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Newport City Council appoints John Manette to fill vacant seat after debate over executive session
Summary
After public debate about holding candidate interviews in private, the Newport City Council voted March 20, 2025, to appoint attorney and longtime local planning commissioner John Manette to fill a vacant seat until a May 6 special election; he was sworn in and assigned to the Water & Sewer Task Force.
NEWPORT — The Newport City Council voted March 20 to appoint John Manette to the city council seat left vacant earlier this year, after a night of public debate over whether candidate questioning should be held in public or in executive session.
Council President Kevin Charbonneau told the meeting that the council may appoint a temporary member under the city charter and emphasized the short term of the appointment: "If the council chooses to make an appointment this evening ... the person we appoint will only serve until the election on May 6," he said. The council had been warned for a special election set for May 6, 2025.
The council had previously agreed to hear up to five minutes of public remarks from each of five applicants — Adam Ortiz, Carl King, John Manette, Matt Kiley and Karen Garen — before final deliberations. Several residents urged the council to keep candidate interviews public. "When you do this in an executive session, you destroy ... the voice of the people," one resident said, arguing interviews should be public so voters can assess candidates.
After hearing statements from candidates and brief public questioning, the council briefly entered executive session on legal advice. It returned to open session and announced that no action had been taken during the closed meeting. Councilor [maker of motion] then moved to appoint John Manette; the motion was seconded and approved by a unanimous voice vote ('Aye' recorded; no roll call was recorded).
Manette, a longtime local attorney and planning commissioner who said in his statement that he "would intend to run" in the May special election, was sworn in at the meeting and took his seat immediately. The clerk administered the oath and the council confirmed he would have the same authority and obligations as other council members until the election.
Council also moved to assign Manette to the special Water and Sewer Task Force to begin work on rate recommendations; members said the task force needs to begin deliberations promptly so initial recommendations are available before May 6. "We will take action immediately upon the appointment to ask the new council member to serve on the special task force on water and sewer," Charbonneau said earlier in the meeting when explaining the timetable.
Charter and timeline details: the council noted that 25 voters petitioned for a special election and that candidates who wish to be on the May 6 ballot must submit petitions by the March 31 deadline cited during the meeting.
The appointment concludes the council's designated process for filling the vacancy; the special election remains scheduled for May 6, 2025. The council also set a special called meeting March 31 to continue its work.
What remains: Manette will serve until the special election; any council vote on water-and-sewer budget or rates remains subject to subsequent council action and the task force's recommendations.
