1-Year Countdown to Election Day!

Our Do One Thing has highlighted a number of little actions that we can take to make an improvement to our community, our state, and our nation. But there’s one big thing that you can do – run for local office!

Local elected positions like Town Council and School Committee make a big impact on improving things in our community.And there are no special requirements needed to become a local elected officials – they are neighbors like you who volunteered to help out!

Richmond Town Councilors meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month, and their job is generally to provide guidance to the town staff. They approve volunteers for the town’s commissions, consider changes to ordinances, and review the town budgets before they are submitted each year. They can help shape the direction of the town, by working with the community on specific areas. This past year, a couple of those efforts have been working guidance for the new park being built at 4 Richmond Townhouse Road, and work to create opportunities for growing businesses.

Chariho School Committee members usually meet once a month on a Tuesday night, with additional subcommittee meetings, and up to several meetings monthly during budget season from January through March. School Committee members have a role in reviewing the Chariho budget to provide recommendations on it. They also help provide guidance on other major District efforts, like capital improvement planning and curriculum. Additionally, the school committee reviews and maintains policies adapted by the school district. 

It’s important to note that running for office isn’t something that people do alone. There’s a support network and volunteers to help with the process. It does still take some individual work – once elected, it takes time to prepare for meetings and serving takes coordination with town staff, residents, and businesses. During the campaign, there’s no substitute for talking with residents directly door to door. But, we have a great team that can help with the processes!

If you know someone who would be a great Town Councilor or School Committee member, you should encourage them to run! If you’re potentially interested yourself, we’d love to sit down for a cup of coffee and talk through some of the mechanics. It’s worth thinking through, but we’re happy to start the conversation and provide more information on the jobs you’d be serving in, the process of running, and any other questions that you might have!

Envision Richmond RDTC Election Countdown Survey

The Richmond Democratic Town Committee is here to connect you to meaningful actions – whether it's running for office, volunteering your time to improve our town, or becoming active with our strong team of dedicated Richmond residents. 

Let us know what's on your mind and what matters to you.