Even Charlestown liked the bonds, though by smaller numbers
By Will Collette
Over 1200 Charlestown voters cast ballots. Cathy and I voted
by mail.
I categorize all seven bond issues as “what’s not to like?”
All seven will create economic stimulus, jobs and provide worthwhile
improvements to the quality of life in Rhode Island. Just what we need to
work our way out of the pandemic-driven recession we are in.
The most popular item, unsurprisingly, was the $71.7 million
for transportation infrastructure. This money will be matched by federal funds.
Voters approved this measure by 80.4%.
The least popular statewide was the $60 million for
industrial facilities, perhaps because voters didn’t really know what this was
about. This passed with 58.7% of the vote.
Charlestown’s approval margins were generally lower than the
rest of the state. Charlestown voters also expressed slightly different
priorities.
I was surprised to see Charlestown voters pick
transportation infrastructure as their top priority at 75%, especially since we
have no state transportation infrastructure other than state roads. This edged
out the 72.9% Charlestown approval for the $74 million beach, clean water and green
bond issue that had been heavily touted by the CCA.
Three bond measures eked out slim majorities in Charlestown:
Industrial Facilities 52.1% because I guess we don’t want any; Arts, Economy
and State Preservation 53.1% and Higher Education Facilities 54.1%.
I don’t understand the low approval numbers for arts and
education since they don’t fit Charlestown’s demographics. Charlestown is among
the highest towns for income and education. We have a lively arts community and
broad support for historical preservation generally. The Arts bond was the
least expensive of the seven, at a price tag of only $7 million.
URI has a major influence on us as not just a place to send
kids to college, but also a source of culture and community, whether it’s their
Master Gardener program, Extension Service, numerous educational and cultural
programs, sports, etc. Not to mention jobs for residents with perhaps the most
notorious example being Ruth Platner who has worked at URI for years.
Please read on for the actual vote tallies from the state Board of Elections.
Statewide results
1. Higher
Education Facilities - $107,300,000
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
59227 |
58.9% |
|
|
Reject |
41354 |
41.1% |
2. Beach,
Clean Water and Green Bond - $74,000,000
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
78058 |
77.8% |
|
|
Reject |
22225 |
22.2% |
3.
Housing and Community Opportunity - $65,000,000
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
65293 |
65.5% |
|
|
Reject |
34386 |
34.5% |
4.
Transportation Infrastructure - $71,700,000
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
80780 |
80.4% |
|
|
Reject |
19743 |
19.6% |
5. Early
Care & Education Capital Fund - $15,000,000
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
66534 |
66.2% |
|
|
Reject |
33964 |
33.8% |
6. Arts,
Economy & State Preservation Grants $7,000,000
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
60191 |
60.0% |
|
|
Reject |
40160 |
40.0% |
7.
Industrial Facilities Infrastructure - $60,000,000
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
58791 |
58.7% |
|
|
Reject |
41331 |
41.3% |
Charlestown results:
1. Higher
Education Facilities - $107,300,000 (View votes
statewide)
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
669 |
54.1% |
|
|
Reject |
568 |
45.9% |
2. Beach,
Clean Water and Green Bond - $74,000,000 (View votes
statewide)
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
902 |
72.9% |
|
|
Reject |
336 |
27.1% |
3.
Housing and Community Opportunity - $65,000,000 (View votes
statewide)
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
724 |
58.7% |
|
|
Reject |
509 |
41.3% |
4.
Transportation Infrastructure - $71,700,000 (View votes
statewide)
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
928 |
75.0% |
|
|
Reject |
310 |
25.0% |
5. Early
Care & Education Capital Fund - $15,000,000 (View votes
statewide)
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
765 |
61.8% |
|
|
Reject |
473 |
38.2% |
6. Arts,
Economy & State Preservation Grants $7,000,000 (View votes
statewide)
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
659 |
53.1% |
|
|
Reject |
581 |
46.9% |
7.
Industrial Facilities Infrastructure - $60,000,000 (View votes
statewide)
|
Candidate |
Total votes |
Pct |
|
|
Approve |
647 |
52.1% |
|
|
Reject |
594 |
47.9% |
