Bonnita B. Van Slyke – Town Council
Bonnita (Bonnie) moved to Charlestown, a community that she has known all her life, to live full time 14 years ago and has served on the Town Council since 2014. She has worked to deliver civil, honest, transparent government that is fiscally responsible and a stable, low tax rate. She sees protecting our town’s natural assets—our drinking water, beaches, ponds, river, forests, and dark skies—and using them wisely as critical for our economy and crucial to maintaining what we love about our town into the future.
Education
- BA (Cum Laude), Economics, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
Professional Experience
- Freelance copy editor, technical writer, and publications specialist for clients, including Timberline LLC, Cambridge, MA; Thompson Steele Production Service, Harvard, MA; Alta Research, Inc., Concord, MA; American Management Company, Bedford, MA; and Manderson Associates, Groton, MA (1981 – present)
- Executive Assistant, Engineering Division, Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, MA
- Executive Assistant, Consulting Division, Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, MA
- Legal Secretary for law firms in Newport, RI, and Providence, RI
Public Service
- Charlestown Town Council (2014 – 2022)
- Town Council Liaison to the Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Senior Citizens Commission
- Former officer and member of the Board of Directors of the Frosty Drew Observatory & Science Center
- Chair, Zoning Board of Appeals, Harvard, MA
- Former member, Board of Trustees, Harvard Conservation Trust, Harvard, MA
Personal
- Bonnie enjoys sailing, tennis, biking, hiking, and skiing. Bonnie is a former ski instructor and volunteer in school parent organizations and Cub Scouting. She and her husband restored an antique colonial and had a small flock of sheep for many years. They have a son who lives with his family in San Francisco, CA