It’s been nearly ten years now that I have been involved with the City of Portsmouth government and its local politics. I served my first term as best I could, representing the residents as a City Councilor. I tried to bring a different perspective to the table, one that was missing from previous City Councils. I tried to help produce a respectable budget without creating a sizable tax burden on the residents. I sought to protect both the history and essential character of neighborhoods without jeopardizing the quality of life. A City Councilor’s charge should be to keep our historic town vibrant without overdeveloping it, thus keeping the small town feel we all know and love.
During my second term as Mayor, I was faced with a task no other Mayor had ever experienced. The Covid Pandemic seemed to drive and control almost every aspect of everyday life. I never let it change what I believed my job was: to represent the residents, deliver a responsible budget, protect the essential character of the city and its neighborhoods without affecting their quality of life, keep us moving in a positive direction and keep us safe.
Looking back on those years with thousands of hours spent in attending hundreds of meetings, as a concerned resident and as an elected official, I wouldn’t change one thing. I believe the same thing today as I did so many years ago. Portsmouth has and will continue to change, but those changes should not alter its essential character and the quality of life for so many. The significant increased spending over the last two years without any oversight will lead to higher property taxes and higher rents, making it unaffordable for our residents. That represents the real threat to our City’s character and its quality of life.
The number one job of a City Councilor is the budget. The budget controls everything and everyone. Anyone that disagrees with that has no business running for office. Once again on November 7, I respectfully ask for your vote.
Rick Becksted
Portsmouth
