Sheehan: I Support Ellen Waxman for Town Council

Dear Editor,

I would like to explain why Ellen Waxman, a candidate for the North Kingstown Town Council, has my full support. I have known Ellen for a few years, beginning when I began pushing passage of a tax free arts district for North Kingstown. Ellen supported my idea, but wanted to see the state think bigger by using the arts as an economic engine to boost the entire state’s economy; I agreed. She wrote a letter to Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed urging her to introduce legislation to eliminate the sales tax on original works of art.

President Paiva-Weed shared our mutual enthusiasm for the idea and sponsored legislation to set the State of the Arts initiative into motion. As a co-sponsor, I am proud to say that I assisted her in winning approval of this historic legislation, making Rhode Island the first and only state in the U.S. to eliminate the sales tax on original works of art. While working to make this initiative a reality, Ellen was there every step of the way, winning needed support from communities around the state, including an official endorsement from the town of North Kingstown.

Since then, Ellen has passionately promoted other initiatives that would benefit North Kingstown. In September, she was recognized by the North Kingstown Economic Development Manager (Paige Bronk) and Advisory Board for her efforts. Specifically, Ellen was commended for:

1. Recommending and successfully advocating the passage of statewide legislation to eliminate the sales tax on original works of art;

2. Energizing the effort to secure voter approval of the sewer bond bills in town;

3. Standing up for small businesses in the community;

4. Contributing to the development of the North Kingstown Market Analysis project;

5. Planning improvements for Wickford Village signage; and

6. Seeking local transportation improvements, including train scheduling and shuttle service.

Ellen is also on record for encouraging and facilitating recent meetings with staff from RI.Gov to improve our town’s municipal website, and with staff from the State Office of Regulatory Reform, to support North Kingstown’s efforts to implement more streamlined permitting and regulatory processes.

Further, Ellen is on the right track with her idea that community input is vital for progress. She has created an excellent community development Facebook page called “Our Town: North Kingstown (https://www.facebook.com/groups/OurNK ). I occasionally visit the site, and I encourage everyone to participate in discussing ways of moving North Kingstown forward, and to highlight all that is great about our town.

In summary, if elected to the Town Council, Ellen Waxman would be a passionate advocate and voice for town residents. As such, I ask voters to elect Ellen Waxman on November 4th.

Sincerely,

Jim

Senator James Sheehan

North Kingstown & Narragansett