Andrew Samonas, Portsmouth City Council Candidate

Andrew Samonas

Age (as of Election Day)

26

Position Sought

City Councill

Party Affiliation

N/A

Family

N/A

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None

Education

B.S Business Management, Endicott College; Master of Real Estate Development & Urban Design, University of Miami

Occupation

Real Estate Agent & Advisor

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Conservation Commission, Member

Campaign website

Facebook: Andrew Samonas for Portsmouth City Council 2021

Why are you seeking elective office?

As one of 9 City Councilors, we will be at the helm of a city that provides one of the most desirable landscapes in New England for commerce, community, and growth. The Council serves as contributors to the policies that allow Portsmouth to maintain as one of the premier cities in the region. To achieve this we must have transparent and diligent leadership. I have challenged myself since the days of being a captain of numerous high school teams, leading volunteer organizations, and donating my time on the Conservation Commission to develop the qualities necessary to represent Portsmouth's entire population. As a Councilor you are charged with listening, analyzing, and acting on behalf of the citizens you represent. The responsibilities of City Council are to charter the people & pride we have enjoyed for generations towards a distinguished tomorrow so one day the next generation can boast the same pride.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Management. Portsmouth has no shortage of opportunity. To achieve our greatest ability as a city, as a community, and as the focal point of progress in our region we should challenge ourselves to identify essential priorities. Our mission is to maintain the distinguished nature that has propelled us to one of New England's cornerstones. I plan to diligently and consistently put our citizen's considerations at the forefront of proposals. Whether it be assessing & implementing the CIP, setting property tax expectations, or certifying that our schools sustain their superior standard I will provide pragmatic and clear decision making for our City.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

One of the largest drivers for my candidacy is to represent the opposite end of the generational spectrum. Portsmouth has welcomed hundreds of new residents in the past several years. To respect both their role and the commitment of our longtime residents, I am eager to be a source of constant communication with ALL populations that call Portsmouth home. I am not here to uproot our history. I am not here to be a rubber stamp to new development. Most importantly, I am not here to try and push an agenda driven by only one generation. My role as a City Councilor will be as a conduit from our esteemed past as we look to preserve and protect the characteristics that gives Portsmouth its prominence. I ensure you, I do not think I am entitled to this role. I will do everything within my abilities to illustrate the competencies necessary to execute the responsibilities of a Councilor.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

In my perspective, asking where our current Council has failed is too ambiguous. Often times we are quick to judge, criticize, and shoot down ideas. However, in my experiences both throughout life and this campaign it is better to ask yourself what you would have done differently. I have plenty of ideas that I have relayed to our current Councilors and they have largely been receptive to those thoughts. It is important to point out that other than election cycles, our history is not measured in two-year terms. To assess success or "failures" you must set measurable metrics. As a Councilor, as a citizen, and as someone who grows from "failed" experiences- I know that all of our Councilors want to work towards the improvement of what we have in Portsmouth today. Let me get to work on that before pointing out the failures of others.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

The pandemic put everyone on their heels. When you run for City Council people as how you feel about budgets, school systems, and development. Very rarely prior to 2019 did people consider what a City Council would do to react to a worldwide virus. Public health has and will always be at the forefront of communities like ours. I feel as though crises such as the pandemic are treated best by those with medical and health backgrounds. The job of the previous council and councilors in the future should be to use the scientific and fact-based information provided to recommend and steward our citizens to the healthiest outcomes. If I could have changed anything it would have been to react quicker to put our small business community and employee base in positions of stability. Through advocacy and group effort, we should have recognized the holes in our plan to sustain the business atmosphere in Portsmouth as to diminish the heavy impact felt by those in the industry. (The healthcare and frontline workers also deserve a shoutout here, I didn't forget about protecting them!)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

When I look at the future of Portsmouth, I observe a Council that will be able to work cohesively for many generations to come. Whether I am on the Council for one term or ten, I plan to give my undivided attention toward the preservation of Portsmouth. Where I see myself excelling at that mission is through my age and work background. I studied Urban Design with a concentration in placemaking and sustainable development. The principles found in those realms apply directly to the role of a Council. As the policy-making body for the City, utilizing my knowledge for best development practices will provide conscious managed growth and avoiding the inundating concern of building without contextual relevance. Getting involved in this arena now will enable not only myself, but other people in future generations to voice their initiatives. My generation can be commonly misrepresented, but I ensure we share the same priorities as those before us. The only difference is the ability of the current generation to reach corners of the nation and world through various technology & professional platforms not previously available to our elders. Utilizing the information and resources we collect from outside Portsmouth we can apply our knowledge of the city to reach the best version of ourselves and environment. The way I see myself and our next Council achieving that is unified as one, irrespective of age or tenure.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In my view, this question is very subjective. I have been self-employed for the bulk of my working life. Excluding jobs at a variety of downtown restaurants, I have been running a small family business for a number of years. Where I derive accomplishments from that experience is through the people I serve as a real estate agent and advisor. Most commonly folks approach me with questions about property in Portsmouth. In connection with property sales, I also studied financial underwriting. In this field, you are constantly challenged to "poke holes" in analyses as to reach a sound financial approach. Clients look to me as their fiduciary who can provide historical data points, unbiased and resolute reasoning, and diligent coordination. Representing families, couples, and individuals as they navigate property ownership is something I take great pride in. To do this well I drive myself to be educated on not only fields that influence real estate but also ones that will influence the lives of my new neighbors once they have landed here in our City. I feel confident that my colleagues would echo this sentiment. Owning and operating a small business is a challenge in itself, doing so while on a commission-only basis is an accomplishment I find has forced me to mature at a rate otherwise unknown to others in my age bracket. It is one characteristic I am forever grateful for.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Your words are like a tube of toothpaste. They come out easily, but they can't be put back in. Think before you speak, think again before you act.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I drink black coffee. Take it or leave it.