Create safe and Clean Neighborhoods

Safe communities require a commitment to improve neighborhood quality, invest and support our first responders, and implement policies and practices that are proven to prevent and reduce crime. See my 5-point Plan for how we can have Safe and Clean Communities in Portsmouth.

Five-Point Plan

1. Open community precincts and social services outreach centers in high-crime/high-need areas.

2. Modernize current recreation centers and build new centers to include an Aquatic Center.

3. Beautify our neighborhoods and reduce low visibility zones within our community.

4. Instill neighborhood pride and support back into our neglected communities.

5. Support first responders by investing to attract and retain staff.

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Investing in Education 

GREAT SCHOOLS LEAD TO GREAT COMMUNITIES! 

One of the number one factors businesses or families use to determine where to live and where to invest is the quality of the schools. I know the challenges public schools face after serving 4 years on the Portsmouth Public School Board including staff shortages, aging buildings, overcrowding, and funding. Our city council is critical in ensuring our schools have the funds they need to offer (1) Competitive salaries for all teachers and staff including investment to bring all staff to the correct step level, (2) Investment in Career and Technical Education (CTE) including the newly opened Portsmouth Advanced Career Education (PACE) Center, and (3) Completing capital improvement projects (CIP) to ensure all schools have proper funding for maintenance and to build a new K-8 school. 

Economic Development

To take Portsmouth to a Higher Standard we must attract, support, and welcome businesses to our city. The city of Portsmouth adopted Destination 2025 as a comprehensive plan in 2005 with a vision the city would be the "Community of Choice". Portsmouth's next comprehensive plan was adopted in 2018, known as Build One Portsmouth with a vision to have a thriving, evolving, resilient, and equitable city.

While Portsmouth has made some strides, as a city we have not fully reached the vision from Destination 2025 or Build One Portsmouth due to revolving leadership in key positions including city manager. To move our city forward economically, we must focus on ensuring stability in our leadership, fostering a business-friendly environment, investing in infrastructure, promoting workforce development, supporting small businesses and startups, and attracting larger businesses through  corporate partnerships.