Newport Dem. City Committee Chair Calls Former Mayor Napolitano’s Comments “Falsehoods”

Newport Dem. City Committee Chair Calls Former Mayor Napolitano’s Comments “Falsehoods”

The Chair of the Newport Democratic City Committee is calling recent comments by City Councilor — and former Mayor — Jeanne-Marie Napolitano “falsehoods.” 

As GoLocal first reported, Napolitano was caught on hot mic over the weekend telling State Senator Lou DiPalma that she was less than pleased with State Senator Dawn Euer, and Chair of Newport Democratic City Committee, Susan Taylor, and said that she was going to make their lives “miserable.”

The City of Newport, after originally having the remarks caught on hot mic on their website, took them down and refused to explain whose decision it was to do so.

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Napolitano doubled down on the comments following the incident.

“I think the full comment was I probably…I said I’ll make them as miserable as they made me,” said Napolitano in an interview with GoLocal on Sunday.

“Let me explain something I have not said publicly,” said Napolitano. “After the election in November, I was told Taylor, who was head of the Democratic City Committee, was having regular meetings last year on a monthly basis — clandestine meetings with some of the female council members."

Taylor has refuted Napolitano's claims. 

 

Taylor on Record 

Following the hot mic incident, Taylor responded to GoLocal with the following statement: 

"The Newport Democratic City Committee is moving into 2024 with a deep understanding of the serious issues facing our democracy.  We believe truth matters and we reject misinformation.  We support or oppose politicians based on their positions.  We reject the politics of personal grievance. We focus on electing Democrats in state and national races.  Newport’s City Council is nonpartisan and we do not involve ourselves in council races.  We champion transparency in government, integrity in our elected officials, and thoughtful policymaking with forward-thinking legislators. 

Although I’ve vigorously disagreed with Councilor Napolitano’s policies and positions over the years, I’ve never held any personal animosity toward her.  Her comments for this story are troubling, as they contain abject falsehoods.  She should check with her sources.  Rumors of a secret cabal meeting regularly to undermine her, and references to criticism of her position on the Columbus statue are baffling to me – as I participated in neither.  Reflecting on her remarks I realize I myself have heard rumors of meetings to which she may be referring but like Councilor Napolitano, I was never invited and never attended them. 

Most importantly, and contrary to her statement, she has never contacted me to express her concerns about this.  If she had, she would learn that she has apparently confused me with someone else. It is deeply disappointing to hear the vindictiveness in her private thoughts caught on the mic: that she plans to make life miserable for others."