LETTER: Councilman David Nelson

To the Editor:

As we near the end of this Town Council’s term, l would like to offer thoughts about my first term in office, and look forward to the elections in November.

I am grateful to voters in Tiverton who elected me to the Council; it has been a privilege to serve our community. I am impressed with the commitment and dedication of many of the Town’s employees.  Noteworthy are the long hours that the Council spent in council meetings and workshops that frequently lasted past midnight- there was much to be done.  I extend my gratitude and respect to my fellow councilors who sacrificed many hours to the service of our community, during a time which placed high demands on their time and patience. While many choose to focus on political differences between us, we share much more in common, and this is clear in the significant progress the Town Council has achieved thus far in its term.

A one year summary of the Councils activity is posted @http://www.tiverton.ri.gov/townclerk/OneYearReportTownCouncil.pdf on Tiverton’s website.

The highlights are significant. Headlining the term is the passage of the FTR and the Library. Both were approved in the largest turnout for a special election ever, with the FTR passing by a 2-1 margin. Legislation extending our landfill’s usable life doubled our rate of recycling. A contract with Patriot Disposal established a flat five-year extension for trash pickup. We have taken steps to address Tiverton’s steep rate of increase of property taxes. In the last two years the rate of increase is down to 2.4 percent, the lowest two year tax increase in a quarter century. This is a dramatic departure from the crippling increases of past administrations. Just , tax bills went up 7 percent, and in 2007-10 when taxes soared nearly 27 percent. The FTR now enforces the RI Tax Cap, and no Town Council can exceed the cap without a 4/5ths vote. This is a victory for transparency and responsibility in government. TCC stood alone endorsing this initiative, apart from the media, our political opponents and notably, the School Department.

With over 25 years spent in business, l understand the urgency needed to address Tiverton’s challenges ahead. As a former Marine Corps Officer, l see the value of integrity and responsibility in public service. When l made my pledges for the2010 campaign , I did so believing candidates should be held accountable for the promises they make, and the votes they take. This election is about values and ideals. I invite you carefully examine my 2010-12 record. I am proud of it. Please consider this when considering your vote this November.

This year I make the following pledges to the voters of Tiverton. I do so because I believe Tiverton wants its leaders to show what they believe, to say what they will do, and when they are elected, do it. I will never support any attempt to leverage the closing of schools or elimination of sports to achieve annual budgets. My unwavering support for the FTR continues and I promise to oppose ongoing attempts to eliminate it. I only support property tax increases to rates lower than my first term.  In addition to bringing a grocery store back to Tiverton, we have been hard at work to finally make progress with business development to Tiverton, a task long discussed with little result. Finally, I will continue to collaborate with our neighbors and local businesses, State legislators and East Bay Councils, the Newport Chamber of Commerce and others to defeat the plan to add tolls to the Sakonnet Bridge. These pledges will provide voters with a clear choice, and they will define my candidacy.

 As we have done in the past, TCC will make candidate endorsements in 2012. We will present every candidate with questions which will focus on well-established principals of open government and fiscal responsibility. These are key questions which face Tiverton today involving Taxation, Education, Budget Preparation and Planning, Tiverton’s Town Charter Review, Business Development, Bridge Tolls, and Taxpayer Rights. We will also sponsor our first debate; open to all candidates in the Town Council and School Committee races.

Finally we call upon those participating in the elections, both candidates and organizations, to uphold a professional, dignified conversation centered on the issues. We believe the people of Tiverton have grown weary of the petty political hyperbole and personal attacks, witnessed in the FTR. Community should be more than a slogan.

 David M Nelson

66 Peaceful Way

Tiverton, Rhode Island

David Nelson is a candidate for re-election to the Town Council and a founding member of the community group, Tiverton Citizens for Change.