Four out of ten of the local candidates that CCA endorsed and supported in the November 5 election were elected, and we are grateful to the voters. However none of our five Town Council candidates were elected. As a result, we will have to continue to engage the public to encourage Charlestown’s government to protect our environment and economy.
After 8 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, November 5, the RI Board of elections will begin to report election results for Charlestown and all of Rhode Island. You can get to the Charlestown results by clicking on the link in this post.
As we move forward to perhaps: create a youth center, or best preserve and enjoy Ninigret Park, or ensure adequate and safe drinking water, etc…the most important factor is that we are all heard and are allowed to work together. Change in the current Town Council and support of Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) is the change we need to strengthen and yet, preserve our community.
The Charlestown Citizens Alliance endorsed candidates represent all of Charlestown not just the interests of those in a few particular areas. Each of these candidates represents all of the town, but they also live all over our town. The Charlestown Citizens Alliance endorsed candidates represent the whole town, from border to border and everywhere in between.
Monday, November 4 is the last day of Early Voting at Town Hall. Any Charlestown voter can vote at Town Hall anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 4. If you want to vote on Election Day, November 5, you must vote at your Official Polling Place. The state prints different ballots for each precinct in Charlestown. Sample ballots for each precinct in this post.
The current Town Council majority continues to say that there is no plan to spend $39.5 Million on Ninigret Park. But there is a plan to develop the park that will cost nearly $40 million. The scale of the plan and the substantial cost are connected. You can read the detailed cost estimates in this post.
Charlestown was the first municipality in the state to adopt a written fund balance policy. This wise planning has already proved critical. Because the town built up and maintained adequate fund balances and because of the skill of town staff in planning for climate resiliency, Charlestown had the funds available for a temporary fix to the damage caused to the Charlestown Breachway
We have created a community characterized by protected land, but development is still proceeding at more than 5 times the rate of preservation; still our political opponents see land conservation as a threat to population growth!
The only “interest” that the Alliance has is to protect Charlestown’s natural resources and low tax rate, to promote honest and transparent government, and to prevent unregulated development. Charlestown is indeed a very special place and it deserves our special interest.
Wednesday, October 16 is the first day of Early Voting at Town Hall. Early voting will take place at Town Hall, anytime between 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, from October 16 to November 4. The state prints different ballots for each precinct in Charlestown. Sample ballots for each precinct in this post.
Charlestown deserves a government that will protect our quality of life, our low tax rate, and our beautiful environment. To accomplish this, Charlestown Town Council candidates Sarah Fletcher, Angela Jalbert, Peter Keating, Ruth Platner, and Bonnie Van Slyke offer these commitments:
When you fill in your mail ballot from now until November or enter the voting booth from October 16 to November 5, please vote for the candidates in this post, highlighted in blue. From the shore of the Block Island Sound to the villages along the Pawcatuck River they will protect our quality of life, our low tax rate, and our beautiful environment.
Join us to meet the candidates CCA has endorsed for Charlestown Town Council, Planning Commission, and town moderator at an in-person meeting on October 12 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Charlestown Mini Super, 4071 Old Post Rd., Charlestown
Join us to meet the candidates CCA has endorsed for Charlestown Town Council, Planning Commission, and town moderator at an in-person meeting on October 6 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hungry Haven Restaurant (outside), 5000 South County Trail, Charlestown.
Sarah has lived in Charlestown for 15 years and has been a member of the Planning Commission for 6 years. Sarah has felt a deep connection to our community from the beginning of her time here, but the threat to neighborhoods, wildlife, and protected open space by the Federal Railroad Administration plan for new train tracks through northern Charlestown inspired her to become actively involved. She would like to continue to work to protect our beautiful town as a member of the Planning Commission.
Having served 8 years on the Town Council, Bonnie views the protection of our natural resources as critical for our economy. As a Town Councilor she has championed protecting the local environment, including our dark skies, and safeguarding our rural community with its low taxes. She advocates for inclusive recreational opportunities throughout our town. A former director of the Frosty Drew Nature Center and Observatory, Bonnie works in publishing and has a BA in Economics.
