The Newport Democratic City Committee (NDCC) is inviting declared candidates and all registered Newport voters to attend a signature-gathering event on July 6 from 5:30-7:00 PM on the lawn at the Newport Elks Lodge.

Candidates for federal, statewide, and local public office, as well as candidates for state and local party committees, must collect signatures from voters who are registered in their district in order to be placed on the ballot. The number of required signatures varies based on the office being sought.

NDCC Chair, Susan Taylor, said, “The NDCC honors the political process and applauds those candidates who step up to serve their community. The collection of signatures is a long-standing political tradition that affirms support from the community for those who wish to represent us, and we are excited to host this event. We encourage all Newport voters to come meet the candidates and join this celebration of our political process.”

There is no restriction on the number of nomination papers a person can sign. Signing a nomination paper is not a commitment to vote for that candidate. Your signature will only be counted once for each candidate. All nomination papers must be returned by July 15th at 4 p.m. to the Newport Canvassing Authority.

Candidates are asked to bring their nomination papers as well as clipboards and pens for signatures. A limited number of tables will be available for candidates and they are encouraged to bring a folding table if desired.

More information for candidates and voters is available on the RI Secretary of State’s website: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Candidates/Nominations

This week, all candidates for local and statewide offices must file their declaration of candidacy.

Election 2022

Ryan Belmore is the Publisher of What'sUpNewp. 
Belmore has been involved with What’sUpNewp since shortly after its launch in 2012, proudly leading it to be named Best Local News Blog in Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly readers in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and an honorable mention in the Common Good Awards in 2021.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Belmore graduated from Coventry High School and the Community College of Rhode Island. In addition to living in Newport for 10 years, he has lived in Portsmouth, Coventry, Providence, Smithfield, Burrillville, and East Greenwich.

Belmore currently serves as Vice President of the Board Of Directors for Fort Adams Trust and on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals. He previously served on the Board of Lucy's Hearth and the Arts & Cultural Alliance for Newport County.

Belmore and his wife, Jen, currently live in Alexandria, Virginia, a move they made in 2021. Read more about that here - https://whatsupnewp.com/2021/09/letter-from-the-publisher-some-personal-news/

Belmore visits Newport every couple of weeks to support the 12+ paid contributors What'sUpNewp has on the ground across Rhode Island, a place he called home for 39 years.

Belmore is a member of Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.

In 2020, Belmore was named Member of the Year by LION and won the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County's Dominque Award.
Belmore can be contacted at ryan@whatsupnewp.com and 401-662-1653.