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.

Andrew Bagley is a technical sales engineer in the machine tool industry and an active member of the Portsmouth City Council. On the council, he serves as Chamber Liaison and chairs the Parking, Traffic, and Safety Committee. Beyond his city work, Andrew is Vice Chair of the YMCA of the Seacoast Advisory Board and a Proprietor of the Portsmouth Athenaeum, where he chairs the Nominating Committee. Balancing his career, civic service, and family life, Andrew is committed to strengthening the Portsmouth community. He lives in Portsmouth with his wife, while their daughter a Portsmouth High School graduate has begun her freshman year at Plymouth State University. Candidate Facebook Page

I was committed to civic volunteerism at a very young age. My post-secondary education focused on conflict resolution and management (bachelor’s), secondary education (master’s), and public and international affairs (master’s). In my early career I taught public school, worked as the Director of a nonprofit serving unhoused children, and as a legal researcher and grant writer. After my second master’s degree, I was hired as a U.S. Political Affairs Adviser serving in the United Nations Security Council, where I gained direct experience in international negotiation, policy analysis of complex international challenges, and peacekeeping and governance best practices. After the birth of my daughter, I taught Political Science and coached Model United Nations at Washburn University, then worked as a private educational and nonprofit consultant, while serving on numerous non-profit Boards of Directors. I bring my ability to research and understand complex issues, and my experience translating those challenges into manageable work, to the job as a City Councilor. I have overseen complex budgets, so as a City Councilor I spent considerable time asking hard questions about the budget process and the need for various capital projects. I will continue to bring a critical viewpoint to my ongoing work. Finally, I am a parent. As a mom to a teenager, I am particularly concerned about the issues facing parents in our current workforce climate, from finding childcare to balancing the difficulties of our modern societal expectations to make sure a child receives the support they need. I bring this understanding of the unique issues families face to every decision I make as a City Councilor, and I will continue to examine policy choices through this lens. Candidate Facebook Page kate4portsmouth@gmail.com 603-502-6454

I am a local kid that graduated from Portsmouth High School and currently co-owns the Old Ferry Landing restaurant with my father and sister. I coach for Portsmouth Little League (6 years) and Portsmouth High School Football (10 years.) My grandfather and father taught me the importance of giving back and serving the public; they also taught me how special Portsmouth really is. I know how to work hard. I am a true public servant. I am here to listen, look at all the facts, and make sound, fiscally responsible decisions that benefit us all and keep Portsmouth safe and healthy.

Joanna is the founder of Cup of Joe cafe & bar in downtown Portsmouth and New Hampshire native. Joanna is passionate about non profit and advocacy work in the state. She grew up primarily with her grandparents and as a ward of the state. She is one of the founders of The New England BIPOC cultural festival and serving board member for many organizations including: The Seacoast African American Cultural center, Strawbery Banke Musuem, 603 Foward foundation and The Chase Childrens Home. Joanna is the Assistant Mayor of Portsmouth serving her first term; having been the first African American elected to Portsmouth City Council and the first African American Assistant Mayor in the state of New Hampshire.

Deaglan McEachern was raised in Portsmouth. He lives with his wife, Lori and daughters, Tiernan and Aurelia across the street from the house his grandfather built in 1940. McEachern is currently serving his second term on the City Council and his first term as Mayor of Portsmouth. He works in the technology sector, focusing on enterprise software. He received his BA in History from the University of California, Berkeley and his Masters in History from Cambridge University. Before working in the technology sector, Deaglan spent 10 years on the United States rowing team where he represented the United States at the World Championship level. During this time, Deaglan received his Masters degree in History from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. At Cambridge, Deaglan was elected President of the rowing team, where he led the University to victory against Oxford in the famous “Boat Race” in 2010. Deaglan received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley. McEachern is the son of Paul and Shaun McEachern and a proud resident of the Creek neighborhood. Candidate website

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.

