Voters will have the opportunity to hear from City Council candidates at three upcoming forums.
In addition, all 17 candidates for the City Council have responded to candidate questionnaires prepared by Seacoastonline and Portsmouth Herald staff. The candidates were asked about issues such as affordability of living in Portsmouth, the city budget, housing, the police station and city hall project, the McIntyre building, changes to State and Congress streets and more.
Tap or click the name of each candidate to read their responses to the questionnaire:
- Andrew Bagley
- Rick Becksted
- Rich Blalock
- Chad Carter
- Kate Cook
- Michelle Flynn
- Annie Hopkins
- Petra Huda
- Joanna Kelley
- Jim Lee
- Deaglan McEachern
- Beth Moreau
- Thom Rossi
- Robert Sullivan
- John Tabor
- Paige Trace
- Peter Whelan
The city election is Tuesday, Nov. 4. The top finisher in the nine-member City Council election wins the mayor’s seat, and the No. 2 finisher wins the assistant mayor’s seat.
Chamber candidates forums to to held in two parts
The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth is hosting Portsmouth City Council Candidate forums at Strawbery Banke Museum on Oct. 21 and 22. Both will run from 8 to 9:30 a.m.
The forums will be held in two rounds, each with half of the candidates participating, according to the chamber.
The candidates slated to appear at the Oct. 21 forum are Rick Becksted, Kate Cook, Annie Hopkins, Joanna Kelley, Beth Moreau, Bob Sullivan, John Tabor, Paige Trace and Peter Whelan.
Round 2 on Oct. 22 will include candidates Andrew Bagley, Rich Blalock, Michelle Chaisson Flynn, Petra Huda, Jim Lee, Deaglan McEachern and Thom Rossi.
Attendees will have the opportunity to have 10 minute small group discussions with each candidate to learn more about their vision for the city and their goals for being on council. Members of the public will be able to ask direct questions to each candidate during this session, according to the chamber.
The forums are being co-hosted by the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast and Seacoastonline.com.
Progress Portsmouth candidates forum to focus on housing
Progress Portsmouth will host a candidates housing forum on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Portsmouth Public Library.
Progress Portsmouth calls the event “a fantastic opportunity to hear council candidates talk about housing and for you to ask them questions.”
Citizens for Voter Education forums
Citizens for Voter Education is also holding candidate forums, according to CVE officials.
The group will host a City Council candidates forum on Wednesday, Oct. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. in council chambers in City Hall. The forum will be broadcast live on Channel 22 and repeated on the city’s YouTube channel, according to CVE officials.
The group will also host a forum for School Board, Police Commission and Fire Commission candidates on Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald. Reporting by Jeff McMenemy.
