Buzz Scherr, Portsmouth Police Commission Candidate

Buzz Scherr

Age (as of Election Day)

69

Position Sought

Police Commissioner

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Susan W. Chamberlin (spouse); Anna Schierberl Scherr (40-daughter) & Isabella Chamberlin (21-daughter)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

no

Education

Yale University (1976) BA; Vermont Law School (1981) J.D.

Occupation

Lawyer (40 years) & Law Professor (28 years)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

none

Campaign website

buzzforpolicecommission.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have 40 years of experience in the criminal justice system and want to contribute in a substantive way to the community in which I have lived for 25 years.

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

we need to upgrade the technology in the Portsmouth Police Department with GPS for each cruiser and bodycams for each officer.

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

I have 40 years of experience in New Hampshire's criminal justice system as a public defender for 13 years and a law professor for 28 years. That background gives me a knowledge and experience base that the other candidates do not have.

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

n/a

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

I think either vaccination or semi-weekly testing should be mandated for all police offciers.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

transparency & accountability; technology upgrade & examination of the allocation of resources for substance abuse calls, mental health calls, and domestic violence calls.

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

I was chair of the ACLU-NH board of directors for seven years. I know how to negotiate the complex relationship between the police chief and the police commission, which operates as the police department's board of directors.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

know who you are and ignore what others try to make you.

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

as a student once said, I am supportive and annoying, a perfect combination for working substantively and constructively on the police commission.