Newport Election Profile: Jamie Bova

NEWPORT, RI — Jamie Bova is running for reelection in Newport. The 31-year-old electrical engineer currently serves as the city's mayor.

Bova hold's a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Rhode Island and works for the Navy, alongside her partner. She was first elected as an at-large councilor in 2016, and has served ever since.

Campaign website

Why are you seeking elective office?

I believe in the future of Newport, and I am seeking reelection so that I can continue being a voice for our community and carry on the work that I’ve done in this term and my previous one. We can achieve great things for Newport by working together as a community, and it is that point of view that has guided me on the Council for the past 4 years. It is my goal on the City Council is to make sure that all the actions I take have a focus on our community – on the people who choose to live and work in Newport. Working together, we can improve the lives of all our residents; we can make it easier and more enjoyable to live here. I am focused on the equity of our community, neighborhoods that have historically been overlooked and under-served. We need to remove barriers and enhance access to City resources and services for everyone.

What do you believe should be done to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and what would you do to lessen its economic impacts?

We need to continue working directly with businesses to understand and quantify the impact, as well as make working with the City as easy and flexible as possible. The City and our local businesses need to work as partners in strengthening our community. As part of how COVID-19 changed how business operates, the City worked with local restaurants to expand outdoor seating by making the permit process simpler and replacing some parking areas with seating. This type of cooperation makes both the City and our local businesses successful. I also submitted a resolution to the Council, which was approved, early on in the pandemic laying out a set of priorities and guidelines for how the City would work with businesses to help with maintenance and recovery.

Do you believe systemic racism is a problem in America generally and Rhode Island specifically, and if so, what would you do to combat it?

Of course systemic and institutional racism exist in America, Rhode Island, and Newport. I have been and will continue to work with our local community leaders and activists to hear what our residents need and work to make it happen. This is something that needs to happen at multiple levels, in our schools, in our government, and more. This is why I introduced a resolution with my colleagues calling for Implicit Bias training to be established as a requirement for all City workers and the City Council. We have to work to understand where and how racism is rooted to be able to change the future.

Should the words "Providence Plantations" be removed from the state's name?

Yes

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I grew up on Aquidneck Island and I believe strongly that our community has so much to offer and so much more potential waiting to be tapped. My background as an engineer makes me a problem solver and helps me to see solutions that others may not see.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I care very deeply about how planning and zoning affects our neighborhoods now and into the future. We need to understand how development affects our city and create actionable plans for the city to undertake, and when development is proposed, the City Council should support local community groups and neighborhood associations in negotiating to require benefits such as job training, living wages, open space, and more. We need to be considering impacts to our environment and making long term plans and changes that account for climate change. We need to be proactive to ensure the long-term viability and reliability of Newport’s utility infrastructure. We need to understand the impacts of potential development on our systems - utilities, traffic, housing, and more - before approving projects.

Education and housing are the two most important needs for a community to be strong and successful. We can’t outsource the education of our children – it is our responsibility as a community and as a government to work to provide the best future for all our students. I want us to work with the School Committee to give them the resources they need to ensure our School Department is second to none. This includes passage of the School Construction Bond, so that our students can learn in an environment built for modern education.

The City of Newport must help to make housing available for anyone who wants to live here, including young families, retirees, and entrepreneurs. I believe that a homestead exemption for resident property can help alleviate the tax burden while still allowing Newport to provide services our community rely on. We must take more steps to address the short-term rentals that threaten our housing stock, while allowing residents to use their home as they wish in a responsible manner.

Newport is known for its natural beauty, and it must be protected. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan includes multiple recommendations for zoning changes to reflect our community values — we need to act to ensure that our zoning code is updated to include these changes. I would like to see the City work with businesses to reduce waste, move to sustainable energy sources, and pursue other ecofriendly ideas. As a City government, we can initiate the use of broadly sustainable energy sources within our own buildings. We need to manage development with an eye on resiliency, in terms of sea level rise, building materials, open space, and other matters. We need to prioritize resiliency and sustainability in our planning as a City. I am in favor of an expanded Planning and Economic Development department within City Hall - one that can take on large challenges and help Newport continue to move forward into the 21st Century.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

During my time on the Council, I have consistently prioritized dialogue and debate on the dais and with the public. I have pushed for greater transparency and public inclusion. I am proud of discussions and debate that have taken place on the dais during my term, between Councilors and between the Council and the public. When there is expansive discussion and explanation by the Council, it makes our government more open and approachable.
For example, we included a specific provision requiring public engagement in the North End Urban Plan contract and are working to do in the Transportation Master Plan.