Candidates to Follow

For immediate release

CHARLESTOWN—The Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) PAC has released its 2008 platform for political candidates it hopes to endorse. The non-partisan committee will be supporting qualified elected officers who endorse the group's five major issues—responsive, open government; preserving the natural environment; responsible development, anti-casino gambling and fiscal responsibility. The group's platform is on its site at http://www.charlestowncitizens.org/election.html.

"We believe that good government requires an informed electorate," says Dan Slattery, president of the CCA PAC. "CCA will take on the role of informing voters about the issues and provide access to our candidates." Slattery added that he hopes the CCA PAC will announce candidates by next week.

The CCA PAC based their platform on a survey the group did of residents in the spring in which the five issues were identified. "We want to return to a responsible open government in which town business is conducted with civility and respect for citizens
and volunteers, and in compliance with state Open Meetings laws and the Town Charter."

He also said the PAC supports managed growth of business and residential development in keeping with the character of Charlestown and the town's Comprehensive Plan.

The group is totally opposed to casino or other gaming which would "result in negative impacts on Qualify of Life, adversely affect property values, create economic hardship and cause huge infrastructure costs that must be paid by taxpayers," he said. In addition, the group is opposed to any expansion of gambling in Charlestown, especially efforts that lack the support of local and statewide voters

The group also has a cornerstone of maintaining fiscal responsibility and keeping taxes low. It believes in maintaining the town's high bond rating, ensure that town services reflect taxpayer needs and what they can afford, striving to maintain the third lowest tax rate in Rhode Island, considering all possible public and private grant opportunities in keeping with the town's Comprehensive Plan and supporting strong school system consistent with the will of Charlestown taxpayers.

CCA has a website at http://www.charlestowncitizens.org. To reach Slattery, emails can be sent to mail@CharlestownCitizens.org.