Wishful thinking?

What are people really voting for when they vote for “change”?

Blake Filippi: the change you wanted?

By Linda Felaco

A version of this article ran in the Westerly Sun. This version is complete and updated to reflect recent events.

While the midterm elections handed control of Congress, as well as a number of state and local governments, from Democrats to Republicans, in Charlestown, the election merely solidified the control of the town’s homegrown political party, the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA), which now holds every single elected seat in town government.

Yes, for all intents and purposes, the CCA is a political party. Why they try to pretend otherwise is not entirely clear. Apparently, they are so high-minded that they somehow transcend mere partisan politics. 

But two facts are indisputable: (1) The CCA considers town Democrats to be their enemies and actively and vociferously campaigns against them. Indeed, the CCA owes its entire existence to town Democrats given that they originally formed in order to attempt to force the recall of a Democratic town council president. (2) The CCA has never endorsed or aided in the election of any Democratic candidate for either town or state office.

Charlestown Tapas

A veritable buffet for the mind

By Will Collette

Another one of the Tribe’s economic development efforts blocked

The Navy said NO to a request from the Bureau of Indian Affairs that 225 acres from the long-closed Newport Navy base be transferred to the BIA for the use of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. The tribe sought the land for economic development purposes, though it explicitly stated a casino would NOT be part of their plans. 

BIA would not agree to accept full responsibility for liabilities that might be attached to the Navy land, such as environmental problems. Old military land is notorious for the presence of hazardous waste – that was an issue when the Charlestown Naval air field was turned over to Charlestown and the US Wild & Wildlife Service.

Charlestown town government puts considerable effort into blocking tribal aspirations, even when they are outside of Charlestown, but in this case, there is no evidence that Charlestown or its hired gun attorney Joe Larisa played any role in blocking the tribe’s bid for the Newport Navy land. We’ll know for sure when Larisa’s next set of bills to Charlestown come in.

Frank Maher replaced as Hodgson campaign manager

Charlestown Tapas

• Good news - No bloodshed at Chariho meeting
• New neighbor – Manda Panda?
• Frank Maher as a campaign manager?
• NRA-RI takes another hit
• “Got Smarties®?
• How the other side lives

By Will Collette

Chariho omnibus meeting ends without arrests or serious injury

Representatives from Charlestown, Richmond and Hopkinton managed to get together in one room on January 15 to discuss their “differences” about the funding and operations ofthe Chariho School District without shots being fired. 

Charlestown Town Councilor Dan Slattery (CCA Party) managed to restrain himself to simply making snarling remarks about Richmond Town Council President Joe Reddish’s effort to get the towns to discuss changes to the Chariho Act. 

I had heard some rumors about minor injuries to people sitting near Slattery when bristles flew off his brush-cut during some of the more heated exchanges.

Weaknesses of Rhode Island gun lobby and Tea Party exposed

Lessons from Exeter for 2014

By Will Collette

When Exeter voters went to the polls on December 14 in a special recall election against the four Democrats (the “Exeter Four”) who compose Exeter’s Town Council majority, most outsiders thought they would lose. I certainly did, even though I had done volunteer work to support the Council majority against the recall.

After all, the recall was instigated and led by the Rhode Island gun lobby with help from the Tea Party, radical Tea Party state Rep. Doreen Costa and the Republican Party. Former Republican state Senator Frank Maher led the front group for the recall. And Exeter is a rural, conservative, Republican-leaning town where gun ownership is high. 

But minutes after the polls closed, the results were announced – the Democratic Town Council members beat the recall against them by a margin of 2 to 1 on a record turn-out of 40% of the Exeter electorate who came out on a Saturday during a snow storm.

Reaction to this electoral miracle has so far been muted. But the more I think about it, the more important I think this election is. The results are certainly significant to towns in South County and rural Rhode Island in general, especially Charlestown.

VIDEO: The campaign so far, Part 1

Like it or not, the 2014 election campaign has already begun

By Will Collette

Although so many Americans decry our state of perpetual political warfare, it’s a reality that the next campaign season began the night the election results from the last election were announced.

