Mark Forest is a long time resident of South Yarmouth where he and his wife, Carol live and have raised their family. They have two children, Michael and Patricia, who are graduates of the Dennis-Yarmouth public school system.
Mark Forest is a development consultant with the Delahunt Group, working with government and other public sector organizations on the planning, permitting and funding of large public works projects. He is a consultant on the redevelopment of downtown Quincy and is assisting the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s government on a host of initiatives and projects.
Forest also teaches American Government and International Relations at Cape Cod Community College. During the summers, he teaches public administration to graduate level Masters of Public Administration students at Suffolk University. He serves on the Yarmouth Conservation Trust and is the current Chairman of the Cape Cod Conservation District, which is heavily involved in fisheries and coastal restoration projects on Cape Cod.
Mark Forest graduated from the University of Massachusetts in Boston in 1978. He obtained a Masters in Public Administration from Suffolk University in 1981. His background is in local government management, planning, funding and economic development. Forest was also a VISTA volunteer in Boston during the desegregation controversy.
His professional career started in 1981 in the Provincetown Town Manager’s office. He is a co-founder of the Community Development Partnership, a community development corporation based in Eastham.
In 1985 Forest joined the staff of Congressman Gerry E. Studds, where he managed his Cape and Islands office, advised on a range of public policy issues, and represented the Congressman at numerous events.
Forest also served as a liaison to the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission, county, municipal governments in the district, and the fishing industry.
In 1997, following the retirement of Gerry Studds, Forest joined the staff of Congressman Bill Delahunt. With Delahunt, he performed a similar role, supervising district operations and constituent services, while helping local towns secure federal and state funds for local projects.
In 2005, Upper Cape officials asked Forest to serve as Chairman of the “Save Otis” Coalition, which helped prevent the Otis Air National Guard base and Coast Guard Air Station on Cape Cod from being closed during the last base closure round.
Forest became Delahunt’s Chief of Staff working out of Washington DC. During this time he was the Congressman’s principal policy advisor, speechwriter, legislative and communications director.
Forest has received several honors for his public service, including the New England Federal Executive Board’s John Joseph Moakley Award for Exemplary Public Service. He has been publicly recognized by the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association for his work on behalf of the fishing industry and by the Association to Preserve Cape Cod for his work to protect the Cape’s environment.
