CCA 2026 Platform for Charlestown

Our Economy – Our Environment – Our Future

The Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA)* is committed to enhancing the overall quality of life for all Charlestown residents. We believe that sound fiscal management, responsible economic development, wise stewardship of our natural resources, and accountable and ethical leadership are essential to sustaining the vitality of our town. To accomplish this, CCA will support candidates committed to addressing the following issues facing Charlestown:

Clean Water – Environmental Protection
Clean water requires protecting our natural resources so that our drinking water is clean; our salt and freshwater ponds are healthy; our starlit skies are not hidden; our forests and wildlife flourish; and our quality of life is high. We will support strong wastewater controls and carefully managed development.

Fiscal Responsibility – Maintaining Low Taxes
Fiscal responsibility requires developing a plan for future expenditures, spending frugally, holding savings sufficient to respond to extreme weather events and emergencies, and safeguarding the quality and quantity of our groundwater to avoid the enormous expense of municipal sewer and water. We will support fiscal restraint and insist that large expenditures demonstrate clear benefits to taxpayers and are environmentally compatible.

Responsible Development – Local Control
Responsible development requires that the value of our irreplaceable resources be recognized by the state legislature so that our land is not developed at a density greater than it can naturally support and solutions to affordability fit our community. We will join with other communities in the fight to return control of land-use decisions to our town and will work with private developers and nonprofits to build some modestly priced homes in all new housing developments without increasing overall density.

Climate Resilience – Preparation
Climate resilience requires planning for protection and enhancement of critical coastal and inland environmental resources. We will integrate resiliency from natural hazards into all community actions and maintain sufficient savings so that our town will have enough money to meet emergency and other pressing needs to ensure stable tax rates.

Defending Our Town – Action
Preventing our town from being selected for the route of a railroad bypass requires that tribal and town governments, environmental and historic preservation organizations, legislators, and citizens join together to provide evidence that our natural and historic resources are of national significance and deserve protection. We will be vigilant as the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study proceeds and take action to avoid northern Charlestown being selected as the location for a railroad bypass.

Securing Our Children’s Future – Education
Ensuring that our town’s children get an excellent education at a reasonable cost requires the highest qualified candidates to represent Charlestown on the Chariho School Committee. We will recruit the most experienced educators.

*CCA is not affiliated with any political party. We are made up of Independents, Democrats, and Republicans. What we share in common is a dedication to civil and open government, and a passion for preserving and protecting those assets that make Charlestown such a unique and treasured place to live.