Even in our sleepy little burg, the town’s two main parties, the controlling Charlestown Citizens Alliance Party (CCA) and its nemesis, the Charlestown Democrats began preparing for the next election as soon as the 2010 votes were counted. 

Now, we face the calendar reality that we are one year away, almost to the day, from going to the polls again.

This is the first of a two-part series on where Campaign 2014 stands one year away from Election Day.

UPDATED: Tea Party gun group seeks to overturn 2012 election

Recall campaign in Exeter is about much larger issues

The Exeter Four - targeted for recall by an out-of-town NRA 
clone and the Tea Party. Left to right: Cal Ellis, Bill Monahan, 
Council President Arlene Hicks and Bob Johnson

By Will Collette

UPDATE: The date for the recall election has been set - December 14.

The Exeter Board of Canvassers has certified that the Cranston-based RI Firearms Owners’ League has succeeded in getting enough signatures – over 600, or roughly 10% of the number of people who voted in recent Exeter elections – to force a special recall election against four sitting Town Council members. 

The four targeted members just happen to be Democrats, and nearly all of the petition organizers are Republicans.

“They’re trying to overturn the results of the 2012 election,” said Town Council member Bob Johnson. “They told people things that weren't true and many voters have told me they felt they were tricked into signing.”

How can we miss you when you won’t go away?

Somebody needs to tell Frank Maher that he’s not a state senator anymore

At the left in this picture is Frank Maher.
What do you suppose he’s thinking?

By Will Collette

Losing by a ten point margin wasn’t enough to make an impression on former state Senator Frank Maher (R-District 34 which includes half of Charlestown) who is still acting as if he was still senator.

Appearing recently on the dais for the Coventry-West Greenwich Elks veterans’ ceremony, Maher was identified as State Senator even though he lost in November to Cathie Cool Rumsey by 1,341 votes.

In the Elks photo supplied to the Coventry Patch, Maher is shown looking like something very unpleasant had just happened. Fill in your own caption.

Tina Jackson - attempted GOP coup?

High fashion, high intrigue and loud voices mark town Republican meeting

By Ann Onymous, special correspondent 

From my vantage point in the Breachway Grill Monday night, there was very little harmony within the Charlestown Republican Town Committee.

As reported earlier in Progressive Charlestown, Tina Jackson, who lost big in her bid to unseat Rep. Donna Walsh, had sent around a notice that invited the public to come to the restaurant on Monday to hear out-going state GOP chair Mark Zaccaria speak and to take part in reorganizing the town Republican Party.

The problem is that Charlestown already has a Charlestown Republican Town Committee that consists of the nine people who actually filed their papers last summer to serve as the Committee for its new term.

The GOP town committee also filed its required reorganization papers on January 30^th, and Tina Jackson was not on the list they submitted.

UPDATED: Senate District 34 match-up – Maher vs. Rumsey

UPDATED: Half of Charlestown will be getting a new state senator – how to pick the right one

By Will Collette

UPDATE, Nov. 3: After endorsing incumbent Frank Maher in his previous two elections, the Westerly Sun editorial board has given its 2012 endorsement to Cathie Rumsey. They cite Cathie's managerial experience and positive attitude, contrasted with Maher's resignation that, as part of the minority, he's not in a position to do anything. Said the Sun editors: "We see Cool Rumsey as a business-oriented, moderate Democrat who can work for change within the majority party — change that the state so desperately needs."

Original article:
Sen. Dennis Algiere (R-Westerly) used to represent most of Charlestown until the maps were redrawn after redistricting this year. The part of Algiere’s district in Charlestown shrunk drastically and is now, except for a small sliver, all South of One.

Incumbent State Senator Frank Maher (R) expanded his district so that now District 34 covers almost all of Charlestown North of One. One of Frank Maher’s few “achievements” during his four years in office was to get himself on that redistricting commission that made that map change.

If you look at Frank Maher’s record, he has done almost nothing to improve the lives of Rhode Islanders and certainly nothing that has helped Charlestown. The only Frank Maher-sponsored bill that passed the legislature last year was a bill to reduce criminal penalties on felons who commit violent crimes using crossbows. More on that later.

