Andrew Bagley

Q1. What is the biggest problem Portsmouth is facing, and how would you solve it?

The biggest challenge Portsmouth faces is affordability, both in housing and overall cost of living. If prices continue to rise, teachers, firefighters, young families, and seniors will be pushed out, eroding the diversity and character that define our city.

To address this, I would continue to expand housing opportunities across income levels by updating zoning to allow duplexes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units in areas now limited to single-family homes. We should encourage mixed-income developments, support workforce housing through partnerships with nonprofits and developers, and streamline approvals for good projects.

We also need to manage property taxes and utility costs by investing wisely in infrastructure and running city finances responsibly. Affordability isn’t just about rent or mortgages—it’s about ensuring people can build a life here without being priced out.

Q3. With affordability being such a challenge in Portsmouth, what would you do to make it more accessible to people with a wide range of incomes?

Changes in zoning, continuing to push for solutions such as when we streamlined the accessory dwelling unit process.

Q4. The Portsmouth Housing Authority has projected rents for the apartments the agency is building on city-owned land at the former Sherburne School will range from $1,580 for a one-bedroom unit to nearly $2,200 for three bedrooms. Are those rates low enough for working people? If not, what can be done to lower them?

The reality is that housing, like everything else, comes with a cost. New housing must be built, and today’s materials and labor are far more expensive than in the past. Affordability is defined by a federal formula: households should not spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities.

Q5. Should the city commit to using more city-owned land to build truly affordable housing or has Portsmouth done enough?

We have several projects in the pipeline besides Sherburne. I think it’s important to get those projects built, especially the two private sector ones. Allocation of additional land is not the bottleneck; construction and financing are.

Q6. Should the city reconsider the scope of a potential police station and City Hall renovation and upgrade project with a projected $42 million cost?

We’re facing an unexpected CIP expense of roughly $12.4 million in upgrades to New Franklin School. Since the health and safety issues have already been addressed, I see the efficiency upgrades as less urgent. At the end of the day, I believe investing in competitive pay for our police and municipal employees is a higher priority than putting those funds into buildings.

Q7. Should Portsmouth do something to encourage development at the McIntyre building site, where the owner says city zoning has made redevelopment difficult?

I would like to see the state remove this building from historic preservation regulations so it could be torn down. It’s an unsightly structure that doesn’t fit the character of our town. Other than that I think we have wasted far too much time and money on the McIntyre.

Q8. The City Council has put forward ideas to address traffic flow and walkability in high-profile locations like State Street and Congress Street. What is your opinion on these efforts?

Portsmouth is under a mandated consent decree to separate stormwater and sewer systems. When we dig up the roads to replace aging infrastructure and complete these projects, it’s a cost-neutral opportunity to consider street and landscape reconfigurations. Whenever possible, I think we should prioritize walkability. There’s a reason our downtown is thriving while the mall is being torn down.

Q9. Should the city begin looking for a site where it can build its third municipal parking garage? If so, what part of the city makes the most sense? If not, how can the city meet its increasing parking demand?

We raised prices for garage non-resident monthly passes in July. We just got back the 300 spaces at High-Hanover that were lost due to maintenance. City garages are profitable and improve overall utilization: residents at night, visitors during the day. The resident discount and Foundry worker program help manage parking as an ecosystem rather than a profit center.

Q10. What else would you like voters to know about you?

I first became involved in city politics when COVID hit. My work at the time required extensive international travel, and like so many others, my world changed overnight. Suddenly I was grounded in Portsmouth, watching our community navigate an unprecedented crisis. I became concerned about the survival of our downtown businesses and the cuts to our school budget and personnel, and I felt compelled to get involved.
Since then, serving on the City Council has allowed me to be a strong advocate for our schools, our educators, and our students. I’ve also worked to ensure that as Portsmouth grows and evolves, we prioritize the human experience in our city—not just the car experience. Walkability, livability, and a sense of community are key to why Portsmouth thrives.

I bring a practical engineering mindset to this work—taking time to dig into the details, do the research, and fully understand the challenges before making decisions. My goal is always to deliver the best outcomes for our residents today while planning responsibly for the future.

Q2. Portsmouth’s budget has reached nearly $150 million… tax burden?

Every five years, Portsmouth is required by the state to conduct a revaluation. Historically, this shifts about 5 percent of the tax burden from commercial to residential properties because homes tend to appreciate faster than businesses. This is a structural problem that requires legislative action at the state level to fix.

Portsmouth has a large budget, but residents see strong value for their tax dollars. We have an excellent public library, a wonderful recreation department and senior center, three pools, reliable trash and recycling pickup, and well-maintained roads. These services are costly, but they make Portsmouth a great place to live. Being watchful of spending, especially bonded spend, is an important role of the council.