Newport city hall newport city council
Newport City Hall.

Newport voters have new choices at the ballot box.  Stay the course and watch the city continue to be swallowed up by lucrative real estate transactions and massive hotel expansions, stoking an exploding, infrastructure stressing seasonal market. Or, you can choose to elect two new ward councilors, equipped with the tools, experience, and vision to strengthen our city’s year-round vitality.

Angela McCalla and Valerie Larkin are both new to politics.  Both see Newport’s untapped potential and have courageously stepped into the arena to make a difference. Untethered to special interests, their dedication to a more inclusive and strategic government signals promise.

On November 6th, vote for the new leadership McCalla and Larkin will bring to the policy making table.  Our old city deserves an infusion of new energy and innovative ideas to forge our future.

First Ward candidate, Angela McCalla, earned an MBA. She employs her marketing and leadership skills as a recruiter, advocating for foster children. Those same outreach skills will benefit Newport.  She will work for a more inclusive and open public process at City Hall. As a mother of a Rogers senior, she is well aware of the challenges our children face. Angela is a relatable role model with a vibrant voice. She will listen, learn, and lead our city government proactively and responsively.

Second Ward candidate, Valerie Larkin brings a large tool kit to the table. She is a parent to two adult daughters, she is a Brown University grad, a Navy veteran, a mathematician, a computer scientist, a musician, and an avid cyclist who currently chairs the Bike Newport board. For me her most important skill is her extensive experience in the “innovation” industry.  As the technology transfer manager at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Valerie builds opportunities for the Navy’s research and development with private industry as well as state and local governments. Skills Newport needs now to pave our path to the future.

Both know that to improve public services and enhance public trust, more viewpoints need to be invited into the conversation.  Both will welcome new opinions, solutions, and insights. Most importantly, both bring a fresh approach, unencumbered by deep-rooted, parochial allegiances.

McCalla sums it up this way, “Traditions are good; inertia is not.”  Vote for new candidates who honor our city’s age-old assets, but are prepared to move forward to shape a smarter future for all Newporters!.

Beth Cullen, Newport

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