Fortunately, he has a solid opponent in Cathie Rumsey (D), who, among many achievements, was one of the key members of the team assigned by Governor Lincoln Chafee to straighten out the mess at the DMV. She set up new customer-service training and redesigned the technology that cut waiting times and made the DMV so much easier to deal with.

The next time you have to go to the DMV and breeze in and out of there in under 30 minutes, thank Cathie Rumsey.

Attacks on Democrats and on Progressive Charlestown all part of a playbook

IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS DURING THE STORM:
Misdirected e-mails describe attack strategy being used by CCA, GOP

By Will Collette

It really sucks when you mistype an email address. Especially if that sends it to your opposition.

According to misdirected e-mail traffic we received last June, there was some buzz among South County Republicans about Progressive Charlestown and what to do about it.

It started when Clay Johnson, the Republican opponent to incumbent Rep. Larry Valencia, sent a link to one of my articles to Sen. Frank Maher, who is attempting to defend his seat against strong Democratic challenger Cathie Rumsey.

Maher forwarded the e-mail to other GOP strategists in South County, including influential Hopkinton Republican Scott Bill Hirst.

PRIMARY RESULTS: Do Parties Matter, Part 3

UPDATED: the Outcome of the Vote in the September 11 Primary

By Will Collette

Read Part 1 here.
Read Part 2 here

At 10 PM, with 100% of the vote counted, the unofficial results are big wins for Rep. Jim Langevin over Matson the Carpenter (a 3 to 1 margin) and Rep. David Cicilline over Anthony "I've got a secret" Gemma by a 2-1 margin.

I'd expect Matson will save all his signs for the next time.

Mega-millionaire right-wing hedge fund guy Michael Riley easily defeated three Republican opponents and will face Rep. Langevin and independent Abel Collins on Nov. 6.

Local races of interest:
Crossbow fan and incumbent state Senator Frank Maher (R) easily won his District 34 primary, 77.4% to 22.6% and will face CDTC-endorsed Cathie Rumsey on November 6.

Former SK Chamber of Commerce prez Clay Johnson squeaked out a win in the District 39 Republican House primary, 54.8% to 45.2% and will face CDTC-supported incumbent Rep. Larry Valencia.

In House District 34, GOP-endorsed Chris Wilkens beat wealthy mortgage banker Steven Tetzner by just over 12 percent and will face Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D) in November.

In one of the few South County Democratic primaries, in the neighboring House District 35, incumbent Rep. Spencer Dickinson eked out a 27 vote win over SK Town Councilor Kathy Fogarty. Spencer's margin of victory is 5.2%. He faces a tough fight in November against perennial Republican challenger James Haldeman.

TONIGHT: Come meet our next state Senator

Charlestown reception for Cathie Rumsey
From the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee

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.

Do parties matter, Part 2

“Vote the bums out” – the drone of the anti-incumbents

Rep. Jim Langevin

By Will Collette

Every election cycle, there is a loud background buzz calling for voters to vote out every incumbent. This is presented as the only logical way to solve our deep-rooted political divisions and governmental dysfunction. Whether it’s Tea Partiers or progressive candidates like Second Congressional District candidate Abel Collins, “vote the bums out” is used as an emotional pitch to disgruntled voters[1].

It’s also easier than actually campaigning on the issues, which is one reason why it is a common refrain for most dissidents. And it’s also a destructive and mindless way of participating in the electoral process.

If you look around the Charlestown political landscape, you will see a broad range of incumbent elected officials who are all different when it comes down to what they have actually accomplished while in office.

TONIGHT: fund-raiser for Cathie Rumsey

Rumsey running for state Senate District 34
By Will Collette

Cathie Rumsey (D) is running for the state Senate seat currently held by Frank Maher (R), who has served two terms and has done virtually nothing for the benefit of the people of his district. Due to redistricting, District 34 now covers almost the entire northern part of Charlestown north of Route One.

Maher got himself appointed to the Redistricting Committee, apparently thinking he could re-shape his district to his advantage. But how adding so much of Charlestown to his district helps him, is beyond me, since we never, ever spotted him in the much smaller north-eastern corner of Charlestown he represented.

