WALUK

NEWPORT — Stephen C. Waluk will be the chairman of the City Council — and hold the honorary title of mayor — when the new council convenes in the new year.

His six peers on the council-elect unanimously voted for Waluk to assume the leadership role during a brief caucus at City Hall yesterday evening. At 29, Waluk may well be the youngest person ever named to the position.

“I’m really excited,” said the Middleton Avenue resident. “It’s nice to have unanimity. It’s a sign the election is over and it’s time to get things done for Newport.”

Waluk was first elected to the council in 2001, when he was 24. He held a ward seat until making a successful bid for an at-large seat last week. Among the seven candidates running citywide, Waluk garnered the second-most votes — 4,282.

With the role of chairman comes the title of mayor, an essentially ceremonially position that involves attendance at numerous functions and offers the perk of an enviable office at City Hall. The position pays $4,000 a year, double the stipend of other council members.

“It’s not something I always aspired to,” said Waluk, although the Newport native has been interested in politics ever since running for student council at Rogers High School (he ran twice and lost both times). A Republican, he works as a policy analyst for the state.

Waluk emphasized the need for the council to work in unison. He said he will discourage the formation of any factions and will ensure that all of the members receive information equally.

“We’re a team. I’m the captain of the team. If we work well together, we can get things done,” he said.

Waluk, who has often been a dissenting voice on the council and was vocal in the move to oust former City Manager James Smith, said his independence won’t make being a leader difficult.

“It gives me a better perspective,” he said. “I know what it’s like to be on the losing end of a vote and part of a coalition.”

One priority he shares with the incoming council members is to address the pollution problems at Easton’s Beach and in the harbor.

“It has to happen,” he said, but added: “It’s going to take time.”

Mary C. Connolly made the motion for Waluk to be chairman, after mistakenly saying the name of Stephen C. Coyne, another councilman who had expressed interest in being chairman. Waluk made a funny sound to correct Connolly. The moment wasn’t awkward, however, since Waluk had announced several days earlier that he had the support of a majority of the new council members.

Connolly was named vice chairwoman. There was no discussion for either vote. The votes are informal and must be taken again after the new council has been sworn into office in January.