NDCC Candidate Forum Speech

Two years ago, I stood before you as a first-time candidate for office. I was—and remain—grateful for the chance to share why I raised my hand to serve this community, and why I hope to earn your vote on November 4th.

As the Ward 4 City Councilor, I’ve learned so much about how our city works—both the mechanics of governing and the relationships that make it work well. On the Budget & Finance Committee, I’ve dug into the details of how we pay for essential services. On Planning & Development, I’ve helped shape zoning to encourage housing production. Through Community Services, I’ve worked to evaluate designs and vet plans to finally give our Recreation and Youth Services Department a permanent home. And by joining the Traffic & Safety Advisory Committee, I put myself in a position to advocate for safer streets and neighborhoods citywide.

I’m proud of the progress we’ve made across these areas, but I’ve also realized that the issues facing Ward 4—affordability, infrastructure, and safety—are shared by residents in every corner of Newburyport.

Along the way, I’ve learned a lot about myself, too. One of the most important lessons has been the power of listening—really listening. Whether it’s hearing residents’ concerns, engaging my colleagues in debate and deliberation, or keeping an open door with the Mayor’s office and city staff, I’ve found that listening first helps us move forward faster.

I’ve also learned that collaboration isn’t always clean or easy. In local government, it’s often a contact sport. But it’s how we get things done. Collaboration doesn’t mean one side wins and another loses—it means we roll up our sleeves together to solve problems. Anything else is just posturing and obstruction. I’ve been proud to work closely with my colleagues on the Council and with the Mayor and his team to deliver tangible results for residents.

The Lower Atkinson Common safety project is a great example. From the start, I made it a priority to finally fix a problem that had been talked about for decades. I secured a seat on the Ad Hoc Committee to help direct federal stimulus funding to the project, worked through neighborhood concerns by communicating directly with residents and the project team, and collaborated with the Mayor’s office to see it through. Now, we have a safer, more accessible park for kids and families—and a brand new stretch of sidewalk connecting Moulton to Plummer along Merrimac Street. It’s proof that when we put persistence before politics and collaboration before credit, we can get things done for Newburyport. 

Finally, I’ve learned the importance of simply showing up. Whether it’s the Pride Flag Raising, Juneteenth celebrations, or a community meeting with the Immigration Justice Team at the UU, every event, every conversation is a chance to listen, learn, and lend support. Because when we show up—for each other, for what’s right, for our city—we remind ourselves that community isn’t something we talk about. It’s something we do. 

I’ve tried to stay true to the values I spoke about two years ago: service, integrity, and community. Those values guide my work every day and will continue to as I take this next step.

And now I’m running At-Large because I want to bring that same approach—listening, collaboration, and a focus on results—to the entire city. I believe Newburyport is at its best when we work together, and I’m committed to continuing that work for all of our neighborhoods.

I hope I can earn your support as one of your At-Large votes in this election. Thank you.