Portsmouth 2023 City Council candidate Kathleen Soldati
Name: Kathleen Soldati
Education: Bachelor of arts, political science, St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, 1972
Occupation: Public relations consultant
Political or civic experience highlights: My parents were community activists who trained our family on creative problem solving and set the expectation for action. I became involved in student government, anti-war and women’s movements, and electoral politics. I co-produced a state dinner (with Global Citizens Circle) for Graca Machel and Nelson Mandela in South Africa, I handle media relations for PortsmouthNH400 and edited the book "A History of Portsmouth NH in 101 Objects."
Are you working with any consultants, groups, or a slate of candidates? If yes, please disclose who you’re working with.: I have a wide range of friends and colleagues with extensive experience in electoral politics and community organizing whom I draw on for opinions and advice.
What is the biggest problem Portsmouth is facing and how you would solve it?: My impression is of a city well run with a professional staff providing services to residents. As we move forward to address pressing issues, I believe the best place to start is by calling on all citizens to recommit ourselves to our historic Portsmouth legacy of civil discourse. We helped to end the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 through citizen diplomacy; with that as our inspiration, we can more effectively address—in a civil manner—the issues we are facing today, from climate resilience to housing affordability. Civil discourse helps us welcome increased community participation: we are grateful to hear from some members of the community, we need to hear from others. Civil discourse helps us to learn what our shared values are. In our current Master Plan, residents said the city should be vibrant, authentic, diverse, connected, resilient. I look forward to working together, living those shared values together, to build the best Portsmouth for the next generation.
Should the city work to create below market rate housing, and where is the best site?: If I am elected as a city councilor, I would support the work of creating below-market-rate housing to meet the needs of our more vulnerable population, as well as to provide adequate housing for the entire workforce. We have the resources to address this need. We have the brainpower and connections with federal and state partners, and we have an engaged community which loves Portsmouth, so it’s clear we can be innovative. My understanding of the challenge we share with the entire country is that in order to build new affordable housing units anywhere in the U.S., we need to look to a variety of resources ranging from subsidy, philanthropy, free land, or zoning change. I know that the state has called for 60,000 new housing units by 2030; and 17,000 for Rockingham, and that Portsmouth currently is short over 3,000 housing units. A public communications campaign to engage our residents should prove rewarding to determine the best sites.
Should the council continue to try to acquire the Thomas J. McIntyre federal building property?: Yes.
Do you support the council’s spending level on the last two budgets? If not, what’s an appropriate level?: As a taxpayer and senior resident, I personally understand and will address the concerns about Portsmouth’s affordability. At the same time, I see the stellar city staff, led by City Manager Karen Conard, presenting budgets that are well researched and vetted so that not a penny is added that isn’t critical to providing services to Portsmouth residents. Here are just two examples of important budget items our tax dollars are funding. I think we all recognize that in any budget, labor is the most expensive line item. As a result, we understand when officials in the police and fire departments say the only way to fill open positions and keep qualified officers is to pay them well. Another critical budget item is technology. The IT department suffered a security issue when the city’s entire server capabilities were unavailable for three days and staff had to work around it manually. Now we have invested in, upgraded and brought IT in house so that the department can avoid a shut down in the future.
Should Market Square be open to pedestrian and bike travel only?: The Request for Proposals (RFP) goes out next month to find/secure a consultant who will work with us to create the Market Square Plan. I expect that whatever happens with Market Square will be the result of the Planning and Sustainability Department’s careful planning, discussion, evaluation of all options, with input from citizens - anyone who has a stake in Market Square. As councilor, I would encourage strong community engagement in this process to hear from all stakeholders so that we continue to build a healthy, vibrant and sustainable city.
How do you feel about the safety and aesthetics of outdoor dining in the city?: I loved when the city responded to the pandemic with a robust and effective plan for outdoor dining. It reminded me of when my husband and I would dine outdoors when we traveled. As my husband’s health became compromised, outdoor dining in Portsmouth allowed us to take advantage of our great restaurants that found unique ways to create welcoming environments for their customers. In fact, I have a wonderful memory of our last date before he died - at a restaurant with outdoor dining. My understanding is that the vibrancy of outdoor dining has brought more people to our city, who take advantage of our wonderful retail shops, art galleries and museums. With respect to safety, I believe the guidelines continue to evolve and that fire and police departments are actively engaged in ensuring pedestrian and vehicle safety.
What’s a bigger priority, building a new police station or an indoor sports arena?: The police station has been discussed for years and it has been in the pipeline in the Capital Improvement Plan along with other projects - all like planes on the tarmac waiting their turn to take off. I recently attended the community policing facility presentation. What I learned is that the city has evaluated the current police station and has sought expert input on options for either its renovation or relocation. I believe we need to address the concerns of the Police Department so that whatever building they inhabit allows them to operate with maximum efficiency. With respect to a sports facility, I believe there is a plan to convene a group to study locations and that two firms have submitted RFQs. I look forward to learning more about plans for next steps on both these facilities.
Should the council address the pace and type of development in the city? If yes, how?: We know that change will come, and we want to invite the change that we want. I imagine that we all want smart growth which is a way of approaching community development and expansion with the goal of making communities “more livable, more economically efficient, and more effective at meeting the needs of the people who live there.” And now, of course, we must address this within the context of climate resilience. I anticipate the next iteration of the climate action plan for our city. So, what would Portsmouth’s next generation want to see? What tools do we have to make that happen? City Council has a limited number of tools at its disposal to influence development, namely zoning ordinances, Planning Board, Board of Adjustment and the Historic District Commission, with professional support from the Planning and Sustainability Department. I look forward to continuing to support city leadership on this.
Does the city need to regulate overnight parking on city streets and lots by RVs and campers?: This question is not unique to Portsmouth. The Parking and Traffic Safety Committee is studying this; it has come up on their agenda in the last six months. I await the committee’s recommendations, and look forward to learning more about the shifts behind this new demographic.
Is overserving at city bars and restaurants a public safety issue?: Yes, over-serving would fit under the category of public safety, and both the city and state are handling this. There are laws that prohibit it and education - required by the NH Liquor Commission - of restaurant/bar staff to prevent it. Portsmouth bars and restaurants are aware they can lose their license as a result. Our Police Department enforces those requirements.
Has Portsmouth changed for the better or worse during the past decade?: Better! Over the last decade, we reopened Memorial and Sarah Mildred Long bridges. 3S ArtsSpace, Jimmy’s Jazz Club and The Music Hall Lounge opened. Art Round Town, every first Friday, spotlights artists, galleries and arts/historical institutions which are thriving. We’re honoring those who came before us: the first intertribal Piscataqua Powwow was held at Strawbery Banke Museum; the African Burying Ground was dedicated; NH Theatre Project is currently featuring a play about Ona Judge, who escaped in 1796 to Portsmouth from enslavement by Martha and George Washington; the Black Heritage Trail expanded statewide; we honored Ruth Blay with a mural. West End Theatre and Portsmouth Music and Arts Center are anchors in the development in the West End, celebrated each fall with Westival. Pease is now home to high tech, bio tech, manufacturing, research and development for numerous national and international companies, a campus for five colleges and a wildlife refuge. Finally, long ago, Portsmouth Mayor Bob Shaines told a young newcomer that Portsmouth was a “woman’s town” - that a woman could do anything here. What I’m most impressed with over this decade is the legion of women running organizations now - from nonprofits to houses of worship, from restaurants to storefronts, from colleges to city government - women who bring so much creativity, dedication and skills to our city. We are blessed.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth 2023 City Council candidate Kathleen Soldati
