The work is not done, and I humbly ask for just two more years to accomplish some of the goals that residents tell me are important. Below are what I consider, and most of you tell me as well, to be the most important.
TERM LIMITS
This one is hot topic lately among residents, and I support Councilor Turano, and voted to advance the discussion this year. I will do so going forward if re-elected, nothing personal about this one, people want this, we need to make it happen. I support limiting Town Councilors to no more than eight (8) total years in office, but can be convinced otherwise. There are many options to this, and I am open to listening to other councilors and the public. This will require a charter change, but so what, it is what the vast majority of people want. We just need to get the conversation going on this, and stop voting it down on the Town Council level.
REDUCE SPENDING / REDUCE TAXES
I know, this is the tagline for every politician, but this one is huge for me. The Town has projected that tax rates will continue to go up over 3% every year over the next five years, if we continue on the same path. I will work to reduce our spending, get us out of real estate, reduce our purchases and level off the hiring. The Town’s General Fund Expenditures have gone from $79 million in 2017 to almost $100 million in 2027. We need to stop this before we force more residents to move away. We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem.
AFFORDABILITY
The term affordable housing can be confusing for many, and in many cases, it is not as “affordable” as you may think. Either way, our residents are under a lot of pressure and the Town Council needs to do more give relief. I support regionalization services, and believe we can work with our neighbors to help us all provide better services at a lower cost. That discussion should have started a long time ago. We also need to provide community programs for energy and other household costs, give our residents affordable options. There is more to affordability than just building houses, lets help current year round residents. It bothers me when the State tells us to change our zoning and build more houses, while they squander millions of dollars just promoting the idea of affordable housing.
SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS
I fought very hard to give the students and staff in our school district the buildings that they deserve. I will continue to support our public schools, and look forward to opening 21st Century schools, while at the same time, making sure we protect our new investments. We got in to this problem because the funding was re-routed by past administration away from capital improvement projects. That can never happen again. We also need to make sure the current projects are brought to completion without additional costs, or too many scope changes. I will work with the School Committee, and our Superintendent, to find ways to better educate our kids, in a more financially efficient manner. Our kids deserve this, I work for them too.
TRAFFIC AND SAFETY
Traffic on Aquidneck Island continues to be unbearable at times, especially in areas like the west side of Town, where we are developing at a rapid rate. I plan to hold RI DOT accountable for the State roads that run through out Town. Just re-paving is no longer the answer, we need real studies, new designs, new ideas, and the State should pay for it. Speed camera reform, and general policing of speeders in our Town is a priority as well. This is not a money grab by the Town, people need to slow down, especially in our school zones. Agree we need to adjust, and we will.
TIME TO RESTART THE TOWN CENTER
It is obvious, the vast majority (no, not the “silent minority” or “noise”) do not support any of the last two plans for the “Town Center.” Let’s call it what it is, the “Town Hotel Project.” Yes, we saved Pottsy Field, but residents are still adamant that they do not want a hotel, so I can not support it. I was elected to represent the vast majority, not developers. Let’s hit reset, and go back to the original plan which is a real Town Center. That is what people want, and that is what I will support.
RESTORE POTTSY FIELD
The residents of this Town saved Pottsy Field, plain and simple. Everyone who got involved in the conversation, no matter what side you were on, that was democracy in action. I want to restore this important part of Town. Go after grants and funding to improve Pottsy Field, to fix up the surrounding recreational areas on the same lot. Adult kickball anyone? I am serious, reach out. Time to truly honor Staff Sgt. Christopher Potts, let’s not just save Pottsy Field, let us honor it.
At the ground breaking of our new Middle/High School with Chair of MPS Building Committee Ed Brady, and fellow Councilor Dennis Turano.
Re-Elect Roberts 2026 