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Council President Click here for Bio
Contact: email: Click to send e-mail
410 Plain Meeting House Rd
West Greenwich, RI 02817
401-397-6517
Councilman
Thaylen H. Waltonen
Click here for Bio
Contact (401) 397-7060
Contact: email: Click to send e-mail
Contact (401) 397-7147
BIOS
I have lived in WG for 20 years, graduated from URI and am retired from a professional career in the structural steel industry. I have been involved in supporting our adopted town since 1989 starting with a 3 year stint with Henry Wright and Don Harrington while a member of the Conservation Commission. I was appointed to the Planning Board in 1992, where I served for 8 years with the last two as chair. I won elective office in 2000 for a seat on the Town Council where I am currently in my 5th term. I was recently elected to the Town Council President seat.
When our schools were threatened with overpopulation due to unlimited availability of building permits, I was instrumental in bringing the Growth Management Plan to fruition. Developers have not had to wait for excessive delays in obtaining their permits as a sensible permit limit number has been established on an annual basis. My wife Charlene & I have field located by GPS coordinates 144 of the approximately 153 historic cemeteries in WG so those locations may be placed on our plat maps. This will help assure their preservation when their very existence may be pressured by proposed development. I have served on the past EWG Building Committee as Co-Chair, and am a member of the current EWG Building Committee along with the Sports For Kids Track and Field Facility. I am also a member of the Louttit Library building committee where we are working on a community room expansion of the library.
Member of the State sponsored Advisory Commission for RI Historical Cemeteries.
Like all West Greenwich citizens, I love this town and care about it’s future. I have raised my family here and actively serve the community. Since moving here 12 years ago, I have been a volunteer in our schools, School Improvement Team member, a 4-H volunteer, a Trustee on the Louttit Library Board and currently serve on the EWG Senior Project Steering Committee.
Prior to being elected to the Council, I was concerned about the safety of students on our school buses and was instrumental in the passage of epi-pen legislation which protects our children with allergies while riding on school buses.
I am actively involved in promoting the appreciation and respect of agriculture and animals. As such, I have been invited to serve as an Eastern States Trustee, am a member of the 4-H Dairy Committee at Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA, serve as the Guernsey Breed Representative for the New England Guernsey Classic, Co-chair the Washington County Fair Working Steer program, and have served as a judge for FFA competitions & as an Assistant Coach for our RI 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl teams. I am honored to have been presented with the RI 4-H Outstanding Volunteer Award. It is through these venues, and that as an animal owner, that I am able to share my love of animals and educate the public. I am supportive of local farms and value locally grown.
I understand the importance of, and will do my best to protect, the rural character of West Greenwich, the quality of our schools, and support local businesses. I am honored to serve as your Councilwoman and will always do my very best for the entire town of West Greenwich.
