This year, I see real hope for a functional school committee (see my previous letter addressing the School Committee election). With that development, I dream of what Newport could accomplish if the School Committee could have constructive dialogue with a functional council.
The council race is more complex, but fortunately for those who’ve waited to vote, the candidates are beginning to reveal who they really are.
I look for intelligence and curiosity in an elected official, with outside-the-box thinking to solve thorny problems. Hard work is essential, and a dose of humility is welcome.
What I loathe is posturing and finger-pointing from councilors on the dais. It wastes everyone’s time while problems go unsolved and Newport falls behind on pressing issues, including housing, response to climate change, economic development and transportation — cars and where to park them included.
We need councilors who can function well in a seven-person body, with a penchant for constructive dialogue, because real solutions leading to real change need majority support. Four votes on an individual resolution don’t lead to durable change. You don’t get there with councilors who arrive certain they have the right answer and want credit for it. Often those councilors haven’t done their homework. You don’t get there with councilors who adjust their votes whenever they hear backlash. Those councilors are often afraid to take a principled vote.
John Michael recently sent a flier, leading me to review nine minutes of the council meeting from Jan. 28, 2026. Those nine minutes reveal much.
Michael is challenging Ellen Pinnock in Ward 1, touting his career as an engineer “managing complex projects and budgets” and his ability “to deliver practical, well-informed solutions.” But his flier criticizes Pinnock for a vote to “enforce a gas moratorium” and to “eliminate parking spaces at First Beach.”
Surprised, I decided to watch the only council meeting where the alleged gas moratorium was ever on the docket. The clip revealed the actual vote was simply on a motion to receive the advisory opinion from the city’s Energy and Environment Commission — not to take any action. Newport This Week also emphasized this. Councilor Khamsyvoravong rightly said that receiving communications is a routine council function.
However, Mayor Charlie Holder opposed even receiving the communication — the sole vote against. His reasons showed a lack of leadership and disregard for the functioning of government. He said the moratorium is unpopular with community residents. The report doesn’t even advocate for a moratorium. Consider community sentiment when actually voting on an action. But also consider what leadership looks like. We ask our elected officials to address resiliency, which means we expect leadership from them.
It gets worse. The council actually requested this analysis from the commission because the State Energy Facility Siting Board wanted Newport’s input on a potential local ban.
Both Steph Smyth and Ellen Pinnock have worked hard to improve the city’s boards and commissions structure so that more residents feel inclined to serve and we can benefit from our residents’ subject matter expertise. Steph spoke eloquently about the importance of respecting the subject matter experts who volunteer their work. Seeing Steph and Ellen confirmed that they’re thoughtful, humble, intelligent councilors, deferential in their dialogue. Dave Carlin joined with pithy, clear, reasonable comments.
Next, Mayor Holder said he opposed receiving the analysis because further action would waste city staff time. This suggests he’s fine asking a volunteer commission to do a make-work project, because he doesn’t want to waste city staff time? However, the state expects a response, and this commission did the work for city staff.
Emily Conklin is a newcomer, running for Ward 2. As vice chair of the Energy and Environment Commission, she described their work to draft the city’s proposed response. She’s clearly knowledgeable about these issues of such importance to Newport. If you watch her, you will agree she would be an asset on the council. I highly recommend watching it, from 2:17 to 11:05 of the Jan. 28 meeting on the city’s video portal.
The upbeat news: the clip shows Steph Smyth, Ellen Pinnock and Emily Conklin to be serious people operating intelligently with a concern for community input.
In a confusing election with wild accusations flying, I asked Steph and Ellen whom they would like to serve with. They both seek constructive dialogue with other hard-working councilors. Their choice: Emily Conklin in Ward 2 and Taryn Mazza at-large.
Taryn doesn’t have a high profile yet, but she is worth a look: a Newport native, experienced and deeply connected through her work in the community. Like the other three, she is thoughtful and doesn’t indulge in posturing.
I hope you will do your research, and I hope you will vote for them.
Susan Taylor
Newport
