ELECTION RETROSPECTIVE

Like the fellow who just watched his Mother-in-law drive his new Pick-Up off a cliff, I have mixed feelings about the outcome of the November 2010 elections.

The good news is that we got rid of Mr. Michael Harrington Esq. from the Little Compton School Committee. More on that later. The bad news is that our friend and outstanding State Legislator John Loughlin lost in his bid to replace Patrick Kennedy as our representative to the United States House of Representatives. If it is any small consolation, John carried the Town of Little Compton with an 18.5% margin over David Cicilline the former Democrat Mayor of Providence.

Kudos to the Little Compton Taxpayers Association for its efforts in changing the political landscape of the School Committee. The November Election edition of the LCTA Newsletter has effectively changed what looked more like the Transfer Station to “The Commons.” The Harrington led School Committee was leading the town down a long and expensive path in its “Day-dream” of a Taj Mahal that would be break the back of the taxpayers for decades to come.

Conservative leadership has been restored to the School Committee. Long time player on the local political scene, and former President of the Town Council, Don Gomez topped the November ballot in his run for reelection to the School Committee and was elected its Chairman.
Don, along with Dave Beauchemin, political newcomer, and Joe Quinn,
Former School Committee Chairman had the endorsement of the Republican Town Committee in the efforts to dump Harrington.

In one of his first pronouncements Don Gomez has taken the position that the School Committee must explore a “Plan B” to fix the facility problems at the Wilbur & McMahon School. At last somebody is making sense in this now more than four year effort to bring the physical plant “up to code.” Don has displayed his ability to read the handwriting on the wall. There ain’t no way that the voters of Little Compton are going to buy spending more than 30 million dollars to fulfill the dreams of the Michael Harrington led School House Gang.

I know that the November 2010 elections were so called “mid-term,” and the local turn out was more than 50% of the registered voters, but folks we have to do better. There were five (5) totally uncontested candidates for seats on local boards and authorities. That is not a healthy sign. One might speculate that it is a sign that the folks are happy with the way things are going with the town, but to me it is a sign that there are too many potential voters and future community leaders sitting on the sidelines.

Nothing lasts forever. Yes it is true that we have a fine Corps of office holders on the Town Council, you all know them, and yes the School Committee is back on track but we need to look to the future. There is a vast number of unaffiliated voters in L.C. that need to come down off the fence and get involved in the political life of Little Compton.

I know that it is fun to be able to go to the polls during a Primary Election and choose either a Democrat or a Republican ballot with the hope of disrupting the plans of your political opposition. Been there, done that! But the reality of the situation is that this is a two party country. If you want to be a “player” you have to choose a team.

That is precisely why I decided to start an affiliate of the Rhode Island Tea Party here in Little Compton. It is called the “Sakonnet Tea Party” and you are all invited to get on board and join the party.

The main thrust of the Sakonnet Tea Party will be to bring unaffiliated voters to the dance. The plan is to get folks out of the shadows and get involved and interested in what is going on with your local and state government. To get people to attend important meetings of local boards and committees, and to rally with the other more than 15 local Tea Party organizations that make up the Rhode Island Tea Party, when it comes time to get the politicians on Smith Hill to listen to the voice of the people. Look at what the Tea Partiers have achieved across this entire nation. It is time to change Rhode Island.

So let us hear from you and you and you too. Go on the Net and sign up at www.riteaparty.com and email me at sakonnetteaparty@cox.net. I don’t care what party you may or may not belong to just do it! Your town, your state and your country needs you now.

If you are already a member of the RI Tea Party please go to the new Web Site (www.riteaparty.com) and re-register. RI Tea Party Founder Colleen Conley has asked all present members to sign up again. Apparently all of the membership the data from the old web site did not make it to the new site.

Merry Christmas to all.

Sarge

TEA PARTY ANYBODY?

Two hundred and thirty seven years ago on December 16th 1772 a group of angry Colonists fed up with “Taxation without Representation” disguised as American Indians boarded three Tea Ships and threw their cargo into Boston Harbor.

The RI Tea Party announced today that the Little Compton “Sakonnet Tea Party” will open its doors on December 16th 2010 to celebrate the 237th birthday of the Boston Tea Party.

Little Compton, once the bastion of the Republican Party on the East Bay, is now sporting a majority of Democrats among the two major parties. But in reality LC is actually dominated by a more than 2 to 1 majority of unaffiliated registered voters. The Sakonnet Tea Party wants to energize that majority and bring them under the umbrella of the conservative Tea Party movement.

So don’t be surprised if there is a knock on your door, or a phone call asking for your support. You don’t have to wait for somebody to come calling to join, first go on line and sign up at www.riteaparty.com and then send an email to Sakonnetteaparty@cox.net. Get involved today!

The Sakonnet Tea Party group doesn’t care what party you are affiliated with or if you are an unaffiliated/Independent voter, just so long as you believe in the goals of good government practices by advocating fiscal responsibility, accountability, and a return to the core principals set forth in our State and US Constitution by our Forefathers.

The 2008 national elections clearly demonstrated that the voice of the Tea Party Movement is resonating across the land and in Washington D.C... The year 2011 will bring difficult fiscal challenges to the voters of Little Compton. The 4% tax cap and the prospects of a new school building will mean unprecedented belt tightening.

The SAKONNET BLOG will keep you up to date on all the breaking news about the ramping up of the Sakonnet Tea Party group.

Sarge