Denise Rhodes

Denise L. Rhodes

Denise, like many of us, was attracted to Charlestown for its quiet, peace, and outstanding natural beauty. The threats to that special character inspire her to remain active in protecting the environment and public health of the citizens of Charlestown.

“Through planning we can ensure we are proactive in guiding development in the town. The residents of Charlestown want the rural character to remain. It is so important to protect our environment and the health and welfare of our residents, while keeping taxes low and affordable for everyone.”

Denise L. Rhodes – Planning Commission

Denise was elected to the Charlestown Town Council in 2014 and 2016. She now seeks to serve the town as a member of the Planning Commission when her Town Council term ends in November.  Denise has been a resident of Charlestown for the past 13 years. Denise lives in western Charlestown, a stone’s throw from the Westerly Granite Quarry, formerly known as Copar, that has had such a negative impact on its neighbors. Denise has been a leading public voice in the interest of the people and environment impacted by the quarry.

The negative impacts the quarry has had on local quality of life were the catalyst that sparked Denise’s activism and her 2014 run for Town Council, but it is her knowledge of how easily change can come to our beautiful community when we don’t have local control that will provide her the experience to be an insightful member of the Planning Commission.

Denise, like many of us, was attracted to Charlestown for its quiet, peace, and outstanding natural beauty. The threats to that special character inspire her to remain active in protecting the environment and public health of the citizens of Charlestown.

“Through planning we can ensure we are proactive in guiding development in the town. The residents of Charlestown want the rural character to remain. It is so important to protect our environment and the health and welfare of our residents, while keeping taxes low and affordable for everyone.”

Education

  • Graduate of the Sawyer School of Business
  • Associate’s Degree in Accounting and Finance from the Community College of Rhode Island
  • Attended Bryant College for three years for further study in Accounting and Finance

Professional Experience

  • Senior Community Banking Officer
  • Senior Credit Analyst at RI Hospital Trust/Sovereign Bank
  • Collections analyst, mortgage underwriter, community outreach agent, and loan review officer for Citizens Bank
  • Deputy Clerk of the Family Court, Beaufort, SC

Public Service

  • Charlestown Town Council 2014 – 2018
  • Town Council Liaison to the Senior Citizen Commission
  • Town Council Liaison to the Affordable Housing Commission – Officiated at opening of Churchwoods
  • Champion of the Multi Purpose Trail in Ninigret Park for handicap access, rehabilitation use, and families with young children
  • Testified numerous times at the State House on extraction and fugitive dust legislation
  • Initiated the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Ordinance
  • Leader in the successful multi-community effort to stop the Federal Railroad Administration’s plan to bisect northern Charlestown with new rail lines
  • Leader in the successful effort to stop Invenergy from withdrawing water from Charlestown and trucking it to northern Rhode Island
  • Founding member of The Concerned Citizens of Bradford & Charlestown, an advocacy group for local residents negatively impacted by the under-regulated quarry and mining industries in Rhode Island.

Personal

  • Denise has three adult children and now grandchildren who keep her life busy.

On November 6th, please vote for Denise L. Rhodes for Charlestown Planning Commission

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Town Council

Planning Commission