Quality of Life & Community
A great city is measured not only by its economy or its attractions, but by the quality of life it provides for the people who call it home.
For me, quality of life means safe neighborhoods, affordable and healthy housing, accessible sidewalks and parks, excellent schools, a strong local economy, environmental stewardship, and a city government that listens to its residents. It means creating a Newport where families can thrive, seniors can age in place, businesses can succeed, and future generations will be proud to call this city home.
The role of City Council is to make decisions that improve the everyday lives of Newport residents. That begins by listening.
Throughout my time on the City Council, I have consistently advocated for greater public participation, transparency, thoughtful planning, and meaningful community engagement. The best decisions are made when residents are invited into the conversation early, their voices are heard, and all perspectives are considered before decisions are made.
Your input matters because you are the ones who experience the impacts of every decision the Council makes. Whether the issue involves housing, development, schools, neighborhood safety, infrastructure, tourism, or the environment, it is ultimately your quality of life that is affected.
That is why I ran for office—to ensure that residents have a strong voice and a strong advocate at City Hall.
During my first term, I have worked to turn those principles into action by sponsoring and supporting initiatives that strengthen our neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for Newport residents.
Among those efforts were resolutions establishing or supporting:
The Accessibility Advisory Committee, giving residents with disabilities a stronger voice in improving accessibility throughout Newport.
Continued support for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center North End Food Pantry, helping address food insecurity within our community.
A Public Health Vending Machine initiative to improve access to important public health resources.
The Resilience and Sustainability Fund Steering Committee, ensuring Newport continues planning for climate resilience and protecting our city’s future.
The Malbone Road Sidewalk Project, improving pedestrian safety and neighborhood connectivity.
A Landscaping Ordinance designed to protect Newport’s tree canopy, preserve green space, and improve the appearance and environmental health of our neighborhoods.
The creation of a Housing Commission, providing a dedicated body to examine Newport’s housing challenges and recommend long-term solutions for residents.
Support of Brown University Health and Newport Hospital to keep the Noreen Stoner Drexel Birthing Center open and being appointed one of the Council liaisons to the Hospital.
These initiatives share one common goal: making Newport a healthier, safer, more connected, and more livable community.
Not every proposal I introduced was successful.
During the July 2026 City Council meetings, I sponsored resolutions to establish a Tourism Commission and begin development of a comprehensive Tourism Impact Master Plan, along with a resolution that would have limited additional hotel development until the City could better evaluate tourism’s long-term impacts on our neighborhoods, infrastructure, housing, and quality of life.
I believed these initiatives would have created an opportunity for residents, businesses, neighborhood organizations, and tourism stakeholders to work together to find a healthier balance between maintaining Newport’s vibrant visitor economy and protecting the quality of life of the people who live here year-round.
The majority of the City Council voted against those proposals.
Although those resolutions did not pass, I remain committed to continuing the conversation because I believe Newport deserves thoughtful, long-term planning that puts residents at the center of decision-making while ensuring tourism remains sustainable for generations to come.
Professionally, my career has always centered around solving problems, bringing people together, and improving organizations.
During my seventeen years at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, I served not only as a Contract’s Negotiator and Contracting Officer, but also as a National Association of Government Employees Union Vice President and Labor Negotiator, and Process Improvement Facilitator. Those roles taught me how to resolve conflicts, improve processes, negotiate solutions, and advocate for people facing difficult situations that affected their livelihoods and well-being.
Today, at the Naval War College, I continue that work as both a Contracting Officer Representative and Workforce Resolution Facilitator, helping employees navigate workplace challenges and bringing stakeholders together to develop practical solutions. I am also a Union Steward for the American Federation for Government Employees.
Those experiences have reinforced something I strongly believe - The best solutions come from bringing people together, encouraging respectful discussion, listening to different viewpoints, and focusing on common goals rather than political divisions.
Newport is strongest when we work together.
I will continue advocating for responsible planning, transparent government, neighborhood preservation, environmental stewardship, housing solutions, accessible public spaces, and policies that place residents and their quality of life at the forefront of every decision.
Because at the end of the day, this city belongs to all of us—and together, we can build an even stronger Newport for generations to come.