Kate Cook, Portsmouth City Council Candidate

Kate Cook

Age (as of Election Day)

50

Position sought (including district number if applicable)

City Councilor

Party Affiliation

City Council elections in Portsmouth are non-partisan, so I am running a non-partisan campaign. When it comes to state and federal elections, I am a registered Democrat.

Family

Ernie Podrasky, spouse; Jade Podrasky, child, age 17.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I have worked for the U.S. government in the past, but no one in my family currently works in politics or government, except for me in my role as a current Portsmouth City Councilor.

Education

BA - Conflict Resolution, MSEd - Secondary Education, MPIA - Public and International Affairs

Occupation

Educational and Nonprofit Consultant, 14 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Portsmouth City Councilor

Campaign website

katecook.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I enjoy solving complex policy problems, and I love working to support the people of Portsmouth. As a City Councilor, I feel I have accomplished many goals in my first term, but there is still much to be done. I would like to continue my work to bring more affordable housing to Portsmouth, improve planning for Climate Change, and foster strength in the Arts and Cultural Community.

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

Portsmouth is facing a housing crisis. While housing shortages are impacting residents at all income levels, shortages drive up the costs of renting and buying which disproportionately impacts our younger workforce, individuals with disabilities, and older residents on a fixed income. This crisis exacerbates our workforce staffing challenges, specifically in retail, hospitality, non-profits, childcare, education, and public safety. While this issue cannot be resolved quickly or easily, the long-term solution is to build more housing. First, the City Council should do the one thing that will guarantee new housing is built in Portsmouth: partner with a public housing authority to build workforce housing. Next, we must look at changes in zoning and parking requirements and permitting processes to encourage individuals and businesses to build housing. The City Council already altered the Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance and the downtown zoning incentives to increase the number of affordable housing units built by residents and builders. We must now consider expanding gateway zones in our Master Planning process, and alternative housing options like live-work spaces, micro-unit housing, and boardinghouse style housing to help fill housing gaps. Finally, we need to continue our efforts to lobby in Concord for more state funds for housing, and better state policies to regulate short-term rentals and out of state corporate housing ownership.

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

First, in my early career I worked as a U.S. diplomat, so I have direct experience in public policy analysis, negotiation, and governance best practices. That training includes a master's degree in public and international affairs, and study of complex policy challenges. I bring my ability to research and understand complex issues, and my experience translating those challenges into manageable work to the job as a City Councilor. Second, in my work in non-profit consulting and board leadership, I have managed complex budgets, and as a City Councilor I spent considerable time asking hard questions about the budget process and the need for various capital projects. I will continue to bring a critical viewpoint on local budgets to my ongoing work. Finally, I am a parent. As a mom to a teenager, I am particularly concerned about the challenges facing parents in our current workforce climate. I remember the difficulty in finding daycare, and childcare for a school age child, and I know what it is like to balance responsibilities in a household to make sure a child receives the support they need. I bring this understanding of the unique issues families face to every decision I make as a City Councilor, and I will continue to examine policy choices through this lens.

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

N/A

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The City of Portsmouth must address the impact of climate change on our infrastructure, and the lives of our residents. During my first term, I focused on supporting the Climate Action Planning process as a member of the Sustainability committee, and bringing locally controlled, renewable power options to the City through Portsmouth Community Power as a member of the Energy Advisory Committee. During my second term, I would like to address sea level rise adaptation measures and bringing climate-related infrastructure improvements forward in the Capital Improvement Plan process, while focusing on transitioning the City to an electric vehicle fleet and green building improvements. I will also continue my support for the arts through implementation of the new Cultural Plan, promotion of public art projects, and support for the newly established Arts and Cultural Commission and Public Art Review Committees. Finally, I would like to continue my work as the Governance Chair in reviewing city ordinances, policies, rules, and procedures to further improve the workflow and transparency of our local government.

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

I am a current City Councilor in Portsmouth. I am proud of my work in my first term on the Portsmouth Energy Advisory Committee to bring Community Power to Portsmouth. In addition to serving on the Energy Advisory Committee, I also sit on the Sustainability Committee and have diligently worked to bring a new Climate Action Plan to Portsmouth by the end of this year. Serving on the Arts & Nonprofits Committee and the Cultural Planning Subcommittee has also allowed me to support a Cultural Planning Process that will culminate in a new Cultural Plan for the City. I drafted a Public Art Review Committee ordinance which, once adopted by the City Council, established a new committee to foster more public art in the city. I also worked with the arts committees to bring a new Arts and Cultural Commission to fruition. I introduced changes to the planning process for a Market Square Redesign that will bring more accessibility to our downtown, bring outdoor dining onto the sidewalks, and expand the walkable and bikeable environment. Finally, I established a Governance Committee for the City Council, which made significant changes to our Ethics processes, bringing more transparency to our city government.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Always listen first.

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

Portsmouth is an amazing city, and I love living here because of all the incredible people that make it home. While the changes of the last ten years have brought more arts and cultural events and dining options, the economic changes in the region have made it more difficult for your average Portsmouth resident to continue to afford to live in the city. We are at a critical juncture where changes are necessary to bring affordable housing and childcare options back to Portsmouth, or the positive changes we have seen will disappear as families and critical workers leave. We are already starting to feel the impact of the affordability crisis as long-established institutions have closed due to lack of workforce. I know the critical needs of the community and I will work endlessly to make sure we find options to start addressing these challenges. I will work at the local level, and I will lobby at the statehouse for laws that allow the City to better address these critical issues.