county commissioner
FOR THE FUTURE
OF CAPE COD
Wastewater
Local homeowners shouldn’t bear wastewater infrastructure costs alone
Attainable Housing
Housing is the number one issue for our region’s future and workforce
Equitable Infrastructure
Investing in infrastructure helps working people build futures on Cape Cod
Environment
We must address rising seas, severe storms, and warming temperatures
Mental Health and Addiction
Addressing opioid addiction is a critical life-and-death issue for our community
What does a County Commissioner do & why am I running?
Barnstable County Commissioners set the Cape-wide policy priorities and oversee county government, its budget, and regional services that affect all fifteen Cape Cod communities.
I’m running because I believe county government should do more on the problems no town can solve alone. Housing has become unaffordable for too many year-round residents, wastewater costs are hitting homeowners hard, and the cost of living continues to rise. I want Barnstable County focused on practical regional solutions that make it easier for people to live, work, and stay on Cape Cod.
IN THE NEWS
Cape Cod adopts transfer fee on home sales over $1 million
After five hours of heated debate on Wednesday, the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates voted 10-5 to advance a home rule petition that would
Boston.com | Beth Treffeisen | February 20, 2026
Young Falmouth Democrat Sets Sights On County Commission Seat
Daniel Gessen, the Falmouth representative to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates and the deputy speaker of that legislative body, this week declared his intention to switch horses.
Falmouth Enterprse | Tao Woolfe | February 12, 2026
Cape Cod towns could lose state aid for dredging projects
Cape Cod towns could lose access to state money to help pay the cost of dredging. The budget for fiscal year 2027 does not include grant funds
WCAI | John Basile | December 18, 2025
Transfer Fee Gets its Day in the Sun
Housing affordability proponents on the Cape and Islands are hoping that a regional approach to transfer fees will finally succeed in getting money
Boston Business Journal | Grant Welker | December 4, 2025
Cape Cod's Luxury Real Estate Transfer Fee Petition Set For Review
The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates’ Economic Affairs Committee recently reviewed a draft Luxury Real Estate Transfer Fee
Patch.com | Montana Samuels | October 14, 2025
Could a fee on high-end real estate sales on Cape Cod help housing crisis? Some say yes.
Cape Cod residents and public officials are eager for more information about allowing towns to place a transaction fee on pricey real estate sales, based on comments…
Cape Cod Times | Zane Razzaq | October 2, 2025
Cape Cod has an affordable housing problem. Could taxing the wealthy fix it?
Cape Cod may be a hotspot for wealthy vacationers, but…the Assembly of Delegates wants to fix the area’s affordable housing crisis via a new tax on the rich.
Business Insider | Jordan Pandy | September 1o, 2025
Delegates Will Hold Special Hearing On Luxury Real Estate Transfer Fees
The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates will hold a special hearing this month regarding a luxury real estate transfer fee.
WXTK | September 5, 2025
Wealthy Cape Cod residents racing to sell their mansions over proposed 'Taylor Swift tax' style duty
Wealthy Cape Cod residents are scrambling over proposals for a ‘Taylor Swift tax’-style duty on their pearly coastal mansions. The measure is designed to help locals…
Daily Mail | Alyssa Guzman & Sophie Gable | August 30, 2025
Cape Cod Considers 2% Fee on Luxury Home Sales—Raising $56 Million for ‘Missing Middle’ Housing
Lawmakers on Massachusetts’ Cape Cod are considering an increasingly popular solution to solve the area’s housing crunch: a tax on the rich.
Realtor.com | Allaire Conte | August 18, 2025
LISTEN: Barnstable County considers luxury real estate transfer fee — Sunday Journal
Barnstable County’s Assembly of Delegates is considering a transfer fee for luxury real estate sales to help fund solutions to the affordable housing crisis declared
CapeCod.com | Grady Culhane | August 15, 2025
Barnstable County Assembly Considers Regional Transfer Fee
At a recent session of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, members heard from housing experts, business leaders and community advocates
Bourne Enterprise | Briefs | August 7, 2025
Dems To Discuss Affordable Housing
The program will feature Catherine Clark of Housing Assistance of Cape Cod and Dan Gessen, Falmouth’s representative to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates.
Falmouth Enterprise | Briefs | August 6, 2025
PAT TILLMAN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2025 CLASS OF TILLMAN SCHOLARS
The Pat Tillman Foundation is proud to announce the 2025 Class of Tillman Scholars. These remarkable military veterans, service members…
CBS 42 | Pat Tillman Foundation | July 10, 2025
Amid Housing Crisis, Cape Cod Rental Program Gets County Grant To Expand
A grant will allow Housing Assistance to expand its program which incentivizes homeowners to turn seasonal rentals into year-long offerings.
