Endorsement Letters

To the editor:

Now that the city election season is upon us, we have to evaluate candidates and make our choices. I’m writing to express my enthusiastic support for Ben Harman as councilor at large.

Ben has already demonstrated his abilities as current Ward 4 councilor. And there are several strong candidates on the at-large ballot. So why do I support him over some others?

I served for 18 years on the council, and there were a few key characteristics I learned to value in a fellow councilor. Ben has demonstrated them all: he’s honest, he does his homework, and he follows through on his commitments.

We won’t always agree on issues, but if we study them closely, and justify our opinions in an honest and straightforward manner, we’re likely to reach satisfactory outcomes. 

We’re living through a time in which cynicism and distrust of others infects our public discourse. But we can reverse these trends by electing people of high character who will put in the time and effort to make Newburyport a great place to live, to work, and share with others.

Please join me in voting for Ben Harman in November.

Barry Connell, Former Newburyport City Councilor

Newburyport Daily News - September 24, 2025

I am writing to endorse Ben Harman for City Councilor At-Large in this November’s election. A lot of people talk about affordability in our community, but Ben is a real leader on this issue.

I first met Ben, as my Ward 4 councilor, while working with the Greater Newburyport Housing Choice Coalition, where Ben was very interested in our campaign to bring more affordability to the Brown School project. He really listened to us and asked many detailed questions about the history of the project and the different approaches being considered.

Ben became a champion of the redevelopment of this city asset into senior affordable housing, taking a balanced approach that was respectful of neighbors’ concerns while recognizing the moral and financial cost of allowing the building to sit empty in the midst of a housing crisis.

I was grateful to have Ben’s leadership during the design and review process. He asked thoughtful questions, and ultimately helped steer the conversation towards the best option for the city: apartment homes with deeper affordability for residents earning far less than the area’s median income. Today, the Brown School is on track to make sure 100% of its new units are reserved for seniors earning between 30 and 50% below average income.

He has consistently shown up for community discussions, listened carefully to his constituents, and has taken additional actions to increase affordable housing options and opportunities in Newburyport. Earlier this year Ben co-sponsored a city-wide zoning ordinance to make it easier for residents to create additional housing with accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their properties.

In re-writing the outdated ordinance that only allowed for extremely limited in-law apartments, Ben took a measured approach to designing the new regulations, heard feedback with an open mind, and adjusted the legislation in response to public comment along the way. The result was a common-sense ordinance that was easy to understand and adhere to, and although Councilors Jim McCauley and Sharif Zeid voted against it, Ben worked with his colleagues to bring a super majority of the council together to get it passed.

Ben has proven to be an asset in building a welcoming and accessible community for all. I hope to continue to have him as an advocate in this work, as there is so much more to do to make sure Newburyport remains affordable for seniors, young families, and working people.