Charter Review, Government Reform & Good Governance

A city’s Charter is its governing blueprint.

It establishes how the city operates, defines the responsibilities of elected officials, and provides the framework for transparent, accountable, and effective local government.

As Newport continues to evolve, our governing documents and procedures must evolve as well. Good government depends on clear rules, strong processes, accountability, and a commitment to serving the public—not preserving the status quo.

In 2021, I was honored to be appointed to serve on the Newport Charter Review Commission. Working alongside fellow commissioners, we carefully reviewed the Charter and developed recommendations intended to modernize city government, improve transparency, encourage greater public participation, and ensure that our governing document reflected the needs of Newport today and into the future.

The Commission completed its work in 2022 and submitted seventeen recommendations to the City Council. Many of those recommendations focused on increasing public engagement, improving accountability, and allowing Newport voters to have a greater voice in how their government operates.

Among the recommendations that were not advanced were proposals to:

• Elect all seven City Council members on an at-large basis

• Establish reasonable term limits for City Council members

• Allow Newport voters to directly determine who serves as Mayor by electing the highest vote-getting at-large councilor

• Place additional Charter questions directly before the voters for their consideration

While reasonable people may disagree on these proposals, I continue to believe that residents should have meaningful opportunities to shape the structure of their local government through an open and transparent public process.

One lesson from serving on the Charter Review Commission became clear: government reform should not occur only once every decade. Continuous evaluation and improvement are essential to maintaining an effective and responsive city government.

That is why, during my first term on the City Council, I sponsored legislation creating a Standing Charter Review Commission.

Rather than convening only periodically, the Standing Charter Review Commission provides an ongoing mechanism for reviewing the Charter, gathering public input, identifying outdated provisions, and recommending improvements as our community continues to grow and change. This creates a more proactive and transparent approach to government and allows future Councils and residents to address issues before they become long-term problems.

I also sponsored comprehensive updates to the Rules of Council, modernizing Council procedures to promote greater professionalism, consistency, civility, and transparency in the conduct of City business.

The updated Rules of Council were designed to:

• Establish clearer parliamentary procedures

• Improve consistency in how meetings are conducted

• Promote respectful dialogue among Council members

• Strengthen decorum during meetings

• Improve transparency for residents following Council business

• Create more efficient and predictable decision-making processes

• Reinforce accountability and professionalism throughout Council proceedings

Residents deserve a City Council that conducts business respectfully, efficiently, and professionally. While passionate debate is an important part of representative government, it should always occur within an environment of mutual respect and established rules that encourage productive discussion rather than unnecessary conflict.

Government works best when processes are clear, expectations are consistent, and decisions are made openly.

Looking ahead, I believe Newport should continue evaluating important questions about the future of our local government, including:

• Does our current Council-Manager form of government continue to best serve Newport?

• Should voters have a greater role in selecting the City’s Mayor?

• Should Council term limits be considered?

• Are there additional opportunities to improve transparency and public participation?

• How can we continue modernizing the Charter to reflect Newport’s future rather than its past?

These are important conversations that deserve thoughtful public discussion—not predetermined outcomes.

My commitment is simple: to continue building a city government that is transparent, accountable, professional, and responsive to the people it serves.

Government should never stop improving. By continually evaluating our Charter, strengthening Council procedures, and encouraging public participation, we can ensure that Newport’s government remains effective, trustworthy, and prepared to meet the challenges of the future.

Newport has grown substantially and yet our city government has not grown with it!

WE NEED CHANGE!!!!