Bio
- I am one of four generations of Tabors in public service. Our family believes government can be a force for good in people’s lives.
- Prior to serving as a councilor, I was a newspaper publisher and President of Seacoast Media Group from 1997 to 2018. Our team expanded the business from $12.5mm to a $29 million company with 200 employees.
- As a non-profit volunteer, I served as chair of Prescott Park Arts Festival, Co-Chair of Portsmouth Listens, and past chair of the board of St. John’s Church.
- Jim Noucas and I received the Mayor’s Award for Portsmouth Listens’ public process that shaped the 2005 City Master Plan (and was used again for the 2015 Master Plan)*
- In 1987, I co-founded the Portsmouth Press an “upstart” newspaper that exposed local corruption.
- I’m a 38-year resident of Portsmouth where my wife Betsy and I raised our children, Laura and Max. We were Little Harbour parents and I coached youth lacrosse.
- Graduated Yale, 1977
- In 2003, Portsmouth Listens created a public dialogue involving more than 320 residents in 21 study circles. Their many hours of deliberations and citizen-led reports guided the vision statement and framework of the 2005 Master Plan, creating new policy directions around sustainability, preserving historic character, walk-ability/bike-ability, and making the other parts of the city as special as downtown.
Why I’m Running
Housing: When a friend who has been an active volunteer in Portsmouth comes up to me to say, “thank you for enhancing the senior citizen tax credit, it allows me to keep my home,” I’m reminded of why this work matters. When I talked to a single mom in Pannaway Manor who lived in one of the last rentals and did not know where she would go if her landlord sold the house, I am happy the Sherburne School affordable housing project will give families like hers a secure, affordable place to live. Our Housing Committee, which I co-chair with Assistant Mayor Kelley, got this project across the finish line and has enabled 200+ affordable housing units in the future.
Energy: As chair of our Energy Advisory Committee, when I see towns like Exeter and Dover building solar arrays on landfills that offset large portions of their municipal electricity costs, I’m excited to continue our work on a similar solar project for the Jones Avenue landfill.
Fiscal responsibility: City budgets are only getting more challenging. That’s why I’ve worked to keep cost increases below inflation in 2024 and at just 3.5% in 2025—protecting taxpayers while maintaining services.
In addition to chairing our Housing and Energy committees, I am chair of the Audit Committee, co-chair of the Municipal Building Committee (new city hall/police station project), and serve on the Legislative Affairs, Governance and Fee committees.
In all these roles, I strive to help our volunteers succeed. As the African proverb says, “To go fast, go alone. To go far, go together.”
In my free time, I run, ski, play guitar, fish and enjoy downtown Portsmouth with friends.
I’m grateful to the voters who have put confidence in me these last three elections.. When the votes are called, I don’t always win but I’m always learning and always act on a desire to do what is best for our community. I hope to earn your support again on November 4th.