Anyway, many Charlestown voters who were used to being represented by Sen Dennis Algiere (R) who usually ran without opposition (as is the case again this year), will now have a great new candidate to consider in Cathie Rumsey.

If you want to meet Cathie, who is by the way, endorsed by the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee, read on for details about her upcoming event on Monday.

Election 2012: Who’s in?

Lively races ahead for southern RI General Election seats

By Will Collette

Won't have Todd Giroux to kick around anymore

Now that we’re well past the deadline for candidates to submit signatures to qualify to be on the ballot, it looks like all of Charlestown’s local candidates for town office have qualified. 

There will be no primary for any Charlestown town position – the campaign is on, heading for the November 6 Election Day.

The field for Congress thinned out a bit. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse faced a potential challenge from a very strange guy – Todd Giroux – who told the State Democratic Convention that he would be willing to give up his challenge to Whitehouse if the State Convention, instead, gave him the House District 68 seat. I’m not making this up – click here. Giroux failed to get enough signatures to qualify as a primary challenger to Whitehouse. As did four other no-hopers, leaving Barry Hinchley (R), the only challenger standing to face Sen. Whitehouse.

Updated: Mark your calendars

UPDATED: Important election dates are coming up

By Will Collette

This is the final week to register to vote, if you haven’t already, if you have any intention of running for office this year. The deadline is Friday, May 25 to make sure you are on the voting rolls if you want to be a candidate.

In June, it’s crunch time for people who want to run for office – any office, including town office. If you intend to run for office, the time to officially file your declaration of candidacy is June 25 through June 27.

On June 28, town and District party committees will file their candidate endorsements.

CCA asks General Assembly to make affordable housing go away

An update on activity at the General Assembly

By Will Collette

The Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) has long crusaded against affordable housing development in Charlestown. Town Council President Tom Gentz and Planning Commissar Ruth Platner have taken the lead in fighting the deadly threat of housing that might shelter low and moderate income residents, especially those who might have children who would be sent to Chariho schools.

After losing their battle for the Platner-Gentz Affordable Housing Deconstruction Act, which would have dismantled the state’s affordable housing law, the CCA, through Gentz and Platner, turned to less radical approaches to changing state policy.

Rhode Island and Charlestown Bits

Short takes and links for February 3, 2012

By Will Collette

Megan

33 Bridges. For something completely different than Progressive Charlestown, there’s a new home-grown blog you should check out called 33 Bridges. The blog is the creation of Megan Moynihan and Damara Ortolani Sisti at Oyster Works and went live last August. Megan and Damara show you design and art that interests them in a blog format that is really a joy to see. Just for fun, scroll through all the pages and drink in the items they’ve put on display. It’s a delightful contrast to the nitty-gritty of politics.

Many Charlestown voters will have new state Senate choices on 2012 ballot

Redistricting changes affect South County Senators

Out with the old....

By Will Collette

Five Rhode Island Senate districts (#s 34 through 38) encompass South County, compared to nine House Districts. Currently, South County is represented by three Republicans (Francis Maher, Dawson Tucker Hodgson and Dennis Algiere) and two Democrats (James Sheehan and Sue Sosnowski).

All five districts will be changed significantly by census-driven redistricting. Redistricting is not just an exercise in arithmetic, but also politics. The law requires districts to be redrawn every ten years after each new census to equalize the population.

Some of the line changes may affect the re-election prospects of the incumbents.

Charlestown voters will see different names on their 2012 ballots

Redistricting affects Charlestown’s state Senators and Representatives more than any other South County town.

This is the OLD House district map

By Will Collette

When the General Assembly reconvenes in January, they will be presented with new maps defining the state’s political districts. Every ten years, in the year after a national Census, the maps must be re-drawn so that they all contain the same number of people.

Charlestown was one of the only towns in South County to lose a major number of people (the only other town to experience a population decline in our are was Narragansett and by a smaller percentage). All of the other towns gained in population. These gains and loses pretty much guaranteed some serious district line shifting.

But Charlestown’s two Senators, Republicans Dennis Algiere and Francis Maher, and two Representatives, Democrats Donna Walsh and Larry Valencia, saw their districts undergo some major surgery. In this article, I will focus on the House districts. I will cover the Senate changes later this week.