Hello Portsmouth, my name is Michelle Flynn, and I would be honored to have your support in November as I seek to serve on the Portsmouth City Council. I come from a multigenerational Portsmouth family and grew up in the same house on South Street where my mother was raised, just across from the family home my great-grandparents built. Though I spent about ten years away, I returned in 1993 and have called Portsmouth home ever since. My husband Joe and I both worked for local companies—first at Bottomline Technologies, where we met, and for the past 17 years, I’ve been with Heinemann Publishing. Between those roles, I spent seven years self-employed, based right here in Portsmouth. Joe and I were married in October 2001, bought our home in October 2002, and welcomed our daughter Zoe in October 2003, followed by our son John in November 2006. We raised our children here, supported by the wonderful educators at Community Child Care Center (now Seacoast Community School) and the Portsmouth Public Schools. They are both attending the University of New Hampshire, which we fondly call the “University Near Home!” My community involvement has grown alongside my children’s lives. I’ve served on the board of CCCC, was a Girl Scout leader at Little Harbor School, served on the SAU 52 Equity Council, and currently volunteer for End 68 Hours of Hunger. My passion for civic duty comes from my parents, Dick and Patti Chaisson, both deeply committed to Portsmouth. My father served three terms on the Portsmouth City Council in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Portsmouth was my mother’s hometown, but my father loved this town with all his heart—and so do I.

Annie Hopkins has spent her life in service — as a firefighter, small business owner, and physical therapist. She knows that real leadership isn’t about politics, it’s about showing up, listening, and building communities where people can thrive. Raised in a family of teachers, Annie learned early the values of fairness, solidarity, and making room at the table for everyone. She carried those lessons into public service as a volunteer firefighter in rural Montana, stepping into a role not often held by women and learning firsthand that leadership is about teamwork, trust, and showing up when people need you most. Today, Annie and her husband are raising their 2-year-old son in Portsmouth. Her husband grew up on the Seacoast, the son of local teachers with family roots that stretch back for generations. Together, they’re proud to be raising their family here, enjoying simple traditions — from parks and story time at the library to ice cream downtown and summer nights at Prescott Park — reminders of why community and culture matter in everyday life. As both a parent and a small business owner, Annie knows how deeply local policies on housing, childcare, and affordability shape people’s lives. She also knows how much families rely on the services supported by city budgets, from safe public safety facilities to welcoming community spaces like the library.

Kathleen, my wife of 45 years, and I moved to the seacoast area in 2013 and our entire immediate family followed us. We now have 4 generations of a diverse family living here and we are all invested in making sure Portsmouth can continue to flourish and be a welcoming home to us and generations to come.

Hello, I'm Chad Carter, and I’m running for Portsmouth City Council because I believe our city deserves leadership that listens, plans, and delivers. Over the past year, our City Council has wrestled with critical issues—from adopting the FY 2026 budget to infrastructure, transportation equity, and preserving Portsmouth’s character. I am running to: Ensure fiscal responsibility — deliver essential services without overburdening taxpayers. I’ll bring transparency to every dollar in the city budget. Modernize our infrastructure and mobility — support a downtown loop shuttle, multimodal transportation options, and equitable transit access across neighborhoods. Preserve local character while promoting growth — protect historic districts, balance development with community needs, and promote walkable, human-scale neighborhoods. Engage citizens meaningfully — I’ll make sure meetings aren’t just for show. I’ll push for public participation, clear meeting minutes, and accountability on commitments. Plan for the future — from climate resilience to smart development, I’ll champion long-term thinking rather than short-term fixes. If you want a councilor who shows up, listens, plans, and delivers — who holds the administration accountable — I hope to earn your vote. Let’s build a Portsmouth that works for all of us.

