He is a Municipal councilor of Bruges since 1983, and a Provincial councilor of West Flanders since 1986. In 1991, he became party leader for the CD&V in the West Flemish provincial council. After the provincial elections of 21 October 1994, he was appointed vice-chairman of the provincial council. He has been an Alderman of Public Works in the city of Bruges from 1995 to 2000. From 2001 to 2012, he was member of the permanent deputation of the province of West Flanders. In 2013, he became an alderman for welfare, diversity and policiy of the North-South, and was also chairman of the OCMW in Bruges, until the end of 2018.
