We interviewed several candidates on the ballot on Tuesday, November 7th, and here are the reasons they think you should vote — even if you don’t vote for them.
- It is an opportunity to make positive, noticeable impact in the local environment where you spend most of your daily life. Your vote not only counts — the 9th seat on the current City Council was decided by 12 votes — but by casting it you stake a claim in how we make decisions with each other, what our spending priorities are, and what type of community we live in. — Cliff Lazenby, City Council Candidate
- Because our forefathers, foremothers, and civil rights leaders fought and died to give us the right to vote. People around the world are still fighting and dying for the right to vote and we should not squander their fight and our right. — Nancy Pearson, City Council Candidate
- You should vote on November 7th because we have made incredible progress as a Council over the last two years, and we need to keep it going. There are important strategic decisions to be made for our city, and those decisions need to be made in a timely manner with the information available. As a councilor, it is easy for me to see how quickly progress could be stalled, and how some of the projects we have already voted on could be stymied. Please come show your support for building our future Portsmouth, together! — Rebecca Pearson, City Council Candidate
- It is important that residents vote to ensure the right leadership is elected to represent their best interest and preserve the unique community we live in. — Jack Blalock, City Council Candidate
- Local government has the most power to affect your life, and you have the greatest power to change your local government. The cost of your house or your rent, the way the city looks and feels, the issues that get taken up or ignored — all of them are determined at the local level. We are also making some extremely profound and important decisions in the next few years. We’re in a period of rapid change, and how Portsmouth moves into the next 20 years can be determined in the next two. There is opportunity for it to build itself as an excellent place to build a life, a true community, but only if we get it right. — Brian Kelly, City Council Candidate
- Ben Franklin reportedly once said “Democracy is the worst form of government — except for all the others.” As difficult as it is, our American inheritance of self-government requires your awareness and involvement — and local government is the level that affects your life most directly, and where your participation can make a tangible difference. Portsmouth is a gem among communities nationwide – don’t remain on the sidelines here! Vote, stay informed and use social media constructively to contribute your ideas and opinions on how to keep it great! — Ned Raynolds, City Council Candidate
- Assessments, commercial real-estate values, and availability of housing are all big issues this year. — Scott Forte, City Council Candidate
- I submit to you that people fall into 3 basic categories: 1. Those who make things happen 2. Those who watch things happen 3. Those who wonder what happened. This is our community and we should be concerned about what happens here, especially with our local government. We cannot sit idly by on the sidelines not being involved and then complain or wonder what happened. We have a responsibility to be involved in the local government. The vehicle for that is the privilege we have of voting. Voting is denied in many places and suppressed in others. — Arthur Hilson, Write-In Candidate for Portsmouth Police Commission
