Friday, December 28, 2012
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thank you, Charlestown
Christmas
gift drive exceeds goals
SANTA'S WORKSHOP: in Tim Quillen's (L) garage sorting donations into gift bags. With Tim, CDTC members Suzanne Ferrio and Regina DeAngelo who chaired the effort for the CDTC |
This
Christmas, Charlestown Democrats teamed up with Operating Engineers Local 57 to
bring some joy to children who have been taken under the care of the RI
Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) in South County. The goal was
to fulfill the Christmas gift wish lists of 30 of these children.
These
children, aged two years old to 17, are in foster care or shelters. Their wish
lists were often heartbreakingly modest – one child asked for socks. Several asked
for pajamas. Others asked for towels and blankets. A couple of them are
approaching 18, when they will “age out” of DCYF, and their wish lists focused
on household goods they would need to set up life on their own.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Help us brighten the holidays for children in RI shelters and foster care this year.
The Charlestown Democratic Committee (CDTC) and the International
Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 57 are running a gift drive for South
County children in care of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and
Families.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Thank you, Charlestown!
Thank you to all that supported myself and the rest of
the candidates on Charlestown's Democratic slate! It was a tough election season with a lot of
hard work from the support team. I am very excited to be a voice for the
residents of Charlestown.
I will strive to keep all of our citizens needs in
mind while tackling issues that effect us and our town. I was very humbled to
receive so much support leading up to, and on the day of the election. It has
reaffirmed my belief that taking time out of our life's to help others is the rite thing to do.
Brandon T. Cleary
Monday, October 29, 2012
Charlestown Democrats meet with neighbors, legislators about COPAR quarry violations
COPAR Must Obey the Law, Stay out of Charlestown
Reviewing the maps to see where illegal quarrying is taking place |
Rep. Donna
Walsh, Tim Quillen (CDTC Town Council candidate) and Frank Glista (CDTC
Planning Commission candidate) met with neighbors of the COPAR Quarry as well
as Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy and Sen. Dennis Algiere to see what can be done
to stop environmental problems caused by the quarrying operation.
The COPAR
quarry sits on the Westerly side of the Westerly-Charlestown town line. The
owners and lessors of the quarry site have been repeatedly cited for violating
federal and state law, as well as town ordinances. The federal Mine Safety and
Health Administration has cited and fined the quarry for dozens of safety
violations in recent months.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Volunteers Needed
Are you ready to work for change?
There are lots of ways you can help to make our community a
better place, whether you have lots of time or only a little. But if you
believe, as we do, that we need to support candidates for public office who
share our values, it’s time to step up.
The Charlestown Democratic Town Committee needs people to
volunteer to help us win on November 6. We are also coordinating with the
re-election campaigns of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. Jim Langevin, with
Rep. Donna Walsh’s re-election efforts, and with Cathie Rumsey’s campaign to
win the state Senate seat for District 34, a big district that covers Charlestown north of Route
1.
Whether you want a yard sign to put in front of your house
or are prepared to commit some time to go door-to-door, phone-bank or work at
the polls, let us know.
Contact us by e-mail at info@charlestowndemocrats.org or click here.
Contact us by e-mail at info@charlestowndemocrats.org or click here.
Here are just a few of the things you
can volunteer to do:
- Put up a yard sign in front of your house
- Write Letters to the Editor
- Pass out campaign flyers
- Participate in a phone bank to registered voters
- Host a “meet and greet” gathering at your house for candidates
- Help get the word out about our candidates to your neighbors
- Be part of door-to-door canvassing that will be conducted by the national and state campaigns
- Help us at the polls on Election Day, November 6
- Donate to the CDTC or to the candidate of your choice
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
New Yard Signs, flyers are in
Show your support for change in Charlestown
The new CDTC Yard Signs are here - these are standard-sized 18 x 24 signs on metal stands, one with the three endorsed Democrats for Town Council and the other with the four endorsed candidates for Planning Commission.
