TIVERTON — Tiverton voters will go to the polls on July 18 to choose nine members of a Tiverton Charter Review Commission, which over the next year will examine, and make recommendations for changing, or not changing, the basic document that establishes the structure, organization, and powers of town government, and its governing procedures.
That document is the Home Rule Charter for the Town of Tiverton. For its fundamental role in the governance of Tiverton, the Home Rule Charter has been likened to the United States Constitution.
It can be found in the clerk's office in Town Hall, or online at the town website: www.tiveton.ri.gov>home>.onlinedocuments>homerulecharter.
The non-partisan commission has a year to get its work done. Within one year from the date of its July 18 election — the length of its members terms — the commission must submit a revised charter to the town council, for later placement on the next succeeding general election ballot in November 2018.
The charter requires that the charter review process be undertaken every six years, but amendments are only permitted, not required, and once adopted, may not be changed for two years.
The candidates, and the ballot
The nine will be chosen by the voters out of a field of 24 candidates. Voters will be presented with a ballot that instructs them to vote for "up to" nine candidates. They can vote for fewer, the ballot says.
What if someone votes for more for more than nine candidates? Town Clerk Nancy Mello says that if a voter does that, the ballot "will kick back out as an over vote, and they have the opportunity to
override, or void and vote new ballot." More than nine votes does not invalidate the ballot.
The candidates, in alphabetical order —the order in which they appear on the ballot — are: Justin W. LaCroix, Nancy L. Driggs, Michael S. Burk, Jeffrey E. Caron, Michael F. Janick, Richard A. Rom, Robert D. Coulter, Gregory B. Jones, Raymond D. Fougere, Laura A. Rom, John A. Perkins Jr., Stephen T. Clarke, William P. Gerlach, Jason C. Mello, Madeline L. O'Dell, William F. Lopes, Kimberly A. Sutherland, David Perry, Andrea L. Souza, Donna J. Cook, David J. Paull, Jennifer L. Joslyn, Donna W. Edwards, and Michael C. DeCotis.
The endorsed, and the unendorsed
The 24 candidates fall into three categories: first, those who have been endorsed by the Tiverton Taxpayers Association (TTA) and its Political Action Committee (PAC); second, those who have been endorsed by the Tiverton Democratic Town Committee (TDTC); and third, those who have chosen to be, or are, unendorsed. The Tiverton Republican Town Committee did not make endorsements.
Candidates (there are nine) endorsed by the TTA-PAC are: Justin W La Croix, Nancy L Driggs, Jeffrey E Caron, Richard A Rom, Robert D Coulter, Raymond D Fougere, Stephen T Clarke, William F Lopes, and Donna J Cook.
On its website, the TTA-PAC has posted limited charter commission candidate information (e.g. biographical, responses to a survey, a speech) for 14 candidates, indicating that 10 candidates did not respond to the survey. See: www.tivertontaxpayersassociation.org.
Only eight candidates were endorsed by the TDTC: Michael Burk (D), Michael Janick (D), Gregory Jones (I), Jason Mello (D), Kimberly Sutherland (I), David Perry (D), Andrea Souza (D), and Donna Edwards (D).
Asked why only eight, and not nine, candidates received TDTC endorsement, TDTC Chairman (and Charter Commission candidate) Burk said, "As is our practice, when we decide who we want to endorse, we then reach out to them to confirm that they accept it. There were other candidates we offered to [endorse], who will go unnamed out of courtesy to them, but they wanted to stay independent of any endorsements."
Candidates who are unendorsed — there are seven of them, for whatever reason — are: Laura A. Rom, John A. Perkins Jr., William P. Gerlach, Madeline L. O'Dell, David J. Paull, Jennifer L. Joslyn, and Michael C. DeCotis.
Many choices, mixed views
Countless letters to the editor of this newspaper over the past months, a great many from candidates, have been written about what the charter review commission should do or not do, and changes that should be made ... or not.
"It is important to note," said candidate William Gerlach, that out of the many pages of the Town Charter, "only four-and-a-half are dedicated to matters of the town budget, tax levy and resolution adoption process ... And while taxes and budgets are important, our charter is much more."
"I am sure there will be many areas of revision to address, but let's not hide the fact that the budget process, including a newly crafted article addressing the casino revenue, will be the major focus" for the commission, said candidate Laura Rom.
Both Ms. Rom and Mr. Gerlach are among the seven unendorsed candidates.
"Effective local government requires a Town Charter – our Constitution – that contains the checks and balances necessary to operate a 21st Century community. It needs to provide sound methods for determining budgets and managing expenses while holding elected officials accountable for their decisions. It needs to ensure that key governmental services are provided as efficiently as possible. It needs to ensure a fair electoral process and that the rights of the minority are protected," said TDTC-endorsed candidate Burk.
"The Charter isn’t simply about the FTR or finances," he said. "It is our Constitution and it prescribes many functions beyond finances and budgeting. Remember, the Charter Commission only recommends changes to the Town Council, who then decides what is put on the November 2018 ballot on which you get to vote and have the final say."
"The TTA wants to protect the charter for voters, keep direct democracy in the FTR, and keep taxes under control," said TTA-PAC-endorsed candidate Robert Coulter. "The other side (the folks who brought us such high taxes in the first place) wants to change the charter to eliminate the Budget Committee, eliminate the FTR, and have the government directly control the casino revenue and everything else on budgets and taxes."
"When electing a committee, the goal should be to vote for candidates that possess different views. ensuring the balance of the committee’s makeup," said un-endorsed candidate DeCotis. "This guarantees there will be no absolute control by one particular group to push through any agendas. This shouldn’t and cannot happen to Tiverton."
"I have chosen to not seek endorsement from any town-based political organization, not to avoid having to share my views, ideas, or experience, but rather to tread the middle path of independence," said un-endorsed candidate Gerlach.
Meet the candidates
There will be a "meet and greet" of the candidates for Tiverton's special election for Charter Review Commission on Monday, July 17th from 6-9 p.m. — the day before the election — in the Community room at the Tiverton Public Library. All 24 charter review candidates have been invited to attend.
Poling places
There will be seven polling places, not one, as was the case for the Financial Town Referendum. They will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.. Note that two locations will each be accommodating two separate precincts (the VFW and the high school), as follows:
• Precinct 3301: VFW, 134 Shove Street (A)
• Precinct 3302: VFW, 134 Shove Street (B)
• Precinct 3303: Countryview Estates Community Room, 325 Hurst Lane
• Precinct 3304: Ranger Elementary School, 278 North Brayton Road
• Precinct 3305: Sandywoods Farm Community Center, 43 Muse Way
• Precinct 3306: Tiverton High School, 100 North Brayton Road (A)
• Precinct 3307: Tiverton High School, 100 North Brayton Road (B)
If you have any questions about your polling place, call the Board of Canvassers at the Tiverton Town Clerk's Office (625-6703), or go to the Tiverton Town website at www.tiverton.ri.gov.