Patch.com | Montana Samuels | June 9, 2025
Student Speakers Announced for 2025 UMass Amherst Commencement Ceremonies
A combat veteran whose family emigrated from the former Soviet Union and an epidemiologist who advocates for the neurodivergent are among…
UMass Amherst | Emily Gest | May 8, 2025
Idyllic northeastern US area in housing crisis after home prices skyrocket
Officials in Massachusetts have declared a housing crisis in Cape Cod. The peninsula, which is a vacation hotspot, is experiencing skyrocketing home prices…
Daily Mail | Emma Saletta | Apr 25, 2025
Cape Cod Has A Housing Crisis, County Officials Say
The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates passed a resolution that calls on Cape Cod leaders to develop housing solutions.
Patch.com | Montana Samuels | Apr 23, 2025
Soaring prices causing housing crisis on Cape Cod
A crisis on the Cape — soaring housing prices have wreaked havoc on several towns there and the fallout is being felt in schools being forced to close…
7 News WHDH | April 20, 2025
Barnstable County Assembly declares housing crisis on Cape Cod
The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates passed a resolution Wednesday 14-1 declaring a housing crisis on Cape Cod.
WCAI | Gilda Geist | April 21, 2025
Cape Cod Sounds Alarm on Housing Crisis Amid Skyrocketing Home Prices
Cape Cod, MA, is in deep trouble amid soaring home prices, stalled construction, and a dwindling workforce, forcing local officials to sound the warning bells.
Realtor.com | Snejana Farberov | April 21, 2025
Cape Cod housing crisis: Barnstable County seeks solution to dwindling community
In case anyone who’s tried to rent or buy on Cape Cod hasn’t noticed, there’s a housing crisis here. The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates formally declared
Cape Cod Times | Zane Razzaq | Apr 19, 2025
Faced with a housing crunch, a local move to ‘do something’
PRICES ARE BALLOONING, unit construction is stagnating, populations are declining, and a housing crisis deserves to be treated as such, the Barnstable County
Commonwealth Beacon | Jennifer Smith | Apr 18th, 2025
Mental Health Center Closing Would Ripple Across Cape, Officials Say
“When it’s numbers on paper, it’s hard to have that emotional connection,” said Dan Gessen, deputy speaker of the Assembly, of the effect of the hearing.
Provincetown Independent | Aden Choate | Feb 12th, 2024
Proposed Mental Health Cuts Stoke Impassioned Public Response
During a recent hearing by the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, over fifty live and virtual attendees voiced their opposition…
CapeCod.com | Matthew Tomlinson | Feb 10th, 2025
'We Can Prevent This:' The Fight To Keep Pocasset Inpatient Unit Open
More than 50 people attended the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates hearing on Wednesday to voice their adamant opposition to Governor…
Bourne Enterprise | Jamie Perkins | February 6th, 2025
Assemblyman Dan Gessen of Falmouth returns from deployment, gains new leadership role
The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates swore in its newly elected leadership on Jan. 2. Among those elected is 1st Lt. Dan Gessen.
Cape Cod Times/ Desiree Nikfardjam / Jan 8th, 2025
Barnstable County Officials Look To AquiFund To Help Homeowners Meet New Septic Rules
As Cape Codders work to meet new state wastewater regulations, relief could soon be on the way.
capecod.com/ Jim McCabe / Mar 20th, 2024
Barnstable County Committee Recommends Aquifund Expansion
A $13 million would help alleviate the cost of hooking up to sewers and upgrading septic systems for year-round homeowners on Cape Cod.