Please Reject Charter Questions 7, 10, 14, 15, and 17
Please Approve Charter Questions 11, 12, 13, and 16.
Charter Questions 8 and 9 are Tossups.
Read the post for full explanations of all the Charter Questions.
Amendments that are rejected can be brought back up at the next election if the Town Council feels that they needed some adjustment.
Coleen is a small business owner, professional comedian, motivational speaker, and former special education teacher. She has a strong background in design and is committed to preserving Charlestown’s natural resources, history, and character. She believes that it is possible to focus on preservation and work with all parties to find solutions that will best serve our community as a whole as we grow.
Ruth had a long career in scientific research and technology and serves on the Planning Commission. She has worked successfully to preserve the beauty of Charlestown’s natural environment that brought her here 47 years ago by being a leader in open space preservation, groundwater protection, and many other conservation efforts, including fighting the federal proposal in 2017 to bisect Charlestown with new rail lines.
Lisa works as a Planner at the Naval Submarine Base New London, has lived here for eight years, and has served on the Planning Commission for four years where she advocates for our environment and small-town character. Living on the western edge of town, Lisa has a front-row view of a large quarry in Westerly and the effect that bad land use planning can have on neighbors and natural resources.
Peter is a life-long volunteer. Besides working on countless charitable efforts, he’s served as a director on many boards – as varied as a local library and an orphanage in Africa. He even gave his left kidney to a stranger. For decades, Peter owned and operated a successful Connecticut supermarket with a diverse staff of 100 people. He’ll bring his talents for listening, analyzing, and responding to concerns to town governance.
As a past member of Charlestown’s Planning Commission and Town Council, I have witnessed at close proximity the competing interests of proponents for expanded economic development and the public will for preservation and conservation of natural resources. Well guided economic growth can be used to foster preservation and conservation, and CCA is committed to that dual outcome.
Despite the opposition to land conservation in Charlestown from the current Town Council majority, passage of “State Question 4” would allow Charlestown to continue to apply for state funds to purchase land that protects critical and uncommon habitats, supports rare or endangered species, expands other protected land, protects surface water bodies and groundwater for drinking water, and provides public access for passive recreation.
David is Senior Vice President of an international company he helped to found. He served two years on the Charlestown Town Council where he was fair, clear, organized, informed, and inclusive. His leadership skills and his knowledge of the major underlying issues will make him an excellent and effective presiding officer at all regular and special budget public hearings.
Angie is a life-long educator with expertise in planning, technology, grant management, and personnel development. She will bring experience collaborating with state and community organizations to her role in town government. With an over 40-year history in Charlestown, she is passionate about preserving our town’s unique character and community connections.
When: Thursday, September 26 from 6 to 8pm
Where: Cross Mills Public Library, 4417 Old Post Rd., Charlestown
What: Coastal Ponds Management Commission member Art Ganz will give a presentation about the erosion of the barrier beaches and damage to the west jetty of the Charlestown Breachway
Cost: Free
Would you like to host a lawn sign for our candidates? We will bring it to your house and place it for you. Just send us an email to mail@charlestowncitizens.org. We have signs for Town Council, Planning Commission and will have signs for Town Moderator soon too.
Carol is a photographer, writer, publisher, and small business owner. She has lived here for 13 years, served on the Planning Commission for two, and loves our unique, small town character. Her education, with both an MFA and MBA, and her experience help her to understand the need to achieve a balance between commercial development and the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental impacts on our community.
Sarah is a nationally recognized marketing expert with over 30 years of experience as a creative director, art director, designer, and photographer. As a small business owner, she wants to ensure that our economy can flourish without damaging the character of one of the most beautiful communities on the East Coast. Sarah is the third generation in her family to be raised in Charlestown and believes “we should continue to conserve land to protect the natural resources that support our economy and low tax rate in the long term.”
