Sasha Puchalski – Town Council

Sasha was raised in Charlestown, is a Chariho graduate, and has spent a large portion of her life exploring and learning from the rich history and beautiful natural resources that the town and region have to offer.

As the grandchild of two families who made Charlestown their home in the 1950s and 1960s, she has had the benefit of being raised by a family that has maintained continuous residence in the town and has been involved in local affairs for nearly 70 years. Her grandfather, Matthew Puchalski, was a soil scientist working for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. He served as a member of the Charlestown Town Council, as chairman of the Charlestown Planning Commission, and as president of the Charlestown Recreational Association. In the 1970s, he worked with others to prevent a nuclear power plant from being built on the land we now know as Ninigret Park and Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.

Driven by the hands-on experience she gained from her parents and grandparents, Sasha has maintained a commitment to learning about our local environments, and the history of how residents have interacted with and learned to steward the land and waters of the region. As a candidate for Town Council, she will prioritize responsible and informed approaches to this intersection of civic and environmental concerns. As an advocate for public engagement, she will dedicate herself to hearing public concern and comment on all issues relating to protecting Charlestown’s beautiful natural resources.

Her educational experiences on both the West and East Coasts, and her work experience in both urban and rural areas, have prepared her for critical and informed engagement on issues of public concern. As a nurse, advocacy is a critical skill, and Sasha will bring that approach to hearing about and advocating for the needs of the residents of the town. With a belief that robust public engagement is earned by good-faith outreach, Sasha also hopes to improve access to information on issues relevant to residents of the town.

She will be a proponent for the protection of Charlestown’s amazing natural resources and for responsible middle-ground approaches to the needs of the local community when it comes to development and supporting the town’s businesses. She will also work to protect Rhode Islanders’ constitutionally protected right to the shore.

Sasha hopes to contribute to new generational involvement in preserving the precious resources of Charlestown, in maintaining our town as a vibrant community, and in recognizing the needs of community members.