Wednesday, August 27, 2008 12:27 PM EDT
Charlestown alliance hosts candidates, takes swipe at Mageau
 Charlestown Citizens Alliance is determined to see Town Council acting President James Mageau defeated in November. |
Dozens of people turned out Tuesday night to meet a roster of candidates endorsed for local office by the Charlestown Citizens Alliance, a group determined to see Town Council acting President James Mageau defeated in November and to usher in a more civil chapter in town politics.
“In the past two years, we have seen frivolous lawsuits, the bullying of citizens and the forcing out of volunteers from public service,’’ CCA President Dan Slattery said as the event began on the back porch of the Cove Restaurant.
The candidates that the alliance is supporting will restore open government to Charlestown and end an era that saw town government derailed by personal agendas and petty vindictiveness, Slattery said.
A non-partisan group whose platform calls for preservation, opposition to gambling and fiscal responsibility as well as open government, the alliance has endorsed five candidates for Town Council and four for the Planning Commission. All of the candidates introduced themselves Tuesday night and fielded questions about everything from fees for Ninigret Park to whether summer residents should have the right to vote in Charlestown.
On the latter issue, most of the candidates said they had reservations about granting voting rights to summer residents since year-round residents have more of a vested interest in the town. At the same time, they know summer residents are greatly important to Charlestown and they would like to hear their concerns, they said.
On fees for vendors at Ninigret Park, a controversial issue of late, the candidates said they disagreed with a proposal that would charge promoters a percentage of profits instead of a flat fee and that would also require them to open their books to the town for an audit.
“No way we should look at anyone’s books. It’s foolishness and intrusive,’’ said Forrester C. Safford, a candidate for Town Council.
The gathering was also a fundraiser for the alliance, which has registered with the state as a political action committee and, to date, has raised approximately $5,000. Slattery told the crowd this money will be used for signs, mailings and events designed to introduce the candidates to the voters. Another 13 “meet and greets’’ are planned in the coming weeks in private homes in Charlestown, he said.
Many of the Town Council candidates said they were running to restore civility and openness to town politics. People who attended the gathering unanimously decried the bickering and acrimony that has recently marked Town Council meetings and more than one of them laid the blame squarely at the feet of Mageau, who was elected two years ago.
“I’d like to try to open the council back up to the people and make it your town again,’’ said Gregory J. Avedisian, who served on the council two years ago.
In addition to candidates for the council and Planning Commission, the alliance has endorsed Matt McHugh for state representative in District 36. McHugh last night blasted his opponent, incumbent Donna Walsh, for staying silent about the deteriorating state of governmental affairs in Charlestown.
“For the past 21 months, she has been silent about this tyrant, this bully,’’ McHugh said, referring to Mageau.
Walsh could have and should have had Mageau “sanctioned’’ by the Democratic Party, McHugh said.
Many people theorized last night that Mageau got into office two years ago because voters chose a straight Democratic ticket. To prevent this from happening again, the alliance will attempt to educate voters in the coming weeks to choose candidates separately. There’s a lot of energy right now in the community to change local government, Slattery said. In his opinion, it’s about time.
“There is no civility in Charlestown town government and there hasn’t been for some time,’’ he said.
The alliance has endorsed the following candidates for Town Council: Gregory J. Avedisian, Charlene Q. Dunn, Marjorie F. Frank, Richard H. Hosp and Forrester C. Safford. For Planning Commission, it has endorsed Vic G. Dvorak, Gordon L. Foer, Kathryn M. O’Connor and Katharine H. Waterman
“In the past two years, we have seen frivolous lawsuits, the bullying of citizens and the forcing out of volunteers from public service,’’ CCA President Dan Slattery said as the event began on the back porch of the Cove Restaurant.
The candidates that the alliance is supporting will restore open government to Charlestown and end an era that saw town government derailed by personal agendas and petty vindictiveness, Slattery said.
A non-partisan group whose platform calls for preservation, opposition to gambling and fiscal responsibility as well as open government, the alliance has endorsed five candidates for Town Council and four for the Planning Commission. All of the candidates introduced themselves Tuesday night and fielded questions about everything from fees for Ninigret Park to whether summer residents should have the right to vote in Charlestown.
