The most compelling issues facing Portsmouth today are quality of life and taxation. Throughout the ten years that Rick Becksted has been involved in public life, these have been his top concerns. He has passionately fought for these causes, whether in or out of office. Former Mayor Becksted has always had the backbone to stand up for the forgotten taxpayer against city management and to oppose overbearing development. Portsmouth needs someone like this now more than ever because our city is at a crossroads. One more onerous, tax-busting budget or one more oversized, monstrous development could bring Portsmouth to its breaking point.
As mayor, Becksted led a council that was not error-free, but it had the distinction of giving us the lowest rate of tax increase in a decade (during a pandemic, no less). In contrast, the current council gave us the highest rate of tax increase in a decade. The way this council spends money, our city should change its nickname from the City of the Open Door to the City of the Open Wallet. Rye’s property taxes are about half of what Portsmouth’s are, and Kittery’s rose less than 1% this year. Changed leadership can reduce our tax burden.
Rick Becksted is his own man. He is not in the pocket of any special interest groups like restaurant owners or developers. He will not try to impose the agenda of the bureaucracy on unwilling residents. Rick Becksted will be a voice for the people because he is one of us.
We need Petra Huda to help Rick Becksted advocate for the taxpayer. Her financial credentials outshine those of anyone else running or serving. Petra Huda doesn’t have to blindly follow the City Manager’s budget because she knows more about budgeting than the Manager does. When on the council, Petra (with the help of Esther Kennedy) reformed our city’s bonding system to save our city enormous amounts of money for years to come. Petra still faithfully attends budget meetings, as does her fellow former Councilor Peter Whelan, both trying in vain to stop the extravagant spending of this council.
When on the council, Paige Trace benefited the taxpayer by maximizing parking revenue and by putting the best interests of the city ahead of special interests. (What a contrast to this council.). Paige’s background in antiques aided her in becoming a forceful champion for preservation on the Historic District Commission. She excelled in constituent service. Just ask the mothers who can now walk their babies in strollers on safer sidewalks thanks to her.
A perfect example of the work done by these former councilors to enhance Portsmouth’s quality of life is the successful culmination of their efforts to obtain sound walls for Pannaway Manor as just reported by ex-Councilor Kennedy. All of these candidates share the same passion for helping the overburdened taxpayer and for preserving Portsmouth’s unique architectural heritage and the integrity of its neighborhoods. Our current city council has been insensitive to protecting Portsmouth’s scale and character, and it has imposed too high a tax burden on us. Remember that it takes four council votes to block the excessive spending that leads to tax increases. More importantly, voting for all five of these candidates makes it less likely that our beloved Portsmouth will lose its soul. Vote for Becksted, Huda, Trace, Whelan, and Kennedy.
Christina Lusky
Portsmouth
