NEWBURYPORT – Most of the candidates for mayor and city council gathered last week at the Rip Tide on Plum Island for a meet and greet with dozens of voters over pizza hosted by The Townie, a web-based platform for local opinions, ideas and constructive debate.
Both candidates for mayor, incumbent Sean Reardon and councilor Jim McCauley, addressed the crowd. Reardon outlined the achievements of his first term, which included finishing Market Landing Park on the Merrimack River waterfront.
McCauley agreed that Reardon had “done some good things,” but he called Reardon’s first term “transitional.” He said, “It is time to move on.” He promised to curb unnecessary spending.
Seven candidates are running for five at-large seats on the council. Five candidates attended the meet and greet – Heather Shand, Ben Hartman, Afroz Khan, Sarah Hall and Rani Eng. Also running for reelection for at large are Mark Wright and Ed Cameron.
In the six ward council races, three are running unopposed – Sharif Zeid in ward one, who has been on the council for a decade; and two new councilors, Brian Callahan and Beth Trach.
Shawn Fenn is running against Stephanie Niketic in Ward 2; and in Ward 6, Mary DeLai and James Eichhorst are facing off.
The Townie owner Eben Diskin moderated the presentations. ♦
