Trach will bring a ‘fresh voice’ to the city council

NEWBURYPORT — Beth Trach is hoping to bring a new perspective to the City Council as the sole candidate running for Ward 4 this election cycle as current Ward 4 Councilor Ben Harman vies for an at-large seat.

“I really felt it was time to bring a fresh voice and dynamic to better serve residents,” Trach said.

The election is set for Nov. 4.

The 49-year-old has been a resident of the city for nearly 16 years and lives with her husband, Kirk Trach. The two have raised two children together.

Asked why she decided it was time to run, she said she had been watching the City Council for some time.

“After the previous City Council election, I started reporting on council meetings a little bit through an online newsletter. I had a real front-row seat to some of the interpersonal interactions on the council, which have definitely deteriorated over the past couple of years,” Trach said.

Professionally, she said her background comes in two parts, public education and writing.

“I taught public school in Massachusetts for 18 years. That job brings a lot of relevant skills, working with all kinds of personalities, creating spaces where people can come together and thrive as a group,” Trach said.

She now works as a writer and editor.

“I’m good at breaking down complex issues and explaining them clearly. I’m dedicated to facts, which is really important right now since we’re living through an era of weaponized misinformation. I’m committed to talking to people and explaining what’s going on in the city,” Trach said.

Locally, she worked on the Reimagine Whittier campaign and the Yes for the Rec Ballot Committee.

“I’ve also been involved in the Housing Choice Coalition, advocating for affordable housing. Through that, I worked on the legislative committee, which allowed me to work with Councilors Harman and Khan on the ADU (accessory dwelling unit) ordinances,” Trach said.

An ADU ordinance is a local zoning regulation that establishes the rules for building and renting out secondary, self-contained living space on the same lot as a primary home.

Discussing the issues she wants to address, like many other candidates she pointed to affordability, water infrastructure, and streets and sidewalks.

She started off on affordability, saying she wants the city to “pull all the levers we can to set the table for more abundant housing.” Trach said.

“We have an incredible opportunity to think about what Newburyport will look like in the future, especially in our outer wards 4, 5 and 6, where new development is coming like Rails End at One and Three Boston Way, the old Haley’s site is ripe for housing, the Port Plaza development, and potential at C&J,” Trach said.

On water infrastructure, she said with climate change as a looming factor she wants to prioritize making sure it is secure for the future.

“I’ll claim no expertise in that, and I don’t think any city councilor, sitting or incoming, has it, so we really need to rely on experts to guide how we tackle those problems and in what order,” Trach said.

Finally discussing streets and sidewalks, she said she wants to see automatic safety reviews as they are being worked on.

“When we’re redoing a street, I don’t want to repave it exactly as it was if there were problems. What’s working? What’s not? Do we need bump-outs, crosswalks, better lighting? A general safety and usability audit should be built in to make sure our streets aren’t just for cars, they’re for everyone,” Trach said.

Discussing what it has been like running unopposed, she said she still wanted to get out and meet the residents of her ward and let them know she is serious about representing them and their needs.

“I promised myself I would canvas all of Ward 4 and I just finished that on Monday, 1,200 doors and a whole lot of conversations with neighbors,” Trach said.

Newburyport Daily News, October 30, 2025.