Dear Friends and Neighbors,

My name is Steph Smyth and I am running for Newport City Council.

I am writing to introduce myself, tell you a little about my background, and, most importantly, explain why I’m asking for your vote.

For starters, I’m proud to say I was born and raised right here in our City by the Sea. The only daughter of Harry and Diane (Martellino) Smyth, I grew up with four brothers who ensured we never suffered a single dull moment in our house.

As a sixth generation Newporter, my family has deep, working-class ties to this community and generations of experience running small businesses.

My great grandfather, Michele (pronounced Michael) DeCotis and his sons owned various DeCotis Family Barber Shops from the early 1900s all the way to the 1990s.

My grandfather, Paul Martellino, and his brother Edmond owned Paul and Eddie’s Bar and Grille on Broadway from the 1940s through the 1970s.

And today, my brothers, Douglas and Eric Smyth, own Smyth Painting, Cabinet Revival, and Castle Keep Property Management while my brother Jon works with them as a General Manager for the painting division.

My father, Harry Smyth, has worked at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center since 1982 and my mother, Diane Martellino Smyth is a retired para-educator for the Newport School Department and parent advocate, a role she sought out after my brother Greg was born with Down Syndrome. Today, Greg is the life of any gathering and a client at the Looking Upwards day program for adults.

My upbringing, it’s fair to say, has taught me the importance of many things: the vital role small business and commerce play in our community, the everyday challenges families face, and the delicate balance between living in Newport while simultaneously working hard to earn a living here.

Born, Raised, Educated, and Advanced in Newport

My brothers and I attended Newport public schools and, later, I went on to earn my MBA and PhD.

Like my mom, I was also a para-educator for grades K-12 in the Newport School Department.

I’ve seen, firsthand, just how critical education is to the success of not only students, but to the community at-large. I am a firm believer that providing top-notch education is one of the most fruitful investments we can make.

After my work with the schools, I spent 15 years in the tourism and hospitality industries – the bedrock and lifeblood of Newport.

Through service, I learned the importance of teamwork, collaboration, prioritization, and how essential communication is in order to get anything done.

In 2006, I began working full time for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) where, over the next 17 years, I developed the leadership, organizational know-how, negotiation, and facilitation skills that has made me the problem solver I am today.

Today, my career continues at the Naval War College where I serve as a Senior Contracts Administration Management Officer and Workforce Resolution Facilitator.

In addition to my paid work, I’ve had numerous extracurriculars.

I’ve 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.

I’ve also served with organizations such as the NAACP Newport Chapter and Involve Newport.

Over the past few years I’ve also served the City of Newport through my appointments to the Tree and Open Space and Affirmative Action Commissions – both of which I continue to serve on today.

In 2022 I was tapped to join the Charter Review Commission, where I learned a great deal about our City’s governing document and the unresolved work that remains. It’s imperative we ensure our Charter not only brings Newport into the present day but also sets us up for success in the future.

Why I’m Running for Newport City Council

If you’re still reading, you may be asking yourself: why is she telling me all of this?

As a candidate for City Council, I believe I am essentially asking you – the voter – to hire me.

And before making any hiring decisions it’s important to know where someone has been, what they’ve achieved, along with the qualifications and skill sets they’ll put to work for you: the taxpayer.

My background, professional experience, civic service, and passion for Newport will make me an exceptional City Councilor.

At my core, I’m a detail-oriented individual, who genuinely listens, and enjoys bringing people together to solve complex problems.

I’m running for Council because I am a concerned citizen and I want the best for our community.

I’m running for Council because I think my perspective and professional expertise would be an asset to how our City is run.

And I’m running for Council because I want to help build an equitable community where important decisions are made by the residents of Newport and for the best interests of the residents of Newport.

We need to find a balance between being a bustling, summer destination and a sustainable quality of life for residents.

Education, housing, resiliency, infrastructure, and transportation are among the top areas where I’ll focus.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll spend time listening to folks across this great city and will share specifics about my platform, priorities, and the strategies I’ll use to solve them.

For now, I hope this letter was able to give you some context about who I am and why I’m running – and I hope we’ll have many opportunities to meet during my campaign.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to having the honor of working for you,

Steph Smyth

Candidate for Newport City Council

P.S. Please sign up to Get Involved – I can’t do this without you!