My top priority is restoring fiscal responsibility to protect affordability in Portsmouth. We can’t talk about affordable housing while making the city itself unaffordable. Over the last 3½ years, city spending has grown by $23.5 million, and the budget just hit $150 million. That kind of unchecked budget growth drives up property taxes and rents, making it harder for families, seniors, and workers to stay here—or for new residents to move here. My solution is restoring fiscal responsibility. Oversight—not micromanagement—is what’s missing. Oversight is a core responsibility of elected officials: carefully reviewing budgets, asking tough but necessary questions, identifying efficiencies, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, efficiently, and transparently. During my prior term, I fought for and delivered the lowest budget increases in a decade by challenging unnecessary spending and demanding efficiency. I’ll do the same again. We don’t need to cut essential services, but we do need to rein in yearly spending growth, prioritize core needs, and stop passing unnecessary costs onto residents. Every tax dollar should be justified. This Council says affordable housing is its top priority, yet its budgeting practices are directly undermining affordability. Even when I presented a list of possible efficiencies and new revenue sources during the FY2026 budget hearings, (see City Council meeting 5.19.25) my questions went unanswered. Affordability isn’t just about housing—it’s about the overall cost of living. We’ve already changed zoning, loosened ADU rules, and eliminated parking requirements, yet 96% of new units are still market-rate. Developers continue to choose profits over people. True affordability means two things: protecting residents by controlling budgets and taxes, and requiring accountability from developers to actually deliver affordable units—not just promise them. I’m running to keep Portsmouth a city you can afford to buy in, rent in, move to and stay in. That means responsible budgets, fair housing solutions, and protecting the people who already call Portsmouth home

After more than 40 years I am no longer working as a lawyer for the City of Portsmouth, a position in which I attended nearly all of the City Council meetings over that period of time. Over my career I have always been a full time municipal lawyer, exclusively for cities in New Hampshire, a few years in Nashua and the remainder in Portsmouth. This has led me to have a breadth of knowledge and experience which may now be put to good use for the citizens of Portsmouth in a different role, that of City Councilor. The City of Portsmouth provided me with a wonderful career as City Attorney which is the hallmark of my life. Election to the City Council would provide me with an opportunity to partially repay the citizens of the City for that gift by continuing to use my knowledge and experience in City government in public service to them.

My name is Peter Whelan, and I am honored to be a candidate for Portsmouth City Council. Since 1991, my wife Karen and I have resided on Gates Street in a historic house, where we raised our son Peter and share our lives with our black lab, Angus. After more than 34 years in Portsmouth, I am deeply committed to the city and its future. Professional Experience My career began after college with a corporate position at Norton Simon / Hunt-Wesson Foods in New York City as an Area Manager. I later worked for Exxon Corporation in the marine tanker division with Butterworth Systems, focusing on sales and marketing internationally. My next step was with PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, overseeing business operations across New York and New England and managing hundreds of employees. My professional background also includes sales, marketing, and labor union negotiations and I eventually moved into corporate turnarounds in the high-tech industry before retiring. Currently, I own Shoals Fly Fishing and Light Tackle, a charter fishing business based here in Portsmouth. I am a licensed Coast Guard Captain and Registered Maine Guide. I am also a gubernatorial appointee representing New Hampshire on the New England Fisheries Management Council—a federal fisheries organization. I serve on the New Hampshire Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, vice-chair of the Atlantic States Striped Bass Advisory Board, and I am currently a board member and former president of the Coastal Conservation Association of New Hampshire. I also serve on the board of the American Saltwater Guides Association . As a former member of the Portsmouth City Council, I chaired the Parking, Traffic, and Safety Committee and served on the Portsmouth Planning Board. My involvement with fisheries management and conservation has taught me the importance of stewardship and long-term planning, principles I will apply to civic decision- making as well. I believe that balanced policies and inclusive discussions strengthen our city and safeguard its unique character for future generations. It is this perspective, shaped by both professional experience and personal investment in Portsmouth, that drives my desire to serve in Portsmouth. My experience in resource management has helped build partnerships focused on sustainability and public interest. I will work to support thoughtful development, small businesses, and environmental initiatives, with the goal of keeping Portsmouth vibrant and inclusive. This practical, stewardship-driven perspective informs my vision for the city’s future. As a candidate, I bring not only a record of leadership and collaboration but also a willingness to challenge the status quo and engage with tough issues. I understand that true progress means listening to a diverse range of voices, weighing options carefully, and making choices that reflect both the values and needs of our community.

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Portsmouth has been both my home and my professional base for over 15 years. But, I also spent 30 years as a Realtor in East Tennessee.. As a real estate broker, I’ve spent decades navigating complex negotiations, solving problems creatively, and working with people from all walks of life to help them achieve their goals. That experience has given me a deep understanding of housing, development, municipal regulations, and—most importantly—how to listen, build consensus, and get things done. Those are the same skills I would bring to the City Council: practical, results-oriented thinking; the ability to weigh competing interests fairly; and a steady commitment to the long-term good of our community. I’m running because I care about Portsmouth’s future and believe in thoughtful, transparent leadership. I’m not interested in pushing an agenda—I’m here to work hard, listen closely, and help shape policies that keep Portsmouth livable, vibrant, and inclusive for generations to come. I respectfully ask for your vote on November 4th.

