Beth Moreau, Portsmouth City Council Candidate

Beth Moreau

Age (as of Election Day)

51

Position Sought

City Council

Party Affiliation

Family

married with two cats

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My husband volunteers for the City of Portsmouth

Education

BS from Southern NH University and a JD from New England School of Law

Occupation

Residential Real Estate Attorney 16 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Vice Chair Planning Board, Chair Demolition Review Committee, Commissioner of Rockingham Planning Commission

Campaign website

www.bethmoreau.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

As a Real Estate Attorney and Portsmouth business owner I am uniquely qualified to help create policy to alleviate this housing crisis. I believe with a multi-pronged approach we can work towards the best solutions.

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

Affordable housing
First, we must look at municipal properties and work with organizations such as the Portsmouth Housing Authority to develop affordable housing on them.
Second, we need to revise our zoning, incorporating possible tax incentives under enabling state legislation that would encourage the creation of long-term workforce housing. We can also streamline our zoning to allow less costly approvals in some cases thereby allowing for more affordable projects.
Third, we need to look at this as not just a Portsmouth issue, but as a regional issue. I serve as a commissioner with the Rockingham Planning Commission, which includes members from many surrounding communities. Collectively, we are tackling this issue, beginning with a regional housing impact study that will be done in the coming months. This information will be critical for the discussions we need to have to work towards real regional solutions.

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

I have skills in negotiation that allow me to work towards building a consensus on the solutions for issues. It is easy to complain about issues, but it takes vision and leadership to actually do something about them.

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

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

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

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

During 2015 I was board president for Sexual Assault Support Services during a merger with A Safe Place, creating the current combined organization of Haven. In addition, I am a successful Portsmouth business owner of Great Oak Title Services.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

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