If you want a yard sign or have neighbors and friends in high-traffic areas who do, please send us an e-mail and we'll get back to you the same day.
We also have yard signs for Rep. Donna Walsh, as well as for Cathie Cool Rumsey who is running for state Senate District 34 (Charlestown north of One).
We also have some yard signs for Rep. Jim Langevin and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
Again, send us an e-mail and we'll get back to you promptly.
The new CDTC Yard Signs are here - these are standard-sized 18 x 24 signs on metal stands, one with the three endorsed Democrats for Town Council and the other with the four endorsed candidates for Planning Commission.
If you want a yard sign or have neighbors and friends in high-traffic areas who do, please send us an e-mail and we'll get back to you the same day.
We also have yard signs for Rep. Donna Walsh, as well as for Cathie Cool Rumsey who is running for state Senate District 34 (Charlestown north of One).
We also have some yard signs for Rep. Jim Langevin and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
Again, send us an e-mail and we'll get back to you promptly.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Help support change in Charlestown
Please support the
Charlestown Democratic slate!
With a large field of twelve people running for Town Council and another ten
for the Planning Commission, it’s going to be a tough and complicated election.
This election will determine whether the same group that has
dominated Charlestown politics for the past six years will continue its
policies that have pitted neighbor against neighbor, favored out of state
vacationers over residents, favored tax cuts for the wealthy, attacked small
businesses and working families, and intruded into the lives of every family
and business it town.
We think it’s time for a change. But to make that long
overdue change possible, we need your support.
With so many candidates running for office, it will take a
lot of yard signs, newspaper ads, flyers and mailers to bring our candidates’
names and positions to the voters. Plus, we will need to meet the challenge we
expect to see when out-of-state money starts pouring in to the CCA and the RI
Statewide Coalition to maintain their grip on power.
As one Republican activist said more than a century ago,
“There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money, and I
can’t remember what the second is.”
To support our slate of ten candidates, we ask you to donate
to support the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee’s campaign for change in
Charlestown.
Please send your personal check to:
Charlestown Democratic Town Committee
P.O. Box 1088
Charlestown RI 02813
Click
here to see more about our endorsed slate:
- For Town Council: Paula Andersen, Tim Quillen and Tom Ferrio
- For Planning Commission: Melina Lodge, Frank Glista, Michael Breton and Brandon Cleary
- For Town Moderator: Henry Walsh
Click
here for a form you can send in with your donation, and to see the rules
set by Rhode Island’s campaign finance laws.
We also urge you to support the campaigns of the three
terrific CDTC-endorsed candidates for the General Assembly:
P.O. Box 1380
Charlestown, RI 02813
30 Jeannette Court
Exeter RI 02822
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Come meet Cathie Rumsey, candidate for Senate District 34
Town Democrats and Rep. Donna Walsh host a reception for Catherine Rumsey, our next Senator for Senate District 34
On Monday, September 10th, come meet and support Catherine Cool Rumsey, who is running with the CDTC endorsement for the state Senate seat currently held by Frank Maher.
Under re-districting, Senate District 34 now includes almost all of Charlestown north of Route 1.
Read further for the details.
On Monday, September 10th, come meet and support Catherine Cool Rumsey, who is running with the CDTC endorsement for the state Senate seat currently held by Frank Maher.
Under re-districting, Senate District 34 now includes almost all of Charlestown north of Route 1.
Read further for the details.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Town Democrats turn out to support Sen. Whitehouse
We had a full table of Charlestown Democrats on Sunday,
August 19, at Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s annual family clambake.
The event was part food nirvana, part political rally and a
large part social, as a record turn-out came to the Senator’s annual feast at
the Kempenaar’s Clambake Club in Middletown. Hundreds of state Democrats turned
out to support Senator Whitehouse, as well as his two House colleagues, Rep.
David Cicilline and Rep. Jim Langevin, all of whom are up for re-election this
year.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Cathie Rumsey gains support for Senate bid
Cathie Cool Rumsey, Democrat for State Senate, District 34,
has first fundraiser July 23 at the Cornerstone Pub in Exeter.
