To the editor:

The Tiverton Town Charter is the town constitution, defining how the town governs, operates and allocates responsibilities and authority to town committees, commissions, and departments. The Town Charter also provides the means for any Tiverton voter to submit an elector petition for consideration at the Financial Town Referendum (FTR) giving registered voters the opportunity and power to control the town purse strings.

There are candidates running for Charter Review Commission (CRC) who wish to eliminate, modify or restrict the FTR. Fortunately, there are also candidates running for the CRC who wish to protect the FTR.

Why would anyone support the elimination or restriction of direct power of the purse strings from the electors of Tiverton? I suspect the candidates that are motivated to eliminate the FTR also want to eliminate power and authority of the people and want an easy process to confiscate your money (raise your taxes) and the FTR is standing in their way.

Protect your authority to control your taxes by supporting candidates for the CRC who will protect the FTR.

Richard Rom


Tiverton


The author is a candidate for the Charter Review Commission.