Portsmouth is a wonderful exciting city with much to offer residents and visitors. However, we struggle with the affordability necessary to live here. Affordability should be for all. We need to create a fiscally responsible city affordable to young and old - both homeowners and renters. It’s reasonable to consider that a renter also pays taxes through their landlord. The land lord pays directly but I can assure you that cost is transferred to tenants through their rent payments. All of us pay taxes in one way or another. Currently, we have budgets that keep growing in size while our numbers stay substantially the same. The trend is unsustainable. The same 22,000 plus residents have paid for the City Council approved budgets though their taxes. The last 4 years the budget has grown by 26 million dollars. The number of residents still remains below 23,000. The growth rate of approved development projects (most units projected to be sold or rented at market rate) is a staggering 2,000 + units. Those units are currently being built or to be built. Portsmouth is an open, creatively exciting city. The merchants of this city providing commerce. The restaurants and preforming arts drawing visitors from across the world. But while they’re here, guests immerse themselves in our history and they shop. Historic Portsmouth is so very important to our success, but we still need to be open to new ideas within the historic district. We have long been known as an Eco-municipality. We have to leave Portsmouth better able to defend against Global Warming. We need to protect our shores along the Piscataqua from the frequent flooding. We need to insure responsible management of our supply of clean water. We need to finish upgrading and separating our infrastructure as we’ve done with Islington Street. Portsmouth as a city needs services. We obviously need Police and Fire Departments. The young deserve to have the best education we can provide. We need clean water and functioning sewer. We need the services of Public Works. The list of services that we pay for as residents is long. But if you’re young and wanting to move to Portsmouth to live affordably or you’re older and living on a fixed income in Portsmouth the lopsided increases of the current budget prevent many from either moving here or staying here. We need to look at what’s been happening and why. Importantly, a City Councilor needs to listen to all thoughts and opinions from all parts of the city. All ideas must be taken into consideration. We need to as councilors, understand that parts of this city are vastly different from others. They require different services to function. No ward or location should be considered more important than another. A council is there to create equality and balance, meeting the needs of all. All nine Councilors should try to find open consensus for the good of the city. The list is long but no one person, ward or developer deserves more consideration than the other. We elect a council of nine. We need those nine to work together bringing thoughts & ideas out in the open for discussion. We need to all act responsibly, never forgetting who we work for – the city residents who’s trust and votes gave us the honor of election to City Council and the responsibility it entails. That’s why I’m running and asking for your vote. This city matters to me. You matter.

Hello, Portsmouth! For over 12 years, I've dedicated myself to our city’s well-being, serving both as an advocate and as a candidate for city council. My journey has always been driven by a commitment to making Portsmouth a place where everyone can thrive. Throughout these years, I've witnessed firsthand how rising housing costs have impacted our community. Families, including my own, have felt the strain of affordability as new developments have pushed prices beyond reach. I’ve consistently advocated for policies that ensure affordable housing remains a priority, so that everyone can call Portsmouth home. Beyond affordability, I’ve stood firm in advocating for the character and integrity of our neighborhoods. I believe in responsible development that respects our community’s history and ensures that new growth doesn’t come at the expense of our residents. As we look toward the future, I ask for your support on November 4th. Together, we can ensure that Portsmouth remains a place where neighborhoods come first, and where every resident has a voice. Rick Becksted Rb23.org

My life and career have been in education. I have taught history, gifted and talented students, oceanography, biology, and then fell into my true passion – special education. As an administrator, I have worked on curriculum and grants at the district, state, and national level. As a Graduate Professor at Plymouth State University for 20 years, I have supported the field by preparing the next generation of teachers for our schools. I have been fortunate enough to receive the honors of NH Special Education Director of the Year and Plymouth State University’s Graduate Professor of the Year. As a school board member, I will share my knowledge of the education system with the team. I will listen to all constituents about how they see our schools. I will encourage my peers to understand the importance of including all children into our classrooms. Lastly, I want to put a plug in for New Franklin. The only school left to be remodeled is New Franklin. New Franklin will be added to the CIP for 2026 by the school board. If you visit New Franklin, you will understand why this upgrade is needed. Please Vote for Esther Kennedy Portsmouth School Board.

