Newport Mayor Charlie Holder is setting a tone of collaboration and transparency as he begins his tenure leading the city council.
In a one-on-one conversation with What'sUpNewp on December 12, Holder emphasized the importance of working together and maintaining open communication with residents.
The newly elected mayor/council chair outlined his approach to chairing council meetings, balancing a more relaxed demeanor with a focus on productivity.
"I'm going to be me," Holder said. "People voted for me for who I am and that's how I'm going to be."
Holder said what to expect from his leadership: "My style is, we're all in this together. You know, I'm not gonna try to dictate how we do things. And, you know, I need input. I want input just like I would want them to have my input."
Holder stressed the need for councilors to work as a unit rather than individuals. "It's not about me being the council chair, it's not about any individual," he said. "It's about us working together as one."
The mayor highlighted efforts to engage with city boards and commissions, meeting with chairs to understand their needs and ensure effective communication. "We want to make sure that everyone has involvement and has the opportunity to communicate," Holder said.
As far as the most surprising aspect of his new role as mayor, Holder highlighted the increased demand for his time and attention.
"The most surprising thing for me, it's just how many different people want to, want to grab your ear for, you know, a few minutes, a half hour, things of that, you know, I knew that, that, I knew that was coming in, but I didn't realize how fast it happens with, you know, plus with the holidays coming up, you're trying to get things done at the end of the year," Holder said.
Coggeshall School
A key issue discussed during our conversation was the proposed redevelopment of Coggeshall School. The project failed in a 4-3 vote after 90 minutes of debate on Wednesday night. Holder, who voted in favor, remains optimistic about finding common ground.
"I think if we can go back to the developer, work on that a little bit more, hopefully they'll come back with another crack at it," he said. Holder emphasized the importance of moving the project forward after 12 years of inaction.
Traffic & Tourism
Traffic concerns continue to be a priority for the council. Holder noted ongoing efforts to address speeding on Van Zandt Avenue, including increased police patrols and plans for speed cameras in various parts of the city.
The mayor encouraged residents to report traffic issues through multiple channels. "The more people you contact, the better chance you have of something getting done quicker," he said.
Addressing concerns about over-tourism, Holder emphasized the need for balance. "Newport is a tourism city and that's the reality," he said. "How do you balance both?" He pointed to efforts to extend tourism into shoulder seasons and improve infrastructure to manage increased traffic.
Holder praised the success of the free Newport hop-on, hop-off shuttle, which saw a 12% increase in ridership in 2024. He expressed interest in expanding such initiatives to alleviate traffic congestion.
Looking Ahead
Holder said the council will focus on the two-tier tax system and budget planning in the new year. The first meeting of 2025 is scheduled for Jan. 8.
The mayor encouraged residents to support local businesses during the holiday season. "Hopefully, everyone is shopping local for the holidays and supporting our retail stores and local business owners," he said.
As he settles into his new role, Holder acknowledged the support of city staff, particularly Lisa Jackson and Pat Fay in the mayor's office. "I don't know how I would do this job without their help," he said.