Election 2024: Who's in and out for local, state races across Newport County

The 2024 Election season is underway across Newport County with seats on local city and town councils, as well as state positions up for grabs.

The Newport Daily News will provide a running account of candidate announcements as they are released all in one place.

To have your announcement included email newsroom@newportri.com.

Smyth announces candidacy for Newport City Council

Sixth-generation Newporter, Steph Smyth announced her candidacy for Newport City Council.

In 2022, Smyth earned 2,910 votes and narrowly missed securing a seat on the Council by 113 votes.

“I’m looking forward to harnessing the power and learnings from my first campaign and getting back on the trail. My desire to roll up my sleeves and get to work for Newport has only strengthened over the past two years and this time around I know I’ll reach even more voters,” Smyth said in a statement.

Smyth has worked in the tourism and hospitality industries, for the Newport School Department, and has dedicated more than 15 years of her career at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC). Today, she’s a Senior Contracts Administration Management Officer and Workforce Resolution Facilitator at the Naval War College.

In addition to her professional experience, Steph has worked for the National Association for Government Employees (NAGE SEIU) as a Labor Negotiator and Union Steward and served on the Federal Women’s Program Committee with the Equal Employment Opportunities Office.

Smyth is an active member of the NAACP Newport Chapter and Involve Newport. She serves the City of Newport as a commissioner to the Tree and Open Space as well as Affirmative Action committees. In 2022, Smyth was also tapped to join Newport’s Charter Review Commission.

Education, housing, resiliency, infrastructure, and transportation are among Smyth’s top areas of focus and, over the next few weeks, she’ll spend time listening to residents and rolling out her plans at StephSmyth.com.

Cortvriend seeks return to State House

Rhode Island Rep. Terri-Denise Cortvriend will run for a fourth term representing House District 72, serving Middletown and Portsmouth.

“I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for re-election to the Rhode Island General Assembly, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as your State Representative. Throughout my tenure, working with my colleagues in the House as well as town leadership in both Middletown and Portsmouth – I have worked hard to address the diverse needs and concerns of our community. One of my proudest achievements has been my dedication to preserving and enhancing shoreline access for all Rhode Islanders. Access to our beautiful coastline is not just a privilege but a fundamental right, and I have worked diligently to ensure that our beaches and waterways remain accessible to everyone.”

Cortvriend serves on the House Finance Committee and the Environment & Natural Resources Committee. She is second vice chair of the Small Business Committee and vice chair of the House Short Term Rental Study Commission. She led the 2021 Legislative Commission on Shoreline Access.

She is a founder of the Aquidneck Island Climate Caucus and has sponsored legislation to ban PFAS (forever chemicals) in food packaging and in consumer goods. She has sponsored legislation to reform the Coastal Resources Management Council and to implement a municipal composting fund.

Cortvriend can be reached at 401-472-4789 or terricortvriend@gmail.com. More information at www.terricortvriend.com.

Ceglie running for Newport 2nd Ward seat

Newport City Councilor Lynn Underwood Ceglie announces that she will run in Newport’s 2nd Ward this fall. Since 2018, Ceglie has served as an At-Large council member, three terms as 2nd Ward council member and three termsas vice chair.

“I believe my strength is in constituent services and found I am most effective serving the residents of the 2nd Ward. I would be honored to serve as the 2nd Ward councilor once again," Ceglie said in a statement.

Ceglie is a 40-year resident of Newport’s 2nd Ward and has deep family roots in Newport. She has served on the 2007 Charter Review Commission, the 375th Anniversary Committee and as vice-chair of the Zoning Board of Review. “I look forward to continuing my work on city-wide issues that help residents and businesses alike and will continue to be the same fair, responsive and responsible city councilor since taking the seat in 2014.”

Carson announces state rep. candidacy

Rhode Island Rep. Lauren Carson will run for reelection representing Newport in House District 75.

Carson was first elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 2014. In her time at the State House, Carson has been particularly active on issues related to the environment, small business, tourism, government transparency, aging issues and serving her constituents.

Carson said, “I consider serving the people of Newport my highest priority. Whether it’s helping someone settle a tax claim or a question with the Department of Motor Vehicles, I am always available to help. I also interface with the Newport City Council for state-level needs. During this 2024 session, I worked closer than ever with the Council to pass bills bringing new dollars to Newport to invest in our infrastructure and climate resilience.”

Climate continues to be a pillar of Carson’s work. In 2017, she sponsored a law requiring education on flooding and sea rise for local planning board members and created a unified statewide application process for solar panel permitting. In 2021, she sponsored the Act on Climate, which sets enforceable climate emissions reduction mandates. She continues to organize the Aquidneck Island Climate Caucus to engage residents in policy discussion on implementation of the Act on Climate. She works closely with the Tree and Open Space Commission on bills to regulate tree trimming by utilities, and coordinates with the Waterfront Commission to manage houseboats in Newport Harbor.

Since 2023, Carson has led statewide efforts to study aging policies as well as the impacts of short-term rentals. She currently chairs two House Study Commissions to explore these issues and recommend policy to the House of Representatives. She serves on the House Internet, Small Business and Oversight Committees where she is chair of the Sub-Committee on Arts, Tourism and Recreation. She also serves as Vice-Chair of the House Environment Committee.

For more information about Carson’s background and plans for her next term, call 401-523-1143, email laurenhcarson@gmail.com or visit LaurenCarson.com.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Election 2024: Newport County candidate races for local, state races