For many years, our Portsmouth schools have had a high ranking in the state of NH. We offer a comprehensive curriculum, have a well educated staff and provide students many extracurricular opportunities. Our community has always supported public education in Portsmouth. Half of our City budget is devoted to our schools. It's a huge responsibility for our School Board to insure that these funds are spent well. The Board must be conscientious. Many work sessions during the budget season allow the Board to study the strategies that will continue to maintain the quality of our schools, while being sensitive to the taxpayer. The Board has worked very well with the City throughout the years to maintain our buildings. Renovations/additions to our high school, middle school. Lister Academy, and two of our elementary schools have been successful and effective. We must now turn our attention to New Franklin, and the plan is to ask the City for funding spread out over several years. The rapid building of new developments in our community is a concern to the School Board. Will our school population increase? The Board recently created the Future Building Needs Committee to examine this issue and make recommendations to the City, if necessary. Many other issues face the School Board every year. It's challenging, interesting, and I have truly enjoyed my service to our City for the past 26 years. Please support me in my bid once again, to be a School Board member. Thank you for your consideration.

I believe it is essential to listen to the voices of our community. As school board members, we have a responsibility to represent and support all children and parents. Our role is not to dictate, but to listen, understand, and respond to the needs of those we serve. In addition, it is our duty to provide faculty and administrators with the structure, support, and safe environment they need to succeed. Creating a culture of respect and understanding within our schools is critical to ensuring the success and well-being of both students and staff. I feel that my role on the school board is, above all, to serve as a true representative of our community. I have worked to consider the impact of every decision on our students, parents, and faculty, and I remain committed to ensuring that all voices are heard. I encourage the citizens of this community to reach out, share their thoughts, and speak their truth. We are fortunate to live in a society that values open dialogue, and I believe our local government should reflect the voices of the people it serves.

Participating on the school board is one way I can thank and give back to the Portsmouth community. I have lived in Portsmouth for over thirty years with my wife Karen and our two children. Both our children attended Little Harbour, Portsmouth Middle, and Portsmouth High School, and participated in many of the district’s extra-curricular programs. They benefitted greatly from those experiences. I would bring four decades of experience as an educator to this work. This experience includes thirteen years of teaching at the elementary and middle school level, twenty-five years as an elementary principal, and two years as a guest lecturer and teacher-in-residence in the UNH Education Department. I am committed to working with other school board members, our school leaders, and the community to achieve multiple goals. These goals including supporting great teaching in Portsmouth, ensuring that learning takes place in real classrooms, and investing every school dollar spent toward learning. It is incredibly important to me that every child in Portsmouth receive a quality education.

I truly believe that schools are the heartbeat of our community. I’ve volunteered in schools since my oldest, now a senior at PHS, was in kindergarten. Over the years, I’ve served as PTA president at Little Harbour, Portsmouth Middle School, and Portsmouth High School. Through all of my volunteer work, I’ve built strong relationships with many parents, teachers, and administrators. I’m running for reelection to the school board for the same reason I volunteer: because I genuinely believe that excellent schools can transform lives and help build strong communities. During my time on the school board I’ve consistently advocated for more transparency in budgeting and strategic planning and better communication because I genuinely believe schools are stronger when more people can provide feedback on what’s working well and what needs to be fixed. I’ve also tried my best to advocate for students who sometimes get overlooked in school policies – including kids with disabilities and learning differences, English learners, and LGBTQ+ youth. As founder and chair of our Legislative Committee, I do my best to ensure that Portsmouth has a voice in Concord to advocate for fair school funding, local control of school curriculum and policies, and freedom for teachers to address complex topics and encourage debate in their classrooms without fear of losing their jobs. While many things about our schools are excellent, there are still many challenges ahead for our board to address. The top three in my mind are: Finding creative ways to keep more special education students at our local schools so they can learn close to home, be included in our community, and cost our taxpayers less money on out-of-district placements. Revisiting our redistricting plan to see if we can better balance class sizes and create more equitable spaces across all three elementary schools, a process that will likely require targeted renovations at New Franklin. Advocating for school budgets that prioritize curriculum improvements, teaching positions, and increased counseling and mental health support for students. As my own teenagers rapidly approach adulthood, I often reflect on the teachers who inspired me to dream big in my own life and who helped me see possibilities that I couldn’t envision on my own. I’m a first-generation American, a product of public K-12 schools, and got my undergraduate degree from SUNY Buffalo and my masters degree from UC Berkeley. I want our schools in Portsmouth to give every kid the same fantastic start in life that I got from my own education. That’s why I’m running for reelection. I hope to earn your vote on November 4th.

