Earlier this month, I introduced two measures to the City Council that, while different in form, are deeply connected in purpose. The first is a resolution affirming our support for democracy and self-governance. The second is an ordinance establishing clearer practices for collaboration, transparency, and accountability between the branches of our local government.
At a time when trust in government is fragile, we have a unique opportunity to show that democracy is not merely an ideal to be defended, but a practice to be lived daily. The resolution, co-sponsored by City Council President Ed Cameron, affirms the foundational principles that undergird our republic. In a time of national turmoil, elected officials at all levels of government have a duty to respect constitutional boundaries, defend civil rights, safeguard free and fair elections, and uphold the democratic process.
The ordinance, co-sponsored by At-Large Councilor Heather Shand, points to how, right here in Newburyport, local elected officials can embody those bedrock principles in our own work. This ordinance establishes collaborative practices between the Mayor and City Council, including a joint agenda-setting workshop. It also creates greater transparency between the administrative and legislative branch — and by extension, for the public as well.
Together, these measures send a message that:
None of this diminishes the separation of powers that protects each branch of local government. Instead, it strengthens our ability to serve the people of Newburyport by ensuring that separation is paired with communication, respect, and shared responsibility.
Passing both the resolution and the ordinance will demonstrate that our Council is not only mindful of democracy’s fragility at the national level but also intentional about modeling effective, democratic governance here at home. I urge my fellow Councilors to take this step together — to affirm our values and to put them into practice — so that Newburyport can model how democracy succeeds through collaboration and accountability.
I also encourage you, the public, to stay in the game. Ben Franklin famously said that the Constitution created a republic, if we can keep it. That work requires every one of us to stand up for our principles, and to commit to working together for the common good. Democracy may be messy, but it doesn’t have to be mean-spirited. We’re at our best when we recognize that, ultimately, we’re all on the same team.
And there’s no better place to get started than right here in Newburyport.