Concentrating
on control of Town Council because that's where the power is
By
Will Collette
 |
| Topping the ticket: Rep. Donna Walsh & Council Vice-Pres. Paula Andersen |
Today
was the deadline for candidates for election to file their Declarations of
candidacy at Town Hall.
Led by incumbent State Representative Donna Walsh and
incumbent Town Council Vice-President Paula Andersen, three other Democrats
filed their declarations to run for Charlestown Town Council as the endorsed Democratic slate.
They
are:
- Brandon Cleary, a professional fire fighter with the Cranston Fire Department. Brandon has served on the Planning Commission as the first Democrat elected to Planning in almost a decade. He has decided to run for Council where he believes he can make more of a distance.
- Nick Bottai, a student at URI. Many of you have already met Nick who waits tables at the Breachway Grill as one of the several jobs he does to try to pay his tuition. Nick is active in the URI Democrats and is eager to serve his hometown in his first quest for public office.
- Ron Russo, a retired businessman. Ron has been active on the Charlestown Economic Improvement Commission and is also making his first bid for public office in the hope of bringing some sanity to the way Charlestown treats its citizens and small businesses.
Long-time
incumbent Town Moderator Henry Walsh is also seeking re-election. He serves the
important role of making sure that the town’s process for adopting its annual
budget is done in compliance with the law, particularly Charlestown’s Home Rule
Charter and with full and open public participation.
My
wife Catherine O’Reilly Collette and I filed our declaration papers to continue
for another term as State Democratic Committee members.
Regina
DeAngelo has filed to continue serving on the Representative District 36
Committee.
Declared
candidates to fill the 15 positions on the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee
when it begins its 2015-16 term in January are:
- Nick Bottai
- Mike Breton
- Dawne Burns
- Catherine O’Reilly Collette
- Will Collette
- Regina DeAngelo
- Linda Felaco
- Tom Ferrio
- Jane “Ginger” Glander
- Frank Glista
- John Hamilton
- Tim Quillen
- Ron Russo
- Donna Walsh
- Henry Walsh
Charlestown
Democrats are also supporting Sen. Cathie Cool Rumsey for re-election. Her
district includes the northern half of Charlestown. Cathie files her candidate
papers in Exeter where she lives.
Charlestown
Democrats also passed a resolution of support for Rep. Larry Valencia for
re-election.
Even though Larry no longer represents any part of Charlestown
after re-districting, he is still a friend of Charlestown and a close ally to
Donna Walsh in the General Assembly.
Check
in with Progressive Charlestown for all the local election coverage in depth.