Newport’s future as a world-class city and more importantly as our home, depends on our vulnerable island infrastructure co-existing with a fierce and unpredictable Mother Nature. Just one example is the overhaul of Easton’s Beach, addressing the increased storm surge and flooding that has destroyed the beach facilities and is an imminent threat to our water supply at Easton’s Pond. We can’t alter the path of a storm, but we can become much better prepared for predicted events and their impacts.
That is why I support Mayor Xay for a second term on the Newport City Council. He has demonstrated the vision, energy, and expertise to take our city beyond temporary fixes. For example, while it has been routine to repair storm damage to the beach amenities, in his first twenty-two months Xay has focused the City on pursuing federal funding to protect the long-term viability of Easton’s Beach to protect our drinking water supply. I’m confident he’ll get the job done in a second term, because I’ve seen him gain consensus and lead the City to securing over twenty million dollars in state and federal grant commitments for projects like the resiliency improvements for King Park and the Cliff Walk.
But it’s not just climate change – we’re in the midst of a generational turnover in our City’s senior staff who have served us for 30+ years. In the past three years we’ve seen retirements of our City Manager, Police Chief and both the Utilities and Finance Directors. These retirements give the City a chance to hire the next generation of civil servants, equipped to help us address challenges like climate change, and we’re seeing that happen. There is now a new City Manager, new Police Chief and a new Resilience and Sustainability Director overseeing Planning & Economic Development, Public Services and Utilities Departments.
On November 5, we have the opportunity to again put our faith in Xay’s leadership. A look at the City’s Strategic Plan and Capital Improvement Plan crafted under Xay’s term tell the story of a City facing clear challenges, and a Council unified to address them. Any visitor to Newport will tell you its natural beauty, historic properties and cultural traditions are unique and need protecting. Any resident will tell you expansion of Newport’s housing stock of starter homes, improved transportation options and educational opportunities are critical to our community’s continued success. The seeds have been planted but results take time to take root. Even though he has a name no one can pronounce, Xay captured the imagination of voters in this historic city during his first term. Join me in voting for Xay Nov 5.
Kristie L. Gardiner, Newport