Catherine Cool Rumsey, Democratic candidate for State Senate, District 34 |
By Regina DeAngelo
I met Cathie while we both worked as volunteers for
Organizing for America. I can boast that our personal sweat went into getting
the Affordable Care Act passed.
Monday's event brought out supporters from around Rhode
Island, including George Carvalho, chief of staff for Senator Whitehouse as
well as Scott Andrews from the
Whitehouse campaign; Seth Klaiman, campaign manager and Mike DeAngelis from
Senator Langevin's office; RI Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed and her chief
of staff, Tom Coderre; Representative Larry Valencia and his wife Patti; Arlene
Hicks, Exeter Town Council President; Bob Johnson, Exeter Town Democratic Committee
chair; Pat DeBernardo of The Richmond Democratic Committee; and Tim Quillen,
Scott Keeley and myself, representing Charlestown Democrats.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Charlestown Democrats Endorse General Assembly Candidates
Rep. Donna Walsh |
“Donna
has been an exemplary Representative for Charlestown and the other towns in her
district,” said CDTC chair Catherine O’Reilly Collette. “We will work hard to
ensure she returns to the General Assembly to continue to work to improve our
economy, protect our environment, make our roads safer and to save family
farms.”
“Donna
works hard for the four towns in her District and we can see the tangible
results of her work in better roadways and a healthier Ninigret Pond. We really
need her in the General Assembly,” said Collette.
Catherine Cool Rumsey |
Collette
continued, “We never see Senator Maher in Charlestown and can’t really think of
anything he has ever done that benefits our town. By contrast, Cathy Cool
Rumsey has visited Charlestown repeatedly and taken an interest in our civic
life. We think she will make a great state Senator.”
Rep. Larry Valencia |
Later
this month, the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee will file its
endorsements for its slate of candidates for Charlestown elected office.
“Charlestown needs a change in leadership badly to restore public trust in town
government,” said Collette, “and our candidates will provide Charlestown with
the new leadership it needs.”
Monday, June 18, 2012
Fundraiser Tag Sale July 7
Our Representative Donna Walsh flagging down cars at last September's tag sale |
You will also be able meet the CDTC’s slate of candidates and sign their nomination papers!
But right now we ask you to look through your stuff in the attic and basement for things you can donate to the tag sale for the 2012 campaign. Let CDTC Treasurer Frank Glista know via e-mail and he can arrange either for a drop-off time or a pick-up.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Welcome to our new website
It doesn't look a lot different, yet, but it's all-new technology that will help us communicate with you more effectively. We're still working out a few rough spots but we'll be all ready for the start of the election season in July.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Charlestown Democrats Endorse Whitehouse, Langevin for Re-election
By a unanimous vote, the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee endorsed the re-election bids of US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and US Representative James Langevin.
“Rhode Island is lucky to have one of the very best Congressional delegations of any state in the Union,” said Committee Chair Cathy Collette. “Sen. Whitehouse and Rep. Langevin have worked hard for the people of Rhode Island and for the good of our country. There was no question, hesitation or reservation among our members about enthusiastically supporting their re-election efforts.”
Representative Langevin spoke at the February meeting of the Charlestown Democrats and the Committee hosted a very successful event for Senator Whitehouse here in Charlestown last September.
At the end of June, the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee will introduce its slate of endorsed candidates for local and state offices.
“Rhode Island is lucky to have one of the very best Congressional delegations of any state in the Union,” said Committee Chair Cathy Collette. “Sen. Whitehouse and Rep. Langevin have worked hard for the people of Rhode Island and for the good of our country. There was no question, hesitation or reservation among our members about enthusiastically supporting their re-election efforts.”
Representative Langevin spoke at the February meeting of the Charlestown Democrats and the Committee hosted a very successful event for Senator Whitehouse here in Charlestown last September.