A vote for these candidates is a VOTE FOR experienced voices who will listen to diverse views and act in the best interests of all our residents. These candidates support sound, civil, and open government, and they bring expertise in areas ranging from the environment, to education, to the economy, and most importantly, their experience as your neighbors. These leaders value and are committed to protecting the inherent quality of life that makes Charlestown so unique.
The excellent candidates for Town Council and Planning Commission who are endorsed by CCA in the upcoming election will listen. They have heard your concerns, and they will work to return Charlestown to the path to long-term sustainability by protecting our natural resources on which our economy and our future depend.
My election campaigns always seem to present unexpected challenges. I declared my candidacy for Charlestown Town Council in June, and a biopsy on July 15 found a small tumor in my throat. I had, and have, no symptoms except for a swollen lymph node. I will get through this and be okay. My voice may be quieter for a short time, but it won’t be silent and I will continue doing my best to protect the beautiful, natural character of our community.
For some reason, a Charlestown Democratic Town Committee member appears to believe that taking personal potshots at a former town employee who was honest and worked hard, one who did an excellent job for 10 years, is OK. It’s not. Unproven, and untrue, assertions that live online can be damaging to a person’s career and should be out of bounds.
The League of Women Voters of South County will publish Voter Guides in early October featuring local candidates for State Representative, Senator, Town Council, School Committee, and Planning Commission. They want to ask questions that relate to the current issues in our town. Please submit up to 3 topics/questions for local candidates. The League will use this input from the community to develop questions for live candidate forums and voter guides. The deadline to submit questions is July 27.
There may be some misunderstanding of what the phrase “going to court” means, but the effect of trying to remove the voters’ right to vote is the same, no matter what vehicle is used. Seeking a Declaratory Judgment is an action to overturn the elected Planning Commission. It is an action with serious legal consequences. An article in the Providence Journal dated November 30, 2007, included in this post, described the earlier attempt to get a Declaratory Judgment regarding the legality of Charlestown having an elected Planning Commission.
Proposed Charter change question number 9 was written and sent to public hearing without any plan for ratification by the General Assembly. As explained by the Town’s solicitor at the Charter Public Hearing, “if it is not ratified you will put the Planning Commission’s legal authority in limbo … and undermine their position.”
Thank you to everyone who gave up a part of a summer day to visit us at the Charlestown Mini Super and sign 10 different nomination papers for the candidates the Charlestown Citizens Alliance is supporting in the November election. Thank you especially to the Mini Super for generously allowing us to set up our nomination papers in front of the store!
Although there was plenty of bad news for Charlestown’s environment in new laws passed by the Rhode Island Legislature in 2024, there was good news for the 47% of RI voters who are unaffiliated. Legislation which was passed by both the House and the Senate and was signed into law by the Governor on June 25, allows unaffiliated party voters to vote in either party’s primary without becoming affiliated to a party.
Proposed Charter changes would concentrate power in the Town Council while taking it away from the voters.
When: Tuesday, July 9 at 7 pm
Where: Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail, Charlestown
Some are merely administrative changes, but others reduce the Town Council’s accountability to voters and reduce the effectiveness and perhaps even legitimacy of the Planning Commission. Another creates a new Town Department without any analysis of long-term cost.
Charlestown’s over 40-year practice of a seven-person Planning Commission with two alternate seats open and one or two voting seats open each election allows for up to four new faces on the Commission, preserves continuity for applications that cross an election, and complies with the requirement that a majority of voting members not be replaced in any one year.
Where: Charlestown Mini Super, 4071 Old Post Rd. (map in post)
When: Monday, July 8 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m
What: If you are registered to vote in Charlestown, all we need is your signature on the candidates’ nomination papers. These candidates will be volunteering their time for the next two years or longer, please take a few minutes of your own time to help them get started.
Charlestown Citizens Alliance is pleased to announce the names of their outstanding candidates for the 2024 election. The steering committee worked to recruit talented individuals who embody CCA’s guiding principles of fiscal responsibility, protection of our natural environment, civility, inclusiveness, and consensus. They are individuals with the skills and dedication to do what’s right for the Town and Charlestown’s taxpayers.