An Independent perspective will do our town well

Recently, I have noticed signs in town advocating for Independents who will take politics out of schools. I am not a member of the Republican or Democratic Party; I am an Independent. For me, being an Independent allows the flexibility to consider diverse perspectives, prioritize the needs of our community, and focus on policies that best serve our students, families, and schools without being tied to any party’s agenda. According to the RI Department of State, 53% of North Kingstown voters are also unaffiliated.

The sentiment of “taking politics out of schools” prompted me to reflect on its merit and explore how school committees and boards are managed in other states. According to Ballotpedia.org, 41 states have non-partisan school boards or committees, meaning that school board elections are held without party labels for candidates. Rhode Island is one of five states that offer both partisan and non-partisan elections depending on the community. For example, Coventry, Cranston, and Cumberland hold non-partisan elections, while the remaining four states have partisan elections.

In my opinion, if North Kingstown’s School Committee elections were non-partisan, voters would be more encouraged to learn about the candidates beyond their party affiliations. This approach could potentially lead to a broader range of candidates with diverse perspectives, which might resonate with more voters — especially considering that 53% of North Kingstown voters are unaffiliated. This idea is worth thoughtful consideration.

Some have suggested that Independent candidates may have their own agendas. While every candidate has their own platform and perspective, I believe that being an independent offers the flexibility to draw from various viewpoints rather than adhering strictly to one party’s ideology. My platform is centered on enhancing students’ educational outcomes, fostering strong family-school relationships, advocating for fiscal responsibility, and ensuring that all voices are heard in our schools.

Of course, running as an independent has its challenges, such as lacking an established support network for volunteering and fundraising. For these reasons, I have chosen to collaborate with other independent candidates. As a full-time working mother, my time is valuable, and I aim to campaign in ways that are both efficient and effective. I’ve come to understand more about the other independents by engaging with them, and while we may not agree on every issue, we are committed to listening, compromising, and finding balance.

I am also choosing not to seek financial contributions for my campaign. By self-funding, I hope to remain truly independent and free from any obligations. I am open to collaborating with other candidates for events like meet-and-greets if they are interested.

We are disappointingly living in polarizing times, and this is often reflected on social media, both from candidates and residents. Instead of seeing each side as bad when we don’t align in our positions, we should strive to recognize our differences as diversity. After the events of 9/11, our country came together in a spirit of unity. Let’s not forget that sense of togetherness and work to bring it back to North Kingstown.

My name is Pamela Pinheiro, and I am running for the North Kingstown School Committee as an independent candidate, committed to considering all voices in our community. Let’s work together to bring back the unity and shared purpose that defines us.