Who I am and why I’m running for the Town Council
by Brandon T. Cleary
Growing up in Charlestown is something everyone should experience. I can remember the way Charlestown once was. I grew up on Prosser Trail just a stone’s throw away from Watchaug Pond. There were just a few houses on my street and half of Prosser Trail was still a dirt road.
As I grew up, I would meet new friends in the neighborhood and around town. I would venture out on my bicycle to visit. I recall being able to ride my bike up Route 1 from Windswept Farms to Cross Mills and not see one car along the way. I would play in the drainage tunnels under the highway and climb to the top of the water tower at the air base, things I would never allow my children to do today. For those of you who were around in the ‘80s, I am sure you remember Sandlot baseball behind the Town Hall, with teams named the Black Panthers, Fire Balls, Orange Crush, Green Machines, and lest we forget the Purple People Eaters. For me, this is where community begins.
As I grew, so did the town. As a teenager, I worked part-time jobs at local small businesses. One of those jobs was at Glista’s Automotive Service, where I would pump gas and listen to the locals tell stories of the community. It was like a second home to me. I also spent a considerable amount of time volunteering as an EMT at the Charlestown Ambulance Station across from Ninigret Park. At the time, I never imagined it would lead me to the career I’m in today.
In my early twenties, I moved to New Hampshire to attend college, but almost every weekend I would make the 2 ½ hour ride to come home. After college, I moved back to Charlestown and married my high school sweetheart, who grew up a few houses down the road from me.
We were determined to settle down and start a family in Charlestown. Being just out of college, we had very little money. We looked for a house to buy, but were discouraged and unable to find anything in our price range. The few houses we did find were quickly sold and for more than the asking price.
Fortunately, our luck would change when we found two lots off Charlestown Beach Road. We had decided to build our first home. We bought the two lots, which were unbuildable as they were. We started a yearlong process of combining the lots to make one buildable property. This would be my introduction to the variance process, zoning, and town ordinances. With some help from local contractors and a lot of hard work, we built our first home. Two years later, we sold our first house and started construction on our second home in Charlestown. Four years and two children later, we sold our second house and began to build the home we have settled into today.
Charlestown has changed tremendously over the past 40 years. The air base, which was full of runways and buildings, is now a beautiful park, a place where families can gather for community events. Ninigret Park is also the home of the Senior Center, Frosty Drew Observatory, and scenic nature trails.
Roads have been added, improved, and maintained by contractors and a hard-working public works department. Our dump has become a transfer station and recycling has increased, making us ever more conscious of our environment. New housing developments have been established and many summer cottages have become year-round homes, giving us many new friends to grow with. Public safety has been improved with a new Police Station and new Fire Stations. We have been able to dramatically improve our school system, while adding students and keeping our tax rate the third lowest in the state.
Charlestown has certainly changed over the years, and I believe for the better. The one thing that remains constant is community. My children play with their friends in the neighborhood, just as I did. They play recreational sports in town, just as I did. They enjoy the beaches and ponds, just as I did. They are part of a great school system and are growing into members of our community, just as I did.
I was honored to be chosen by the voters in 2012 to serve on the Planning Commission and I believe I have been an effective member of the team and served well in my role as alternate member.
I have now decided to run for Charlestown's Town Council. I look forward to working there to maintain the quality of life and community in Charlestown.
I value family life and support the responsible growth of our town.
I believe Charlestown can continue to grow while protecting our seniors on fixed incomes from increased taxation due to inflation and future increases in property values.
I support environmentally responsible solutions to home energy needs, such as residential solar and wind power. I feel our environment is an important aspect to the quality of life we enjoy. Maintaining and protecting our groundwater, beaches, and ponds is crucial to our future generations.
I support creative and new ideas to help small businesses who offer goods and services as well as employment to our residents.
I believe my life’s investment in this community and my experiences make me a perfect fit to serve you on the Town Council. I ask for your vote and look forward to the opportunity to continue my dedication to this community.
by Brandon T. Cleary
As I grew up, I would meet new friends in the neighborhood and around town. I would venture out on my bicycle to visit. I recall being able to ride my bike up Route 1 from Windswept Farms to Cross Mills and not see one car along the way. I would play in the drainage tunnels under the highway and climb to the top of the water tower at the air base, things I would never allow my children to do today. For those of you who were around in the ‘80s, I am sure you remember Sandlot baseball behind the Town Hall, with teams named the Black Panthers, Fire Balls, Orange Crush, Green Machines, and lest we forget the Purple People Eaters. For me, this is where community begins.
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| With brother and sister on Prosser Trail |
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| Brandon at the far right |
In my early twenties, I moved to New Hampshire to attend college, but almost every weekend I would make the 2 ½ hour ride to come home. After college, I moved back to Charlestown and married my high school sweetheart, who grew up a few houses down the road from me.
We were determined to settle down and start a family in Charlestown. Being just out of college, we had very little money. We looked for a house to buy, but were discouraged and unable to find anything in our price range. The few houses we did find were quickly sold and for more than the asking price.
 |
| Logan and Mia visit Dad at work at the Cranston F.D. |
Charlestown has changed tremendously over the past 40 years. The air base, which was full of runways and buildings, is now a beautiful park, a place where families can gather for community events. Ninigret Park is also the home of the Senior Center, Frosty Drew Observatory, and scenic nature trails.
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| With the kids at Watchaug Pond |
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| Family camp night at Ninigret Park |
I was honored to be chosen by the voters in 2012 to serve on the Planning Commission and I believe I have been an effective member of the team and served well in my role as alternate member.
I have now decided to run for Charlestown's Town Council. I look forward to working there to maintain the quality of life and community in Charlestown.
I value family life and support the responsible growth of our town.
I believe Charlestown can continue to grow while protecting our seniors on fixed incomes from increased taxation due to inflation and future increases in property values.
I support creative and new ideas to help small businesses who offer goods and services as well as employment to our residents.
I believe my life’s investment in this community and my experiences make me a perfect fit to serve you on the Town Council. I ask for your vote and look forward to the opportunity to continue my dedication to this community.
