Waluk to Step Down as Mayor of Newport

Newport Mayor Stephen Waluk will be not completing his term, and will be stepping down at next Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

Waluk last June.

His new position as Chief Clerk of the Rhode Island District Court prohibits him from holding elected office, he said.

"I would have preferred to fulfill the term, but this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. . . It's been a fantastic experience."

At the end of the meeting, the council will have a vote to decide Newport's next mayor.

According to the City of Newport’s charter, the next highest vote getter will fill the empty seat on the council.

During the last election, Stephen Coyne ran as an at-large candidate and garnered 13.3 percent of the votes, just behind Councilor Naomi Neville’s 14.9 percent.

Coyne had served on the City Council for six years before coming up short in 2010.

"I wanted to effect change and . . .  and take an opportunity to give back to the city for everything it gave to me," he said during his