Meet Charlene Lima
"Every day when I go to Smith Hill as your State Representative, I bring the common sense values of a Cranston homeowner. That’s why I’m not afraid to stand up to the activists and party bosses to support law enforcement, protect school children, and cut taxes for middle class families. With your support, I can keep being an independent voice."
Charlene Lima lives in Cranston with her husband Frank. She grew up in Silver Lake, Providence as the daughter of an Italian mother and Portuguese father. She learned the value of hard work in her first job at a local Burger King, while Sunday dinners with her extended family taught her that you sometimes need to raise your voice to be heard — both lessons that have served her well in Rhode Island politics.
Before being elected State Representative, Charlene graduated from University of Rhode Island and worked as a math teacher at the Samuel W. Bridgman Middle School. One of the major reasons she ran for office was to make sure every child received an education that prepared them for either college or a well-paying career in the trades. She has worked for this cause her entire career, both by championing funding for new school construction and opposing attempts to politicize our classrooms and teach young children about age-inappropriate topics.
Charlene has achieved several legislative successes as State Representative. She was an original sponsor of eliminating the car tax and has consistently opposed tax increases throughout her career. She also wrote and passed a law requiring banks to properly keep up foreclosed properties and prevent them from becoming blighted. Earlier in her career, she passed one the largest consumer protection laws in Rhode Island’s history to crack down on contractor fraud.
Most importantly, Charlene has always been an independent voice instead of siding with radical activists or party bosses. She has supported our police and other first responders, spoken out against a bill to “teach pleasure-based sexual education starting in Third Grade,” and opposed attempts to pay public sectors workers a $3000 bonus just for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. In her next term as State Representative, she will continue to stand up for good government, even when it means taking on her own party.
Issues:
Middle class tax cuts
Charlene Lima was one of the original sponsors of eliminating Rhode Island’s car tax and supported accelerating the car tax phase out so it finished this year. This was the most recent of many middle class tax cuts she has supported, including eliminating the tax on veteran’s benefits.
Charlene has been a vocal critic of new tax increases proposed by the legislature, including a so-called “carbon tax” that could increase the price of gas by an additional 15%. She has also introduced legislation to stop the state from taxing unemployment benefits. In her next term, she will continue to fight for middle class tax relief, which is even more important during these difficult economic times.
Charlene has been a vocal critic of new tax increases proposed by the legislature, including a so-called “carbon tax” that could increase the price of gas by an additional 15%. She has also introduced legislation to stop the state from taxing unemployment benefits. In her next term, she will continue to fight for middle class tax relief, which is even more important during these difficult economic times.
reducing the price of gas
Record high gas prices are putting financial stress on Rhode Island families, especially anyone who has to drive longer distances for work. Charlene Lima has supported suspending the gas tax to give immediate relief to drivers and will continue to do so in her next term. Rhode Island has an almost $1 billion budget surplus this year so there was no reason to keep the gas tax in place.
good public schools
As a public school math teacher, Charlene Lima saw firsthand how a good education prepares students for college or a well-paying career in the trades. As a lawmaker, she has fought to make sure our children have modern, high-quality school buildings and are taught by qualified, dedicated teachers. She has consistently supported additional school funding and also has opposed any attempt to insert politics or age-inappropriate topics into the classroom.
supporting small businesses
Small businesses, not giant corporations, are the economic engine that powers Rhode Island’s economy. Too often, they get ignored by politicians because they don’t have an expensive lobbyist. Charlene Lima has always advocated for small businesses, both in her district and throughout the state. During the Coronavirus pandemic, which devastated local businesses, she fought to exempt PPP loans from taxation so that people could keep their doors open.
public safety & fighting crime
Charlene Lima believes the most important role of government is keeping people safe in their homes and on their streets. Without public safety, nothing else is possible. That’s why she has always supported getting our police the equipment and training they need to be effective. She also has introduced bills to toughen the penalties for violent crime while also introducing a bill to make it easier to expunge misdemeanor criminal records, so people who make a mistake can get a second chance.
One of the legislative positions Charlene is most proud of is standing up for law enforcement at the height of the “Defund the Police” movement in 2020. On the House floor and in media appearances, she spoke against the extremists and stood with law enforcement. In her next term, she will continue to back the blue and support the men and women who keep us safe.
One of the legislative positions Charlene is most proud of is standing up for law enforcement at the height of the “Defund the Police” movement in 2020. On the House floor and in media appearances, she spoke against the extremists and stood with law enforcement. In her next term, she will continue to back the blue and support the men and women who keep us safe.