Charlestown’s December 2 Special Election to fill Town Council vacancy

Important vote for Charlestown’s future

By Will Collette

Democratic council candidate Jill Fonnemann

Three women will be running to fill the Town Council vacancy left by the death of CRU leader and Council Vice President Rippy Serra.

We avoided a primary when one of two declared Republican candidates, Sandra Puchalski, withdrew, leaving Laura Rom as the only Republican in the race. Rom chairs the Charlestown Republican Town Committee (CRTC). She currently serves on the Charlestown Planning Commission.

The Democratic candidate is political newcomer Jill Fonnemann. Jill is a member of the Charlestown Parks and Recreation Commission and is beverage manager at the Rathskeller. This will be her first run for elected office.

Bonnita Van Slyke

The Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) is sending in their old warhorse, former Town Council member and the CCA’s spokes-troll Bonnita Van Slyke. This will be her second attempt at a comeback after she finished last in a ten-person field in the 2024 election.

Since Rippy's death, the current council has four members, all endorsed by Charlestown Residents United and evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. The CCA lost its last Town Council seat in the 2024 election.

I can’t remember Charlestown having a special election in the 25 years Cathy and I have lived in Charlestown. Whether the four main town political forces follow their usual election practices in this special election remains to be seen.

Laura Rom, Republican candidate

On Tuesday, Oct. 7, The three candidates must turn in their nomination papers signed by at least 50 Charlestown registered voters. Since they are all collecting signatures, it’s likely all three will qualify for the ballot.

With no primary likely, we get to skip a number of steps to proceed directly to action steps leading to the December 2 election. Key among them is the November 2 deadline to register to vote.

You have until November 12 to apply for a mail-in ballot. That’s also the first day of early voting (at Town Hall). Early voting continues until December, the day before the actual election.

Charlestown municipal elections usually involve lots of yard signs as well as mailers in addition to door-to-door canvassing. How many signs and mailers depends on how much money is behind each candidate.

Generally, candidates count on their endorsers to handle campaign finance and expenditures. As usual, the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) starts with the biggest cash advantage with a current balance of $8,905.85. Throughout its history, the CCA has relied on big donations from non-residents and wealthy property owners. They often raise thousands of dollars in the final weeks of any election.

Their arch-rivals, Charlestown Residents United (CRU) goes into this election with a cash balance of $3,191.90. Their funding is far more grassroots.

The Charlestown Republican Town Committee (CRTC) has the second-largest war chest with $5,438.25 in the bank.

Finally, the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee (CDTC) has the smallest piggy bank - $658.31.

From now until election day, Progressive Charlestown will provide you with news, updates, event notices and pithy commentary. Let the games begin!