Newport candidates began formally declaring for local, statewide and federal offices Monday, the first of three days in Rhode Island’s candidate filing period, with the early field already shaping up to include a crowded race for School Committee.
According to a list of Newport residents who declared on the first day, released by the city’s canvassing authority, five candidates have entered the townwide race for School Committee: Elizabeth Barron, Carrie Cassady, Penelope B. Hunt, Brian Rochelle and Amy Yozura. Barron and Yozura each announced their candidacies through press releases earlier in the day.
In council races, four candidates declared for the at-large seats: Jane LeBoeuf, Kevin Michaud, Christine Hope Sullivan and Stephanie “Steph” Smyth. For the ward council seats, Ellen M. Pinnock declared in the First Ward, Emily Conklin and incumbent Lynn Underwood Ceglie in the Second Ward, and incumbent David R. Carlin III in the Third Ward.
At the General Assembly level, incumbent state Sen. Dawn Euer, a Democrat, declared for the District 13 Senate seat, and incumbent state Rep. Lauren H. Carson, a Democrat, declared for the District 75 House seat. Cheryl Ann McLarney and Norman “Rick” Best each declared for the District 75 Representative District Committee. Declarations were also filed for Democratic and Republican ward committee seats, including one by Euer for a Second Ward Democratic committee seat.
The figures reflect only candidates who reside in Newport, the canvassing authority noted. For General Assembly districts that cross municipal lines, candidates who declared in another community where they reside would not appear on the Newport list. A complete statewide list of declared candidates is available through the Secretary of State’s office.
The declarations remain potentially subject to change, as candidates may file a new declaration for a different office or withdraw before the deadline of 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 24. Party committees have until 4 p.m. Thursday, June 25, to file endorsement forms. Candidates must then gather and return nomination papers by July 10 to qualify for the Sept. 9 primary ballot.