At the end of June, the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee will introduce its slate of endorsed candidates for local and state offices.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Important Budget Meeting Monday, May 7th
Charlestown Voters Should have the right to vote on $475,000 payment for the YMCA Camp as a separate ballot item
By Catherine O'Reilly Collette, CDTC Chair
Would you let someone pick your pocket without saying a word? Well that’s what’s in the works here in Charlestown right now.
The Public Hearing on the budget starting fiscal year starting July 1st will take place Monday, May 7th at 7:00pm at Town Hall.
In the budget is $475,000 for the broken down old YMCA Camp on Watchaug Pond to be used as “Open Space”. As you know if you’ve been following this issue, this seems to many in town to be a really bad deal for Charlestown taxpayers. The Budget Commission has recommended that in order to save bond interest the money be included in the town budget rather than the existing Open Space and Recreation bond.
The problem is that our town Charter requires any land expenditures over $50,000 be a separate item so that voters can vote it up or down without having to defeat the entire budget.
We are still not clear how this $475,000 will be handled, but if you agree that taxpayers should have a right to have a separate warrant item on this very dubious use of town funds we urge you to come out next Monday night!
By Catherine O'Reilly Collette, CDTC Chair
Would you let someone pick your pocket without saying a word? Well that’s what’s in the works here in Charlestown right now.
The Public Hearing on the budget starting fiscal year starting July 1st will take place Monday, May 7th at 7:00pm at Town Hall.
In the budget is $475,000 for the broken down old YMCA Camp on Watchaug Pond to be used as “Open Space”. As you know if you’ve been following this issue, this seems to many in town to be a really bad deal for Charlestown taxpayers. The Budget Commission has recommended that in order to save bond interest the money be included in the town budget rather than the existing Open Space and Recreation bond.
The problem is that our town Charter requires any land expenditures over $50,000 be a separate item so that voters can vote it up or down without having to defeat the entire budget.
We are still not clear how this $475,000 will be handled, but if you agree that taxpayers should have a right to have a separate warrant item on this very dubious use of town funds we urge you to come out next Monday night!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Our committee wants to debate issues, not personnel
The Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA), in a recent email and posting on its website, states, "The Charlestown Democratic Town Committee finds no problem with the Town Administrator's behavior. CCA disagrees. Honesty matters."
We have to ask, where is the CCA's honesty? The fact is that the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee (CDTC) has not taken a formal position on the town administrator's actions, which are a personnel matter that should not be politicized as the CCA is doing. Several of our members have indeed spoken and written eloquently as individual citizens in support of Mr. DiLibero and our hard-working town staff, as is their right. They have challenged the unfair and unfounded attacks coming from the CCA members of the Council, Tom Gentz and Dan Slattery.
As events have unfolded, the CCA's attacks against town staff, and against the CDTC, have been shown to be deceptive and distorted to suit the CCA's interests, particularly their outlandish claims that the town must yield control of Ninigret Park to the federal government.
The CDTC looks forward to debating the CCA over the issues that matter to Charlestown voters, such as fair taxes, sensible land use and environmental protection, our local economy, the educational, housing and recreational needs of our children and what constitutes good government.
We will debate them over the issues of adherence to the town charter and the CCA's practice of bypassing or abusing the many civic-minded volunteers who serve on town commissions, when it suits the CCA agenda. We will do so as a town committee as well as in our own names. We will encourage and support individual townspeople to bring their own points of view to the debate. We will not speak anonymously or speak on issues without a thorough search for and understanding of the facts relating to those issues.
If "honesty matters" to the CCA, the CDTC calls on it to actually practice it, rather than use it as a slogan to attack others.
Catherine O'Reilly Collette, Charlestown
The writer is chair of the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee.
We have to ask, where is the CCA's honesty? The fact is that the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee (CDTC) has not taken a formal position on the town administrator's actions, which are a personnel matter that should not be politicized as the CCA is doing. Several of our members have indeed spoken and written eloquently as individual citizens in support of Mr. DiLibero and our hard-working town staff, as is their right. They have challenged the unfair and unfounded attacks coming from the CCA members of the Council, Tom Gentz and Dan Slattery.
