Bonnie Van Slyke, Outstanding Candidate For The 2025 Special Election
Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) is pleased to endorse Bonnie Van Slyke for the 2025 special Charlestown Town Council election. Bonnie exemplifies CCA’s guiding principles of fiscal responsibility, protection of our natural environment, responsible development, quality education, and accountable and ethical leadership. She served from 2014 through 2022 on the Charlestown Town Council and has the proven skills and dedication to do what’s right for the town, our environment, and Charlestown’s taxpayers.
Charlestown Citizen’s Alliance President, Leo Mainelli, said, “Bonnie is a stellar candidate! She is a highly experienced candidate who cares deeply about the future of Charlestown and can be relied upon to serve with integrity and intelligence.”
As she did during her eight years on the Town Council, Bonnie will listen to her fellow Councilors, town staff, and Charlestown’s citizens and work to build consensus around policies that are in the best interests of all the citizens of the town. Bonnie’s experience on the Town Council will allow her to hit the ground running if elected in December.
During her time on the Town Council, Bonnie was an ex-officio member of the Planning Commission and the Town Council’s liaison to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Senior Citizens Commission. From 2007 to 2014, she served as an officer and member of the Board of Directors of the Frosty Drew Observatory & Science Center in Ninigret Park. She was formerly Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals in Harvard, Massachusetts, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Harvard Conservation Trust. Bonnie is a freelance copy editor, technical writer, and publications specialist and has a degree in Economics.
We will have more election news in the next few days.
Because Town Councilor Richard “Rippy” Serra’s passing on August 7 created a vacancy on the Town Council more than one year prior to the 2026 election, the Town’s Charter requires a special election rather than an appointment.
The special election is required to follow state election law and timetables. Just like a regular election, there are declarations of candidacy, nomination papers, mail ballots, early voting, etc.
There is one position on the December 2 ballot and the person who receives the highest vote count will fill the empty position on the Town Council.
October 10, 2025 @ 7:25 pm
Bonnie has proven in the past that she can assimilate the required information on a topic quickly and have a reasoned solution. I think it is important for the filling of a vacant seat to have someone who can give an informed voice and maybe an alternative viewpoint and prior experienced counts. Bonnie has done great service in the past including fighting for residents rights against the Federal Railroad Administration that proposed a high speed train route through the heart of northern Charlestown’s historic farms, villages and the magnificent Carter preserve. It may yet rear its head again. Although Council president Deb Carney has purportedly been meeting with State reps or others involved no details have been vouchsafe to the public that I know of. There are other issues Bonnie has experience with that will be valuable to the town.
September 27, 2025 @ 5:33 pm
Me too
September 27, 2025 @ 11:47 am
Thank you Bonnie for deciding to run, I can not think of a better person for the job.
Your thoughts are always clear and thorough, and your experience enables you to hit the ground running. We are all here to support you in any way we can.
September 27, 2025 @ 11:29 am
I will vote for Bonnie