Charlestown resident Ralph Minopoli adds his name to a candidate’s nomination papers yesterday.

THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / GRETCHEN ERTL

CHARLESTOWN — It’s open season in Charlestown –– political season, that is.

In a strange show of unity in this town marred by political bickering and personality clashes, Democrats, Republicans and independents, clipboard in hand, stood in front of Charlestown Mini-Super –– the town’s unofficial political hub –– asking fellow residents, political alliance aside, to sign their nomination papers so that they can add their name to the ballot.

“This is just the first step of many along the road before November,” said Daniel J. Slattery, president of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance, the political action committee that sponsored the event.

Present were Democrat Rep. Donna M. Walsh –– who also held nominating papers for her husband, Henry A. Walsh, who is running unchallenged for town moderator. Also, independent Matthew J. McHugh, running for House District 36 (which covers parts of Westerly, South Kingstown, New Shoreham, and Charlestown). Not on hand was the Republican candidate for that House seat, David A. Coté, of South Kingstown.

Also present was Larry Valencia, a Democrat from Richmond running for House District 39, which covers parts of Richmond, Exeter and Charlestown.

Valencia is running against fellow Democrats Stephen D. Antoni and Rod Driver, both from Richmond, and Paul Picerne of Exeter, and Republicans Joseph Arsenault of Richmond and David Hathaway of Exeter.

Six of the nine candidates for council were also present, with a seventh having her nomination papers available.

Present were independents Gregory J. Avedisian (also running for the Republican Town Committee), Frank L. Bradbury, Marjorie F. Frank, and Richard Hosp; Democrat Ralph C. Conti; and Republican Forrester C. Safford who presented joint nomination papers with Charlene Q. Dunn.

Raymond S. Dreczko Jr., who is running as a Democrat, said he learned of the event through the local newspaper but was unable to attend due to the short notice as he had to work.

James M. Mageau, also a Democrat running for reelection, said he too learned of the event from someone else but decided not to attend.

Safford and Dunn are also running for the Republican Town Committee.

Conti, Dreczko and Mageau are also running for the Democratic Town Committee.

(Mageau said the three are running as a team for the council; Dreczko said that’s yet to be decided.

(“I would say that Jim spoke a little out of term,” Dreczko said. “In my opinion, that statement may be a little premature.”)

Katharine H. Waterman, a current council member seeking a seat on the Planning Commission, was also present.

Ruth Platner, the current commission chairwoman, also held nominating papers for Vic G. Dvorak, Gordon L. Foer, and Kathryn M. O’Connor.

Also running for the commission are Bruce A. Ennis and Mark M. O’Brien.

The Charlestown Planning Commission is the only elected planning board in the state.

There are four open seats, two as regular members and two alternates. Under the Town Charter, the top two vote-getters would be elected as regular members and the next two as alternates.

Residents signing the nominating papers yesterday said they wanted to see a change in town government –– as much behavioral as perhaps political.

For example, Frances Topping said, while she welcomed some of the issues Mageau and his 2006 running mate Bruce W. Picard had campaigned on, she will not be voting for Mageau or his new running mates based on how the council majority, led by Mageau, went about tackling those issues.

“Wanting to save taxpayers money, wanting to raise revenue for the town are perhaps worthy goals,” Topping said, but “you shouldn’t just push your agenda through.”

“You can say the council as a whole represents the town. Not any one person represents the majority. Therefore, there should be an open discussion [among] all five people,” she said.

“It’s time for a change. Back to normalcy,” said Charles W. Beck, a past councilman and owner of the Mini-Super, who is also running for the Republican Town Committee.

“It’s been a rough two years and we need to get back to what Charlestown should be . . . quieter.”

While most candidates present said they hadn’t yet formulated an agenda, most agreed with Hosp’s, a three-item list:

1. Civility.

2. Fiscal responsibility.

3. In everything else, common sense.

marmenta@projo.com