Portsmouth RI Democrats

A third-generation Portsmouth resident, John lives in Island Park with his wife Karen and their son, Jack, a fifth grader at PMS. He is an appointed member of the School Committee's Facilities subcommittee and a board member of the Portsmouth Public Education Foundation. His community service includes serving on the school district technology committee and working with Save Our Schools. He has also been an active supporter of Preserve Portsmouth. John has a BA from New School University, and is ABD in Media Ecology at New York University. He works as a web developer for a Boston-based consulting firm.

For the past four years, I have covered Portsmouth news and politics at the local news site harddeadlines.com. This year, with the challenges the schools are facing, I felt the obligation to step off the sidelines and run for school committee. I'm asking the voters of Portsmouth for their support.

I strongly believe in engaging the whole community in government, and was an enthusiastic participant in the Future Search conference last year where almost 100 community members created a strategic plan for the district. We should build on the work the district has begun to execute that plan. I also think our school committee should be reaching out to the community to strengthen our shared sense of purpose. I want to keep parents and community members more aware of what's happening at school committee meetings, and make it easier to provide input and feedback more often.

I bring a perspective informed by both business experience and academia. I spent seven years teaching writing and communications at the college level before moving to the private sector, where I've worked in IT project management, communications, and web and social media development. I'm also a professional science fiction writer, acutely aware that we are preparing our children for a future that we quite literally cannot imagine.

I will always do my best for our schools and our town, and I ask for your vote.

Web site: johnmcdaid.com

Andrew is the son of Paul and Bev Kelly, brother of Brad and Veronica Kelly, and grandson of Ann Calcutt and Dale and Paula Bradley (Field Liaison for Congressman Patrick Kennedy). He is a 2010 graduate of Portsmouth High School, and currently enrolled in Bristol Community College Criminal Justice Program.

Andrew was the appointed Youth Representative on the Portsmouth Economic Development Committee (2009-2010), served as Provisional President of the Island Park Recreation Association, and is currently an Associate Member Portsmouth Democratic Town Committee. He is an Eagle Scout and Assistant Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America, a Lifetime Member of the North American Family Camping Association, and was Historian of the National Art Honor Society at Portsmouth High School.

I am seeking this office because I know a great deal about the public school system here in Portsmouth; I have been attending School Committee meetings for three years now and have recently been through the system as a student. I want to preserve the quality of public education in Portsmouth and to boost programs instead of cutting them.

Web site: VoteKelly.webs.com

Retired Vocational Evaluator, James L. Maher Center; Husband: Richard Gottlieb; daughter: Emily; Lifelong Portsmouth resident; Roger Williams University, B. A. 1975; Graduate work in Special Education; children's homilist, St. Lucy's; volunteer, Living in Fulfilling Environments (LIFE) volunteer.

Elected to Portsmouth School Committee 1994-2000; 2000-2002; Chair Budget Subcommittee; 2005-2008, Vice Chair; 2008-present, Secretary

Marge has been tireless in her efforts to develop budgets that are responsible and provide Portsmouth students with the education they need and deserve. Re-Elect Marge and keep her working for us and our children.

David is the President & CEO of IAM Technology and IAM Health (www.iamtech.com). David is recognized professionally as a thought leader in data security and data integrity serving enterprises and governments globally. David is no stranger to Portsmouth politics having served as Vice Chair of the Portsmouth School Committee, Chair of the Gym Construction Committee, Chair of the Gym Fundraising Committee, Interim-Chair of the School's Finance Sub-Committee, and was a steadfast advocate for excellence in Portsmouth schools. David brings external political experience, as well; David served on the Planning Board (Special Permit Granting Authority) and Housing Authority in Hanover, Massachusetts. David chaired a housing sub-committee on seniors housing. In the community, David has been an advocate for the Portsmouth education and is the founder of Save Our Schools and Portsmouth United. David has been an active volunteer at Elmhurst School. David also directed the Norman Bird Sanctuary's Harvest Fair for five years, as a volunteer, and served on the Sanctuary Board.

David is married with two beautiful girls (ages 13 & 9) who attend Portsmouth Middle School and Saint Philomena School respectively.

David is a no-nonsense leader. He saved Portsmouth residents over $60,000 by assuming, as a volunteer, the project manager responsibilities for the Portsmouth High School Gym - over 300 hours of donated time. BTW: the gym was on schedule and left over $300K on account for phase 2. David will publicly state his position and has simply said "YES" for Portsmouth.

Raised in Milford, Connecticut, and attended the Butler Business School in Bridgeport, majoring in accounting, and Warren Business for data processing. Worked in finance and IT for several local companies before joining Star Drug as an office manager, eventually being promoted to the highest position below the owners, director of operations. Retired from Star in 1987 and moved to Rhode Island.

I was widowed in 1995, and have three children: Katherine, my partner at Beach Party Swimwear, now in our 20th year; Karen, (Kathy's twin), a manager for The Maher Center; and Deborah, a nurse who served as president of the Portsmouth Middle School PTO for 2 years. I also have three grandchildren, two PHS grads and one current student. Having grown children has given me the time to devote to serving Portsmouth on the school committee.

I ran for the school committee because I know the young people who will graduate from PHS are our future. Unlike other communities I've lived in, Portsmouth residents do not move away. They stay here and become our doctors, lawyers, dentists, realtors, etc. I want to help make sure that we turn out the best that is possible.

During my time on the Committee, where I currently serve as Chair, we made significant progress in areas that had been challenging in the past: We completed the new Gym on time and within budget. We hired Superintendent Susan Lusi and Finance Director Christine Tague and helped the schools move through a time of challenging budgets to ending this year in the black. And we made our meetings more accessible to the people of Portsmouth by moving them out of the Administration building, and managing the agenda to end the meetings before 9, rather than 11 or midnight.

If re-elected, I shall continue to work toward improving our school systems together with the entire School Committee.