Newport Election 2012: Napolitano Top Vote Getter; Newport Says No to Casino Expansion

Preliminary election results can be found at the bottom of this article.

Newport voters turned out in droves, and some waited in very long lines, to cast their vote during Tuesday’s election. 

While mail ballots have not yet been counted, preliminary results show voters have elected two new faces to the Newport City Council.

Newport voters chose Michael Farley as the council’s newest At-Large member over Donald Boucher by more than 1,000 votes.

“It’s a great feeling, I’m thrilled with the result. I’m so grateful for everyone who’s supported me in this race and the last,” Farley said. “I’m excited to start the transition by sitting down with city staff and looking at the pending issues.”

Farley said he is most focused on economic development in Newport, as well as bringing down the violent crime rate, even if by only a small percentage.

Incumbents Henry Winthrop, Jeanne-Marie Napolitano and Naomi Neville were re-elected to their At-Large seats.

“I’m excited,” Neville said after a long night of tallying votes at People’s Café. “We’ve got a good team for the upcoming term.”  

Mayor Winthrop also said he was happy with the outcome of the election.

“Last election, I was 800 [votes] behind [the top vote getter]. Now I’m only 130 behind,” he said. Winthrop said he felt the surge in voter support as validation that the community supports his time spent as mayor.

Winthrop was appointed the newest mayor of Newport when former mayor Stephen Waluk stepped down from the Council to pursue a job with the Rhode Island District Court.

“I’m going to keep pushing on the strategic plan and developing Broadway,” he said. “I want to make sure the infrastructure of the city is strong.”

According to preliminary results, newcomer Marco Camacho ousted incumbent Charles Duncan for the 1^st Ward councilor seat.

“I’m feeling really good, I’m starting work tomorrow,” Camacho said late Tuesday night. “I’m looking into building our infrastructure and targeting the 35 and under crowd, the young professionals, and bringing them to Newport.”

Camacho added that he was “nothing but honored” that the 1^st Ward community elected him to the City Council.

“I’m deeply honored. . .especially running against Charlie. He’s a great guy, very gracious, he ran a great campaign.”

Winthrop said he was looking forward to working with two new members of the council.

“Any time you bring someone new, they’re going to bring something new to the council,” he said. “I think they’re both very smart guys.”

Farley also had positive words about fellow newcomer Camacho.

“Marco brings a fresh voice to the council. Charlie has done a wonderful job, I’m sorry to see him go. . .” he said.

Justin McLaughlin and Kathryn Leonard ran unopposed as 2nd and 3^rd Ward candidates, respectively.

Newport School Committee Race

The race for Newport School Committee was less dramatic, with seven candidates running for seven seats.

Jo Eva Gaines, Charles Shoemaker, Sandra Flowers, Robert Leary, Rebecca Bolan and Thomas Phelan were re-elected to the committee. Robert B. Power will be the committee’s newest addition.

School Committee Chairman Patrick Kelley did not seek re-election.

Newport Grand – Question 2 and Question 8

As of 11:50 p.m. on Tuesday, with 431 of 453 precincts report, 66.8 percent of Rhode Islanders voted for the expansion of Newport Grand, while Newporters said no to table games.

Locally, 54.3 percent of Newport voters rejected the ballot to expand the casino.

Question 8 would have had to be approved by Newport voters to validate the approval of the state-wide Question 2 ballot.

Newport Grand will continue to be a slots-only casino. 

View the preliminary election results below: 

At-Large Candidates

Votes

Jeanne-Marie Napolitano (I)

4869

Henry Winthrop (I)

4739

Naomi L. Neville (I)

4689

Michael T. Farley 

3786

Donald Boucher

2715

1^st Ward Candidates

Votes

Charles Y. Duncan (I)

810

Marco Camacho

1105

School Committee Candidates*

Votes

Jo Eva Gaines

4674

Charles P. Shoemaker

4563

Sandra J. Flowers

4363

Robert J. Leary

4354

Rebecca Bolan

4243

Thomas S. Phelan

4220

Robert B. Power

4121

*All candidates were unopposed.

R.I. Senate District 13

Votes

M. Teresa Paiva-Weed (D)

7063

Geoffrey William Cook (R)

2957 

Question 8: Authorizing Casino Gaming at Newport Grand

Votes

Reject

4414

Approve

3722