Bio
Beth is a lifelong New Hampshire resident. Raised in Dover, she has loved living in Portsmouth for the past 23 years. Beth holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern New Hampshire University and a Juris Doctor from New England School of Law. Beth is a licensed attorney in both New Hampshire and Maine and focuses on residential real estate title and closing services. Beth is a successful owner of a Portsmouth-based business that she established in 2012. Beth and her husband share their home with two cats they adopted from a local shelter.
Beth served as a member of the Portsmouth Planning Board from 2013 to 2021, influencing smart growth and affordable housing initiatives in the city. She also serves on the Rockingham Planning Commission as the vice chair, ensuring that regional development issues that may affect Portsmouth are fully understood and mitigated. Beth has worked with other councilors and city staff in evaluating the issues facing the city, and developing policies and solutions that work best for the citizens of Portsmouth. Beth will continue to work on many different fronts towards more affordable housing and support efforts to combat climate change and continue to support sustainable development. Positive change starts with a common vision. Together, let’s continue to move Portsmouth forward.
Seacoastonline candidate profile
Why I’m Running
I have had the honor and privilege of serving as a City Councilor since January 2022. Being
a City Councilor is a tremendous amount of work, but it has been incredibly rewarding to
feel like I am able to make a di erence representing the interests of my fellow residents in
the city that I love and that has been my home for 25 years. I have also served on the city’s
Planning Board for nearly 13 years. I am also currently the Chair of the Rockingham
Planning Commission, and, oh yeah, I own and run a Portsmouth-based title services
company. I occasionally get to see my husband and our senior age cat.
I decided to run for reelection as I feel there are several things I have worked on that are in
progress, and I’d like the opportunity to shepherd them to a successful conclusion. Even
though I had experience in city government serving on the Planning Board since 2013, I still
think it took most of my first two-year term to really understand the complexity of running a
city like Portsmouth, and the important role the City Council plays in that, particularly with
regards to the budget and municipal planning.
The biggest challenge overall is to find ways to make Portsmouth more a ordable. Home
prices are a barrier to first-time buyers. Rental costs preclude many who work here from
living here. Commercial rents can drive lower margin businesses out. Residents experience
tax increases as property values increase out of proportion to their income. All of this
stems from the desirability of living in Portsmouth. It is a vibrant, safe, well-managed,
financially stable community that has arts, entertainment and dining within walking or
biking distance for most residents. As Councilor I have worked to maintain that desirability
while trying to mitigate the negative consequences, particularly related to workforce
housing. A vibrant city must attract residents of all ages across a spectrum of income
levels. There are several initiatives underway to create more a ordable workforce housing,
including leveraging private property owners such as Service Credit Union.
I supported creation of the Gateway Neighborhood Overlay District to spur redevelopment
of underperforming commercial properties into much needed housing, which increases
their taxable value. Our main source of revenue outside of property taxes comes from paid
parking. Nearly 63% of parking revenue goes to pay for programs and salaries that are not
parking related. The “Strategic Parking Plan” identified that the city will need to create 500
parking spaces by 2035 to support downtown and nearby areas. To remedy this shortfall in
time requires that serious planning begin in 2026. We also need to look at improving our
local and regional public transit to encourage less dependence on cars, particularly in
downtown and the West End.
I am the City Council representative on the Master Plan Advisory Group, which is providing
oversight, direction and inspiration for the Master Plan process that will be taking place
over the next 15 to 18 months into early 2027. A Master Plan is created once every ten years
or so and it is the document that guides decisions about zoning and development for the
following decade. With knowledge I have gained over 12 years serving on the Planning
Board and my active role on the Rockingham Planning Commission, I am able to provide
unique insights and suggestions on development of the plan, and to encourage thoughtful
input from residents to ensure that the plan truly reflects what we collectively view as the
best possible future for Portsmouth from a development perspective.
Please vote on November 4th and I hope you consider including me among your choices for
Councilor.
Beth Moreau