Ronald Areglado: Old Wine in New Bottles
The following letter was submitted to local newspapers and is reprinted here with permission of the author Ronald Areglado. Ron is a Charlestown member of the Chariho School Committee.
As the lead-up to the November elections moves forward, the local elections in Charlestown are gathering momentum. Both the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) and the Charlestown Residents United (CRU) slates have advanced their positions via mailings, signs and door-to-door campaigning.
What is interesting to note are the tactics that the CRU has employed in their efforts to gain control of Charlestown governance. First, many of their candidates are former members of the Democratic Town Committee, and who now call themselves “Independents” in an obvious attempt to run away from their past record and to blatantly deceive and confuse voters.
Prior to CCAs’ ascendency to town governance in 2010, a number of the CRU candidates contributed either directly or indirectly to backroom policies and decisions such as the attempt to build two 500 foot industrial wind turbines in a residential neighborhood, costly lawsuits that harmed the town’s reputation, finances and triggered ongoing tensions within the ranks of those working at Town Hall. Such widespread chaos in town management led some state legislators to once refer to Charlestown as “Clowntown.”
These are but two glaring examples that compelled Charlestown voters to oust them and strongly contributed to CCA’s success at the ballot box, which has resulted in exemplary leadership over the past eight years. Now, vestiges of that same group have the gumption to make their primary position in this year’s election, “Bring back open and transparent government.” I trust that Charlestown voters will not be fooled again. It’s simply a matter of “old wine in new bottles.”
Since 2010, CCA’s leadership in the positons of the Town Council, Planning Commission, School Committee and Town Moderator has accomplished a number of significant townwide initiatives. Here are a few examples:
- Keeping our town governance tax rate as one of the lowest in the state while maintaining stability in overall town governance and outstanding fiscal management; all of which have contributed to a quality of life that is now envied throughout the state.
- Protecting our town from the proposed Federal Railroad Administration’s plan to expand railway traffic through the western end of Charlestown which would have displaced a considerable number of our residents.
- Fighting vigorously and successfully to help defeat the Invenergy project which would have extracted millions of gallons of water from our precious aquafers.
- Gaining acceptance from the RI Office of Energy Resources and Commerce for participation in the Solarize Charlestown Project that will help make solar energy projects more affordable for our residents and small business owners.
- Working collaboratively with our Richmond and Hopkinton School Committee counterparts to make the Chariho School District one of the top three school districts in the state.
- Expanding facilities at our pristine beaches and serene Ninigret Park that enhance active and passive recreational opportunities for all residents and the legions of vacationers who increase profits for our local businesses.
- Creating and reinforcing policies and practices to preserve and protect our exceptional environment and rural character.
Today, Niche.com, a national rating and ranking firm, places Charlestown in approximately the top third of places to live in RI, which is a far cry from our ranking over eight years ago!
I ask Charlestown voters to keep proven, ethical, visionary and community –focused leadership in place by electing Town Council candidates Julie Carroccia, Virginia Lee, Bonnie Van Slyke, David Wilkinson and Bill Wilson; Planning Commission candidates Ruth Platner, Denise Rhodes, Sarah St. Laurent and Frances Topping; School Committee candidates Donna Chambers and Linda Lyall; and Town Moderator candidate Jan Knost. Let’s keep Charlestown moving forward!
