Five Republicans, two Democrats and two Independents are vying for five available seats on the Little Compton Town Council.

With the Tuesday, Nov. 8 election less than a month away, the candidates recently spoke with the Sakonnet Times about their priorities, which range from keeping the town affordable for working families, protecting its rural nature and quality of life, and responding to the changing world outside its stone-walled borders.

If voters choose to re-elect all five incumbents, the council will retain its 3-2 Republican majority. And regardless of the way the vote goes, a Democratic majority will not be possible, as only incumbents Patrick McHugh and Andrew Iriarte-Moore are registered as Democrats.

Note: Former Little Compton School Committee member Polly Allen, who is running as an Independent, did not respond to multiple attempts by the Sakonnet Times to interview her for this story.

Paul J. Golembeske

50 Snell Road

Republican incumbent Paul Golembeske, 67, has served on the council for 20 years, in addition to serving as the liaison for the Planning Board, and a member of the Tree Committee.

“One problem the town is facing right now is the pressure of development against Little Compton’s rural character. We’re trying to control it with different zoning regulations that have passed over the years. You can’t stop it, nor do we want to stop development, but I think staying on top of development and guiding it to try and maintain the rural character as much as you can. We want the priorities to keep our seniors and our kids in town,” he said. “Also, we need to continue with fiscal responsibility and the ability to keep the budgets under control, because we still have the lowest tax rate in the state, and we also have the highest real estate values.”

Andrew W. Iriarte-Moore

4 Watson Way

Iriarte-Moore, 30, is a Democrat who has served on the council since 2018. He has also worked with the Little Compton Housing Trust and served as the Liaison to the Zoning Board of Review.

“The reason I like living in Little Compton is the community engagement that we have. We have a lot of really great volunteers and folks that like to give back to the community, that are really engaged on the local level. I really like to encourage people to help out in that way, and they do,” he said. “I think the town should be investing more in affordable housing, or affordability in town. The future of our community depends on young people living in town and I want to try to find ways that the town can help influence affordability. I’m always trying to look at different ways that we can try to invest our money in different areas, and maybe keep taxes as low as they can be to help the families that are already here.”

Gary S. Mataronas

22 California Road

Republican incumbent Gary Mataronas, 69, the current vice president, has served on the council for 24 years, with previous experience on the Harbor Commission from 1991 to 1998, which he chaired from 1994 to 1998.

“My family has been here for five generations, and over the years, I’ve seen this town change. It’s taken away from the quaintness of Little Compton. We’re losing our quaintness. This used to be a fishing and farming town, and we’re trying to maintain the rural character of the town. Basically, we’re trying to keep the taxes low for the inhabitants here, keep the visual aesthetics, and get a little bit of tax relief for our older population. If I’m re-elected, I’ll continue to bring forth a practical and common sense approach to issues that face the town. Politics aside, you’ve got to do what’s best for the town.”

Patrick A. McHugh

231 John Dyer Road

Incumbent Democrat Patrick McHugh, 55,  has served on the council since July 2021, and serves as the liaison for the Agricultural Conservancy Trust and the recreation committee. Prior to his time on the council, McHugh served on the school committee and was the chairman from 2018 to 2021.

“The most important issue that we’re facing right now is the skyrocketing housing prices, and we’re not alone. The town is changing, we’re seeing declining enrollment in the school. We’re trying to keep Little Compton from changing its rural character,” he said. “We have to work with the Agricultural Trust. Everybody wants to conserve land, and they’ve done a wonderful job conserving all of this land, but they’re also tasked to farm the farms. We need to get farming families back in here and change the way the Agricultural Trust works. Times are changing, and so they need to change, too. It’s not like other towns aren’t doing this in the country. We’re just behind, and we need to be more proactive and bold.”

Robert L. Mushen

183 Willow Ave.

Republican incumbent Robert Mushen, 77, has served on the council since 2004 and has held his position as president for 18 years. He said the council has been doing a good job.

“We’ve been keeping taxes low, trying to reduce the cost of utilities so as to drive the cost of operating the town down further, and have been working on our infrastructure,” said Mushen. “The important thing that sets Little Compton apart, I believe, from many of the towns in Rhode Island is that we truly are a rural town that still has farmers and still has fishermen, and I think it’s very important that we continue to be diligent about laws that are passed. Often it’s easy for the state to say ‘Everyone ought to do things this way.’ What we would rather have them say is ‘Everyone is permitted or allowed to do things this way.’ but not mandate that they are.”

David A. Beauchemin

42 Oliver Lane

Challenger David Beauchemin, 63, a Republican, previously served on the school committee for four years, and has been on the planning board since 2021.

“I want to be a good voice for the residents of the town,” he said. “I’ve been in management for over 43 years for a manufacturing company, so I’ve done a lot of vendor negotiations and management with employees, and I think I bring a lot of those skills to the table.”

Mikel A. Folcarelli

510 West Main Road

Challenger Mikel Folcarelli, 67, is an Independent who has worked with the Garden Club, Village Improvement Society, and served on the beach commission and zoning board.

“The most important issue is forward-looking thinking into the future, with the values of our past,” he said. “I think we need to be gathering data, analyzing that data, and acting on that, while in keeping with the culture of Little Compton. I bring the point of view of someone who loves this town, but has lived and participated in other communities and spent 37 years in corporate life, and understanding the issues of how to balance a budget. My career was in brand presentation, and I think of Little Compton as a brand. I would like to see the spirit of the town stay the same.”

Maureen R. Rego

16K Mullin Hill Road

Challenger Maureen Rego, 62, is a Republican who served as the Director of the Little Compton Food Bank in its early stages, and sits on the Board of Directors for the Little Compton Historical Society.

“I’ve got a very good strong sense of attention to detail and love of research, and a reasoned approach to problem-solving. I like to speak thoughtfully on subjects after I’ve had a chance to learn the issues, but I also have a sense of balance. When someone comes to a town council meeting with some thoughts they’ve put together on whatever it is, whatever topic, I have a genuine respect for them to come with their thoughts,” she said. “I’m looking to serve with the heart of a mother. As a mother, I love this town, but more than the physical beauty of this town and the natural resources. I mean, we do live in God’s country, but it’s more than that. I love the townspeople.”

Polly G. Allen

104 South of Common Road

Allen, 51, an Independent challenger, previously served as the chair of the School Committee before deciding to run for the council. She did not respond to attempts to reach her for this story.