I first met Charlie Holder during the summer of my junior year at Providence College, when I took a job waiting tables at the Pier Restaurant in Newport. Charlie was the general manager at the time.
If you know Charlie, you know he’s a big guy with an even bigger presence. Standing over 6-foot-4 with a commanding stature, and a personality you don’t easily forget. But beyond that exterior is one of the most empathetic, understanding, and passionate people I’ve had the privilege of knowing.
When I worked for Charlie — at both the Pier and later at Midtown Oyster Bar — he was a firm leader, respected by his peers and staff. He held people accountable, expected them to work hard, and genuinely wanted to see everyone around him succeed. I learned a lot from him over our tenure together, life lessons I’ve carried with me throughout my own career.
Over the years, I’ve watched Charlie bring many of those same qualities to public service.
In a time of considerable division, political noise, and competing priorities, Charlie has served six years on the Newport City Council, including the last two as council chair. And I think his leadership has mattered most during a period when our City Council has, at times, appeared chaotic, divided, and increasingly pulled in different directions.
There’s a lot of noise behind keyboards these days, especially on forums like Facebook and Nextdoor.
Newport has no shortage of opinions about its future, and disagreement is a healthy part of local government. But there’s a difference between healthy debate and allowing competing priorities to distract from the responsibility of governing. At times, it has felt as though individual agendas and political alliances have taken precedence over finding common ground.
I’ve watched Charlie navigate his time on council with patience, consistency, and a willingness to listen, even when the conversations were difficult or the decisions unpopular.
He’s someone who listens more than he talks. He’ll hear you out, respect your opinion, and have an honest conversation with you, even when you disagree. In my experience, he’s never been someone who needs everyone in the room to think alike.
And this election brings another significant change. With Xay, Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, and Lyn Ceglie departing the council, Newport faces the prospect of losing considerable institutional knowledge and experience all at once. That transition deserves serious consideration.
The next council will inherit complicated conversations about housing, development, affordability, infrastructure, and the future of our local economy. Those issues won’t disappear after Nov. 3, and neither will the disagreements surrounding them.
For me, experience and continuity are especially important in this election. So is having someone in a leadership seat who understands the history behind these conversations, the people involved, and the responsibility that comes with representing an entire city rather than any one constituency.
Charlie was born and raised in Newport. He went through our schools, built his career here, and has watched this city evolve over more than five decades. It’s hard to find someone who grew up in Newport who doesn’t know Charlie Holder. Those relationships, that history, and that understanding of the community matter.
Hospitality has been his career, and I consider that perspective especially relevant to Newport. Tourism, restaurants, hotels, and small businesses are significant parts of our local economy. So are the people who work in those industries, raise families here, and struggle with the rising cost of living.
There are legitimate disagreements in Newport about development, housing, preservation, and economic growth. Some residents worry about losing the character of the city they love. Others are concerned about the lack of housing, the cost of doing business, and the difficulty of creating new opportunities.
These are complicated issues, and they deserve more than slogans or blanket opposition. They require thoughtful conversations about how Newport can evolve while protecting what makes it special.
Leadership also means making decisions. Not every decision will be popular, and not everyone will agree with the outcome. I’ve always believed that public service requires the willingness to have uncomfortable conversations, accept criticism, and take responsibility rather than continually kicking difficult issues down the road.
That’s what I’ve appreciated about Charlie over the years. I’ve seen him approach responsibility with sincerity, conviction, and a genuine concern for the people around him.
My relationship with Charlie began long before his time in elected office, and my respect for him is rooted in knowing the person behind the public position.
As Newport approaches the Nov. 3 election, I hope residents take the time to consider the experience, priorities, and leadership qualities of the people seeking to represent them. With so much change ahead for our City Council, the importance of thoughtful, steady leadership deserves particular attention.
Charlie, thank you for the impact you’ve had on my life, for the lessons you taught me all those years ago at the Pier and Midtown, and for the years you’ve dedicated to serving our community.
I’m proud to call you a friend.
Tyler Bernadyn
Newport
Editor’s note: Charlie Holder is chair of the Newport City Council and a candidate in the Nov. 3 general election. Tyler Bernadyn is a regular contributor to What’sUpNewp; this piece reflects his personal views and was not assigned or edited as part of his contributions. He discloses in the piece that he is a longtime friend and former employee of Holder’s.
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