On the latter issue, most of the candidates said they had reservations about granting voting rights to summer residents since year-round residents have more of a vested interest in the town. At the same time, they know summer residents are greatly important to Charlestown and they would like to hear their concerns, they said.
On fees for vendors at Ninigret Park, a controversial issue of late, the candidates said they disagreed with a proposal that would charge promoters a percentage of profits instead of a flat fee and that would also require them to open their books to the town for an audit.
“No way we should look at anyone’s books. It’s foolishness and intrusive,’’ said Forrester C. Safford, a candidate for Town Council.
The gathering was also a fundraiser for the alliance, which has registered with the state as a political action committee and, to date, has raised approximately $5,000. Slattery told the crowd this money will be used for signs, mailings and events designed to introduce the candidates to the voters. Another 13 “meet and greets’’ are planned in the coming weeks in private homes in Charlestown, he said.
Many of the Town Council candidates said they were running to restore civility and openness to town politics. People who attended the gathering unanimously decried the bickering and acrimony that has recently marked Town Council meetings and more than one of them laid the blame squarely at the feet of Mageau, who was elected two years ago.
“I’d like to try to open the council back up to the people and make it your town again,’’ said Gregory J. Avedisian, who served on the council two years ago.
In addition to candidates for the council and Planning Commission, the alliance has endorsed Matt McHugh for state representative in District 36. McHugh last night blasted his opponent, incumbent Donna Walsh, for staying silent about the deteriorating state of governmental affairs in Charlestown.
“For the past 21 months, she has been silent about this tyrant, this bully,’’ McHugh said, referring to Mageau.
Walsh could have and should have had Mageau “sanctioned’’ by the Democratic Party, McHugh said.
Many people theorized last night that Mageau got into office two years ago because voters chose a straight Democratic ticket. To prevent this from happening again, the alliance will attempt to educate voters in the coming weeks to choose candidates separately. There’s a lot of energy right now in the community to change local government, Slattery said. In his opinion, it’s about time.
“There is no civility in Charlestown town government and there hasn’t been for some time,’’ he said.
The alliance has endorsed the following candidates for Town Council: Gregory J. Avedisian, Charlene Q. Dunn, Marjorie F. Frank, Richard H. Hosp and Forrester C. Safford. For Planning Commission, it has endorsed Vic G. Dvorak, Gordon L. Foer, Kathryn M. O’Connor and Katharine H. Waterman
Memorey Lane wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:42 PM:
" How soon we forget that Forrester Safford, Graig Avedisian and Katherine Waterman were all on the town council when there was no accountability, did we forget about the cost over runs and lease proquerments on the new police station that cost the taxpayer of charlestown almost a million dollars more than was approved by the voters, Please people wake up and smell the!!!!! "
Coralie wrote on Sep 2, 2008 2:04 PM:
" ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL!! DON'T BE SO DUMB THIS TIME AROUND...GET IT RIGHT! "
Barbara wrote on Sep 2, 2008 11:01 AM:
" I'll have you know that Mr. Jimmy Mageau
WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CHARLESTOWN! HE HAS MORE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TOWN AND IT'S PEOPLE THAN 98% OF YOU DO! Ya think your sooo smart? Your the ones's who voted him in in the first place. "
WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CHARLESTOWN! HE HAS MORE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TOWN AND IT'S PEOPLE THAN 98% OF YOU DO! Ya think your sooo smart? Your the ones's who voted him in in the first place. "
Shirley wrote on Sep 2, 2008 9:33 AM:
" The residents of Charlestown elected and relected Mr. Mageau over and over again. Why would you elect someone you dispise so? IT'S YOUR OWN FAULT, IF YOU DON'T LIKE HIM YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE VOTED FOR HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE! You all a bunch of whacho's! "
billd wrote on Aug 29, 2008 4:09 AM:
" Power corupts and absolute power corupts absolutly.A total embarassment and I am glad to see the citzens of Charleston doing something to evict this tyrant. When people like this get into power far to often good people cower and disappear rather then take on a constant flow of confrontation. We are better then this and I hope Charleston recognizes it.From this, good leadership will emerge and and the bickering will cease. There just to many good people out there for it not to happen. Surprisingly this leader may not be born and bred in Charleston. I know that is hard for some to believe. "
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