I am not up for reelection this November as I still have two years on my current Town Council term. I am writing to you because there will be important issues to decide over the next several years, issues that will have an impact on the amount of taxes that you pay. Two of the critical issues are:
1. The Town Council will continue to face financial fallout from the state’s horrible budget deficit and must be prepared to cope properly. We cannot bury the Burrillville taxpayer.
2. Ocean State Power’s tax payment agreement will be up for re-negotiation. This is critical to the repairs and maintenance of our roads and schools.
I am a Republican and have been honored to serve the town of Burrillville for six years now. During each of the six years, I have served on bi-partisan Town Councils made up of Republicans and Democrats. While there have been disagreements during that time, I can honestly say that it was my pleasure to serve with those of my opposing party. At the local level, where your tax dollars are so visible in how and where they are spent, the R or D after a name means less to me. What matters is how we work collaboratively as a group of seven members. What matters is how we debate and express our ideas. The letter after your name means so much less to me at the local level when it comes to defending your hard-earned income.
What matters to me during the past six years is balancing town spending against our taxes. The cost of government will always go up over time, there is no way around that. What is important to me is how we control that cost, cut where we can, increase where we must, but always keep our taxpayer at the forefront of our discussions and debates.
There are two incumbents in the current race seeking reelection to the Town Council – Raymond Trinque, a Republican and Jeremy Bailey, a Democrat. I have had disagreements with both on several issues over the years. Yet these two candidates have come together with me when it comes to protecting your money. They have worked well with me to balance the needs of your community against limited fiscal resources and funding cuts by the state. They have joined me to look to the future when it comes to our children’s and our grandchildren’s recreation needs in this town. They have joined me to uphold and protect the Constitutional rights of our residents.
I am as proud of the work I have done with the Republican candidate as I am of the work with the Democrat candidate. As such, I am endorsing both Ray Trinque and Jeremy Bailey for reelection to the Burrillville Town Council and I hope you will join me in voting for them. Yes, I am endorsing a Republican and a Democrat. I feel that the next two years are so critical that we need experience, intelligence and common sense views on our Town Council. I do not care about the political letters after their names, as long as they join me to achieve important goals.
On November 3, we will hold what will be one of the most partisan elections in our country’s history. For our local elections, I hope you will see past the party and look to the people who have experience in protecting your financial, community and Constitutional interests. Please vote for Raymond Trinque and Jeremy Bailey for Burrillville Town Council.
Thank you.
Donald Fox
Donald Fox is a current member of the Burrillville Town Council.
Editor’s note: The above letter will also be published as a paid advertisement beginning on Friday, Oct. 23.
