By Sean Flynn/Daily News staff
NEWPORT - Colleen McGrath, executive director of the Friends of Ballard Park, plans to run against incumbent City Councilwoman Kathryn E. Leonard in the reconfigured Third Ward.
McGrath said she has a lot of experience working with different businesses and nonprofit corporations in the city and would use that background on the council.
"I would listen to the many different voices on issues and make the decisions that are best for Newport," she said. "Everyone has a voice and I'm not sure those voices are always heard."
Friends of Ballard Park is a nonprofit organization that provides educational and cultural programming to the community at little or no cost in Newport's only nature preserve.
McGrath also serves on the executive committee of the Newport Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force and the Newport Partnership for Families' finance committee. She is a board member of Island Arts, the Salvation Army and the Rogers High School Alumni Association.
From August 2000 to November 2003, she was secretary of the city's Cliff Walk Commission.
"I want to talk to people, hear what their ideas are, and bring those forward," she said. "I want to find ways for people to work together and collaborate. I really think everyone wants the best for Newport."
McGrath writes two weekly columns for Newport This Week and provides public relations and marketing services to several local businesses.
McGrath, 36, comes from a family with deep roots in the city, here for "quite a few generations," she said.
She is the daughter of Thomas R. McGrath, a retired firefighter, and Kathleen McGrath, president of the Rogers High School Alumni Association. Her father founded McGrath Clambake Inc. 35 years ago, which her brother, T.R., now operates.
Colleen went to local schools and graduated from Rogers High School in 1986. After graduating from Providence College in 1990, she held marketing and special event positions at several national magazines including Art & Auction, American HomeStyle & Gardening, and Metropolitan Home, all in New York City, for nine years.
Since returning to the city, she has been involved in the community.
Because of a change in the city charter, the number of wards in the city has been reduced from four to three.
Current First Ward Councilman Richard E. O'Neill is planning to run for an at-large councilor seat. Marvin Abney and Charles Duncan are candidates for the new First Ward seat.
In the new Second Ward, incumbent Stephen C. Waluk may face opposition from attorney Michael Farley, who is expected to decide soon.
With McGrath entering the race against Leonard, contested races are shaping up in each of the wards.
For the first time, there will be four at-large council members instead of three on the seven-member council.
Current at-large council members Jeanne-Marie Napolitano and John J. Trifero will be running for re-election to at-large seats. Besides O'Neill, retired educator Mary C. Connelly and James Perrier, a member of the city's Historic District Commission, are expected to enter the race for the at-large seats.