I am running for the Portsmouth School Board because every student deserves a high-quality education that prepares them for a successful future. That begins with strong classrooms, supported teachers, and policies that reflect the needs of our community. I bring experience as an educator, a mom with children in Portsmouth schools, and an advocate who has fought to ensure students, including my own, receive the support they need. These experiences have shown me the importance of transparency, accountability, and listening to families. As a board member, my focus will be on solutions. I will strengthen literacy instruction and early support so more students succeed in Portsmouth classrooms, reducing costly out-of-district placements and keeping families connected to our schools. I will support teachers with meaningful training and resources so they can meet the needs of all learners. I will push for a long-term facilities plan that addresses growth and overcrowding, starting with long overdue improvements at New Franklin. And I will expand opportunities at the middle and high school levels, from AP and dual enrollment to career and technical pathways, so every student is prepared for their future. Portsmouth is growing, and so are the needs of our schools. I will listen, collaborate, and always keep students at the center of every decision. Educator. Mom. Advocate. I am ready to put Portsmouth’s students first. Jenn Shump

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I know firsthand the life-changing power of public education. As a child, I often worried about basic needs like food and housing — but I was fortunate to have had dedicated teachers who ensured I had access to a high-quality education. That foundation allowed me to build a better future, and it’s why I’m so committed to serving on the Portsmouth School Board. Every child in our community deserves the same opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances. For the past eight years, I have served on the Portsmouth School Board, with the last two years as Vice Chair. I also serve on the Portsmouth Library Board of Trustees and have previously served on the Portsmouth Recreation Board. If re-elected, I will continue working to ensure our schools are fully funded, our teachers are supported, and our students are prepared for the very challenging world they face today. A great education is not optional — it’s essential to their success and to our community’s future.

I've lived in Portsmouth for almost 30 years with my wife and now two grown daughters.

My name is Jay Lieberman, and I am excited to introduce myself as a candidate for the Portsmouth NH Police Commission. With a strong commitment to safety, transparency, and collaboration, I am eager to bring my experience and dedication to the role of Commissioner. This is the 2nd time I have run for the position, coming in second place in 2023. I was previously a Ward Selectman, elected by my neighbors in Ward Two. I have a passion for public service and am a firm believer in the importance of building strong relationships between law enforcement and the community. My experience includes being a 2021 graduate of Leadership Seacoast, an organization dedicated to increasing civic awareness. I also served on the Endowment Committee for a local religious organization. Before my time in NH, I was a board member of a non-profit retirement/assisted living facility in Kansas City. My background is NOT in law enforcement. I believe that it's critical to have an outside, third party perspective on the Police Commission. Please Google my name and Letters to the Editor/ Portsmouth Herald. You'll find that I have written numerous times over the years about important issues in our community and nationally. We have several challenges to deal with as a city. These include planning for a new 21st century police facility and the Federal & State reduction in mental health services and how it impacts some of our most vulnerable citizens. These two issues alone will require great care and thoughtfulness. I am ready for the task. My wife of 24 years and I have two teenage children, a son at PHS and a daughter in college at Utah State. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to serve our community and work together to ensure a safe and thriving Portsmouth. I kindly ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 4.

I was born and raised in Portsmouth, married my Portsmouth High School sweetheart and we have two boys and four grandkids. I have a distinguished 30 year law enforcement background and would truly appreciate your vote for me.