Patch.com/ Montana Samuels / Mar 12th, 2024
Dan Gessen will retain Assembly delegate duties while serving Army National Guard overseas
At the age of 21, Dan Gessen achieved two lifelong dreams when he became both an elected official and an Army officer…
CapeAndIslands.org/ Patrick Flanary / Jan 23rd, 2024
Cape Cod to remain important, says elected Falmouth delegate as military deployment nears
He will be deploying with the Massachusetts Army National Guard on Jan. 25…
CapeCodTimes.com/ Walker Armstrong / Jan 22nd, 2024
Barnstable County Officials Look To AquiFund To Help Homeowners Meet New Septic Rules
HYANNIS – As Cape Codders work to meet new state wastewater regulations, relief could soon be on the way…
CapeCod.com/ Jim McCabe / Mar 20th, 2024
County Rep. Seeks Support For Septic System Upgrade Loan Program
Falmouth representative for the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates Daniel Gessen presented loan assistance options for residents…
CapeNews.net/ Noelle Annonen / Jan 12th, 2024
Falmouth's County Delegate Dan Gessen Deploying With National Guard
Falmouth’s Delegate on the Barnstable County Assembly said he plans to continue serving…
Patch.com/ Montana Samuels / Jan 17th, 2024
Falmouth Delegate Voices Frustration With County Administration
The temperature in the Barnstable County government rose slightly last Wednesday, November 1, when Daniel Gessen…
CapeNews.net/ Alex Megerle / Nov 10th, 2023
County Assembly Postpones AquiFund Ordinance
The fate of an ordinance transferring $5 million into the AquiFund loan program for replacing failed septic systems will not be decided until October…
CapeNews.net/ Alex Megerle / Sep 8th, 2023
Falmouth Delegate Wants County To Invest $5 Million In AquiFund
Falmouth’s delegate for the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates is proposing that the county invest $5 million into the Cape Cod AquiFund…
CapeNews.net/ Gilda Geist / Aug 11th, 2023
Barnstable County Delegates Plea to State: Invest in Broadband
In their resolution, the Assembly endorsed a letter from Falmouth Delegate Dan Gessen urging the state to utilize about $350 million…
CapeCod.com/ Brendan Fitzpatrick / Jan 21st, 2023
Assembly Of Delegates Calls For State Broadband Investment
The resolution and letter were authored by delegate Daniel Gessen of Falmouth states Cape Cod did not receive…
CapeNews.net / Jan 19th, 2023
Wary Ceasefire Reached In County Budget Battle
At the county commission meeting earlier on Wednesday, Falmouth Delegate Daniel Gessen made an unexpected…
CapeNews.net / Tao Woolfe/ Jun 17th, 2022
First Project Reviews Underway for Barnstable County ARPA Funds
Falmouth Assembly Delegate Daniel Gessen joined the meeting to give comment on the ongoing relationship…
CapeCod.com / Grady Culhane/ Jun 17th, 2022
Delegates Make Deep Cuts To County’s Proposed Budget
The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates this week voted to cut almost $1 million from the proposed “bloated” county budget…
CapeNews.net / Tao Woolfe/ May 6th, 2022
Congratulations to Dan Gessen Falmouth Representative to the Barnstable Assembly
Daniel Gessen, the 2018 Falmouth Democratic Town Committee Thelma Goldstein Scholarship awardee, was appointed…
Falmouth DTC / Scott Simenas / May 3rd, 2022
Assembly On Board With $10M ARPA Compromise
The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates this week made it official: the Cape’s 15 towns will get $10 million of…
CapewNews.net / Tao Woolfe / April 22nd, 2022
21-year-old Dan Gessen will represent Falmouth in Assembly of Delegates
Twenty-one-year-old Daniel Gessen is a senior at University of Massachusetts Amherst where he studies political science…
Cape Cod Times / Asad Jung / April 19th, 2022
Cyr and Moran Sway Assembly to Step Back
BARNSTABLE — Right up until the day of the vote, it looked like the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates was going to…
The Provincetown Independent / Christine Legere / April 13th, 2022
Embattled County Government Factions Agree To ARPA Compromise
At the end of a long day—and evening—of impassioned speeches, the warring factions of Barnstable County government…
CapeNews.net / April 8th, 2022
Falmouth Select Board Appoints 21-Year-Old To County Assembly
Falmouth Select Board unanimously voted to appoint 21-year-old Daniel Gessen to the Barnstable County Assembly of…
CapeNews.net / April 8th, 2022
Falmouth Democrats Hold Caucus, Elect Record Number Of Young Adults
In what was perhaps the most striking turnout of young adults that the Falmouth Democratic Town Committee…
CapeNews.net / March 4th, 2022
3 Falmouth candidates vie for Assembly of Delegates seat
Three Falmouth residents are squaring off for a seat on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates at the Nov. 3 election…
Cape Cod Times / By Jessica Hill / Oct 27, 2020
Standing up for Their Lives
As Neil Young’s “Rockin in the Free World” blared in the background, hundreds of residents from Falmouth…
Wicked Local / Sarah Murphy / Mar 28, 2018
'Get Our Voices Out': Why 3 Students Will Walk Out To Protest Gun Violence
Next week, on Wednesday, students from across Massachusetts will walk out of class to protest gun violence…
WBUR / Mar 15, 2018
Have A Heart! Drives Collect Blood On Cape Cod
The scent of chlorine from the pool across the hall hung in the slowly circulating air as 16-year-old Daniel Gessen sat…
CapeNews.net / Jul 21, 2017
VIPS Student Volunteer Of The Month: Daniel Gessen
The Falmouth Volunteers In Public Schools program announces its January Student Volunteer of…
CapeNews.net / Jan 20, 2017
JOIN THE TEAM
* Dan is a member of the Army National Guard. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Dan Gessen