As events have unfolded, the CCA's attacks against town staff, and against the CDTC, have been shown to be deceptive and distorted to suit the CCA's interests, particularly their outlandish claims that the town must yield control of Ninigret Park to the federal government.
The CDTC looks forward to debating the CCA over the issues that matter to Charlestown voters, such as fair taxes, sensible land use and environmental protection, our local economy, the educational, housing and recreational needs of our children and what constitutes good government.
We will debate them over the issues of adherence to the town charter and the CCA's practice of bypassing or abusing the many civic-minded volunteers who serve on town commissions, when it suits the CCA agenda. We will do so as a town committee as well as in our own names. We will encourage and support individual townspeople to bring their own points of view to the debate. We will not speak anonymously or speak on issues without a thorough search for and understanding of the facts relating to those issues.
If "honesty matters" to the CCA, the CDTC calls on it to actually practice it, rather than use it as a slogan to attack others.
Catherine O'Reilly Collette, Charlestown
The writer is chair of the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Open letter to the Charlestown Town Council
January 3, 2012 - On December 12, 2011, the Town Council majority addressed the interests of non-resident and high-value property owners when it rejected the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee’s proposal for a $1000 Homestead Tax Credit.
Amid the long and bitter denunciation of our proposal was the occasional glimmer of concern for the more than 2000Charlestownhouseholds who live in more modest homes. These residents struggle to make ends meet in this tough economy where jobs are scarce, benefits are being cut, food and energy prices are rising while home values are falling and credit is in short supply.
We designed our proposal, patterned after the other tax credits in our town, for theseCharlestownfamilies. You turned that proposal down. We understand that. It’s politics.
But now we are all left with this question: what, if anything, will this Town Council do to provide struggling middle and lower-income homeowners with tax relief?
Councilors Avedisian and Frank both suggested that there should be more study done of the issues of tax justice inCharlestown.
The Charlestown Democratic Town Committee asks you to act on their recommendation and assemble a body of citizens to review the economic concerns ofCharlestownresidents with an eye toward specific tax remedies.
We urge that this body be representative of the people who actually live and vote inCharlestown, rather than the non-residents who dominated the December 12 proceedings. Of course, as the initiators of this process, we respectfully request a meaningful presence on that body.
Though we were disappointed with the outcome of the December 12 meeting, we believe the Town Council owesCharlestown’s working families at least as much concern and attention as you gave to the non-residents who convinced you to kill our Homestead Tax Credit proposal.
Sincerely,
Catherine O’Reilly Collette, Chair
Amid the long and bitter denunciation of our proposal was the occasional glimmer of concern for the more than 2000Charlestownhouseholds who live in more modest homes. These residents struggle to make ends meet in this tough economy where jobs are scarce, benefits are being cut, food and energy prices are rising while home values are falling and credit is in short supply.
We designed our proposal, patterned after the other tax credits in our town, for theseCharlestownfamilies. You turned that proposal down. We understand that. It’s politics.
But now we are all left with this question: what, if anything, will this Town Council do to provide struggling middle and lower-income homeowners with tax relief?
Councilors Avedisian and Frank both suggested that there should be more study done of the issues of tax justice inCharlestown.
The Charlestown Democratic Town Committee asks you to act on their recommendation and assemble a body of citizens to review the economic concerns ofCharlestownresidents with an eye toward specific tax remedies.
We urge that this body be representative of the people who actually live and vote inCharlestown, rather than the non-residents who dominated the December 12 proceedings. Of course, as the initiators of this process, we respectfully request a meaningful presence on that body.
Though we were disappointed with the outcome of the December 12 meeting, we believe the Town Council owesCharlestown’s working families at least as much concern and attention as you gave to the non-residents who convinced you to kill our Homestead Tax Credit proposal.
Sincerely,
Catherine O’Reilly Collette, Chair