The Newport City Council-elect is set to informally elect its Mayor/Chair and Vice Chair at its upcoming meeting on November 12, following the recent municipal election.
The selection process, governed by city ordinances, will see one of the at-large council members elected to the position of Chair, who will then assume the title of Mayor.
According to Section 2-5 of Newport’s city ordinances, “The Council shall choose one of its members who were elected at large as Chair and another of its members as Vice-Chair. The Chair shall have the Title of Mayor and shall preside at all meetings of the Council.”
The mayor’s role extends beyond ceremonial duties. The ordinance states that the mayor “shall sign and execute all contracts or other evidences of indebtedness on behalf of the City, make all proclamations in the name of the City and shall be the executive head of the City to the extent required by this Charter.”
In the event of the mayor’s absence or disability, the Vice-Chair of the Council will step in to perform mayoral duties.
Officially, the selection process will occur during the council’s organizational meeting, as outlined in Section 2-17 of the city ordinances. “The Council shall meet on the first day of December following each regular election under this Charter,” the ordinance reads.
Until the new Chair is elected, the City Clerk will serve as the Presiding Officer for the meeting. The voting process for the new mayor will be conducted by written ballot, as specified in the ordinance: “All votes for the approval and election of officers shall be by written ballot.”
The recent municipal election saw four at-large council members elected, from whom the new mayor will be chosen. Charles M. Holder Jr. led the at-large race with 4,729 votes, followed by Stephanie Smyth with 4,568 votes, Xaykham Rexford Khamsyvoravong with 4,412 votes, and Jeanne-Marie Napolitano with 3,805 votes.
Khamsyvoravong, the current mayor, will be eligible for re-election to the position if his fellow council members choose to retain him in the role. Napolitano, who has previously served as mayor, could also be a potential candidate for the position.
The election results also determined the representatives for Newport’s three wards. Ellen M. Pinnock narrowly won Ward 1 with 50.6% of the vote, while Lynn Underwood Ceglie secured Ward 2 with 51.7%. David R. Carlin III ran unopposed in Ward 3, garnering 97.6% of the votes cast.
As the newly elected council prepares to take office, the selection of Newport’s next mayor will be a crucial first step in shaping the city’s leadership for the coming term. The decision will impact not only the council’s internal dynamics but also Newport’s representation in various civic and ceremonial functions.
The November 12 meeting, which is open to the public, will mark the beginning of the new council’s tenure and set the tone for Newport’s governance in the years ahead. Residents and interested parties can attend the meeting to witness this important transition in the city’s leadership.
