John Edwards Announces 3rd Ward Council Candidacy

Pledging to "strike a better balance between business and the community," John Edwards, a Vice President at Warwick-Based Ivy Wealth Management, has announced his candidacy the Newport City Council representing the 3rd Ward.

Edwards, 28, serves on the Board of Directors for the Newport Chamber of Commerce and is the vice-chair of the Chamber Coalition, which sets the policy agenda for all the chamber's lobbying efforts.

He's also been involved in the startup of the Newport Chamber Young Professionals Group — now called Emerging Leaders — which offers networking opportunities for business leaders. 

"I consider myself a strong leader and intend to take a proactive approach towards strengthening the community and our local economy to make Newport a better place to live and work," Edwards said.

Though his office is located in Warwick, he works with many companies in Newport and the East Bay, he said, and he's a child of Newport, living in the 3rd Ward now and the son of a 5th Ward family, his grandmother growing up on Narragansett Street.

Edward's father, Jay Edwards, is the current Majority Whip in the State House, which means Edwards is no stranger to politics and has plenty of street cred when it comes to running a campaign. 

"I’ve been active in politics for a very long time, helping my father on his campaigns," he said.

Edwards is graduate of Assumption College in Worcester, Mass.,  where he received a BA Magna Cum Laude in Business Management with a minor in political science.