From Publisher to Politician: Chip Bertino's Journey in Ocean Pines
Chip Bertino’s deep roots in Ocean Pines began with an unexpected job opportunity and a family’s welcoming embrace. His journey from a lengthy daily commute to a prominent role in local governance reflects a steady commitment to the place he now calls home.
Bertino first arrived in Ocean Pines in February 1991, followin
g a job in Accomack, Virginia. With his wife and two young children, and no immediate place to live, his in-laws, who had recently built a home in Ocean Pines, offered a temporary solution. This led to a year-long period of commuting "an hour and a half one way, a three-hour commute per day" between Ocean Pines and Accomack.
Despite the taxing commute, Bertino and his family quickly found their footing.
“We felt very much at home here in Ocean Pines,” Bertino said. “It felt like the community that we want to live in, and we were fortunate enough to raise our three children here, getting involved in the community, and it's been a wonderful experience.”
A Career in Community News
Bertino’s professional life in the region initially centered around corporate advertising sales. Following a period publishing newspapers in Salisbury and Crisfield, he ventured out on his own, launching The Courier in Ocean Pines.
Starting a new publication presented significant challenges, as the market already had established newspapers.
“We were crashing the party, basically," Bertino said. “One of the things that we took great pride in was that we just wrote the story, and we did not take sides. We did not do editorials. We just wrote the stories and allowed our readers to form their own opinions.”
He believes this approach earned the paper respect by focusing on delivering information without bias.
Bertino highlighted several significant local issues covered by The Courier, including the heated discussions in the early 2000s regarding the location of the community center, which was a “huge topic.”
The construction of the new yacht club and its associated costs also drew considerable public interest. At the county level, he pointed to the proposed impact fee by county commissioners, which “could cost people who were just moving from one house to another in Ocean Pines an additional thousands of dollars that quite truthfully, was very difficult to justify.”
His family’s involvement in Ocean Pines extended to their children's sports activities and a shared love for boating.
Transition to Public Service
Bertino’s transition into elected office began with his coverage of Worcester County Commissioner meetings starting in late 2009. This gave him “familiarity with the issues and the players and the individuals who were running county government.”
In late 2013, with an open commissioner seat, he decided to run.
He described his initial foray into campaigning as difficult. He shared an anecdote about an early house party where he struggled to articulate his platform, admitting, “I was tripping over myself. I didn't know what I was saying or how to say to express myself, and it was just so excruciatingly embarrassing for me.”
He credits valuable advice from a businesswoman who gave him “quick, focused pointers,” helping him learn to “better express myself, stay focused, and to recognize that they are looking at me as a candidate as someone who's going to represent them.”
Bertino stressed the solitary nature of being a candidate and an elected official.
“You're by yourself as a candidate... And when you govern, you need to make decisions, and you have to be responsible for those decisions.” He emphasized that honesty and the willingness to admit mistakes are crucial strengths. “Recognizing that you're not always right is a strength, not a weakness,” he said.
Beyond large-scale projects, Bertino values the individual impact of his work. He highlighted instances of assisting residents with issues ranging from zoning problems and potholes to navigating water and sewer concerns.
“Those, although not as public, are just as important, if not more important for me because they’re the ones that make a difference in the lives of the individuals that I'm here to represent,” he said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was able to help older residents struggling with online vaccine appointments by connecting them directly with the health department.
Bertino expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community. "I think that this community has given me a great gift to be able to represent them at the county level," he remarked.