As of lunchtime, a healthy number of candidates for Charlestown office had filed their Declarations of candidacy. Incumbent Rep. Donna Walsh (D) will face Tina Baker Jackson (R) for the House District 36 seat.
Three incumbents have declared for Town Council so far - Boss Tom Gentz (CCA), Deputy Dan Slattery (CCA) and their ally, Lisa DiBello who has declared she is running against Progressive Charlestown. Thanks to her attack from the Council podium on Monday night and the Westerly Sun's page 1 coverage yesterday, Progressive Charlestown readership jetted up by 40%. Thank you and please keep the insults coming!
Planning Commission incumbents Gordon Foer and, of course, Commissar Ruth Platner (who is now in her 16th year on the Commission and wants to go for 22) have declared for re-election.
Also declared: Connie Baker, Mike Breton and Jan Knost.
We'll have the complete tally of declared candidates tomorrow, along with the list of party endorsements.
The next milestone in this campaign is July 3, when NOMINATION papers will be distributed at Town Hall to collect the required signatures to validate declared candidates to appear on the ballot.
Town Council and Planning Commission candidates must turn in at least 50 signatures of registered Charlestown voters no later than 4 PM on July 13, ten days later.
Even if a candidate is properly declared and endorsed, and registered with the Board of Elections, if he or she fails to collect the required signatures, they're off the ballot.
If you wish to sign the NOMINATION papers for Democratic candidates, you can do so at Donna Walsh's campaign kick-off on July 5 at the General Stanton Inn or at the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee's 2012 tag sale on July 7 at the corner of Old Post Road (1A) and Genwood.
Other times and places for signature drives will be announced as soon as they are scheduled.