By JAMES MADDEN

WOOD RIVER JCT. – If there’s one word to describe what it was like at the Chariho High School after the announcement the $26 million Chariho bond didn’t pass it would be “heated.”
There were two major points disappointed and emotional voters made afterwards: (1) There’s not going to be another bond for a long time – maybe ever (2) There’s a “certain” contingent of Hopkinton voters that were, and have been against, any bond passing in Chariho, regardless of what it’s for.

“Well it seems to be that Hopkinton has a problem with every plan that comes up,” said former Chariho School Committee member and Hopkinton resident Stephanie Brown. “Say goodbye to the 56 and 60 percent state aid.”

After the results were in, Brown openly criticized and held Hopkinton Town Councilor Barbara Capalbo accountable for failure of the bond in front of roughly 30 people – mostly advocates of the bond – and asked her what the next step should be for the schools.

After Brown repudiated Capalbo, Charlestown resident Greg Avedisian could be heard from across the high school library shouting at Capalbo, and shortly thereafter Capalbo left the library visibly distraught.

 “Sometimes there are people that just have to be negative,” said Brown about School Committee member Bill Felkner. “He’s just part of that crowd.”

Proponents of the bond accused Hopkinton opponents, such as Felkner and resident Georgia Ure of spreading lies and misinformation about Chariho - RYSE program, grade configuration, and mismanagement of school funds.

“Very disappointed,” said Chariho School Supt. Barry Ricci on the bond results. He also said he didn’t see another bond proposal for the future.

“There won’t be another bond,” said Chariho building committee member Greg Kenney. “Not in the district as it exists.”

Ricci thanked all those who worked on the bond and said, “The work will get done anyway.”

Money for improvements to the schools will likely come from the operating budget and Kenney said, “everything will be on the table” in regard to potential cuts.

School Committee member Andrew McQuaide said, “Charlestown and Richmond should look into breaking their association with Hopkinton,” and form their own school district.

McQuaide, a Charlestown resident, said he was very proud  with the turnout of Charlestown voters and the way they voted.  

After each of the four polling location closed, the town clerks from each Chariho town took a computer chip that collected votes and went directly to the high school to have all the votes tallied.

“That way it’s done all in one central location,” said Chariho Admin. Asst.
Donna Sieczkiewicz earlier in the day.

During Election Day

Overall, election officials at all towns said that despite a rainy morning, voter turnout was up.

Charlestown

At 3:30 p.m. at Charlestown Town Hall 166 voters from districts 1, 2, 5, and 7 had showed up to vote.

Moderator Valerie Knudsen said that turnout was, “not terrible.”

Also, at 3:45 p.m. at the Charlestown Police Department 320 voters from districts 3, 4, and 6 showed up to vote.

Moderator Chris Holthaus said that there had been a steady flow of voters and that the inclement whether did likely have an affect slowing down turnout, but that overall it was still high.

“We’ve been averaging about 50 an hour,” he said.

Hopkinton

At 4:10 p.m. at Hopkinton town hall 514 voters had turned out.

“The turnout has been steady,” said moderator William Lopez. “From 9 to 10:30 there was a line from the door to the street.”

“After we opened, within an hour and a half we were approaching 200 voters,” said Lopez.
Lopez explained that on Nov. 6 towns all over Rhode Island began collecting votes a different way than they did before – per order of Rhode Island’s Board of Elections.

In previous elections voters would come and sign their name in a book – for keeping record – before casting their vote. Now, a voter gives their name to the election supervisor who takes a sticker with the voter’s name on it, and sticks it on the ballot they’re going to cast.

Richmond

At about 3:10 p.m. 307 people had voted in Richmond – most of whom moderator Donna Angell said showed up early in the morning.  

Another election official Tracy Hay said, “We had a half dozen people waiting when we opened in the morning.”  

“We’re way ahead of the game,” said Hay. “Normally this is what we would have as a final total at the end of the night for a school vote.”
 
Results

Charlestown

Number of registered voters: 5,725

Number of turnout: 1008

Percent of turnout: 18 percent

Yes: 681
No: 327

Hopkinton

Number of registered voters: 6129

Number of turnout: 941

Percent of turnout: 15 percent

Yes: 447
No: 494

Richmond

Number of registered voters: 6104

Number of turnout: 794

Percent of turnout: 13 percent

Yes: 540
No: 254

Overall results:

Total number of registered voters with the Chariho School District: 17958

Total number of voters that turned out: 2743

Total percentage of voters that turned out: 15 percent