Changing of the guards for Portsmouth Town Council

Democrats take over, Aguiar voted new president

By Jim McGaw
Posted 11/19/18

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Town Council has both a new political majority and leader.

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Changing of the guards for Portsmouth Town Council

Democrats take over, Aguiar voted new president

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Town Council has both a new political majority and leader.

The top vote-getters in the council and Portsmouth School Committee races on Nov. 6 were officially sworn into office by Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea during a brief ceremony at Town Hall Monday night. 

The new council is made up of six Democrats: incumbents Kevin M. Aguiar, J. Mark Ryan and Linda L. Ujifusa; former council member Leonard M. Aguiar; Andrew V. Kelly, who just finished his time on the School Committee; and political newcomer Daniel T. Abbott.

The panel is rounded out by Republican Keith E. Hamilton, the previous council president who had presided over a more politically balanced panel that had three Democrats, three Republicans and one Independent.

The new council’s first order of business was to select a president, and members voted 4-3 to pick Mr. Aguiar, who previously served as the panel’s vice president.

Ms Abbott started the process off by nominating Ms. Ujifusa, but Mr. Katzman and Mr. Hamilton both put Mr. Aguiar’s name forward.

Ms. Abbott explained her selection by saying the top vote-getter among council candidates has “historically” been nominated as president. 

“This time around we have a woman who’s very qualified for the position and she beat us fair and square,” Ms. Abbott said of Ms. Ujifusa, who garnered more votes than any other candidate. “I have full confidence in Linda, who’ll work her butt off so she can run the best town council ever.”

To go against tradition and not nominate Ms. Ujifusa simply because she’s a woman would be “tragic,” she said.

Mr. Hamilton took exception to Ms. Abbott’s remarks, saying there is no such tradition that dictates who becomes council president. He also said women have not previously been shut out of council leadership positions. “Mrs. Mary Ann Edwards has run this council very effectively in the past,” he said.

Mr. Katzman said Mr. Aguiar has given nearly two decades of public service to the town, including his stint on the Zoning Board of Review from 1999 to 2014. “He’s worked hard to prove his dedication to Portsmouth by his years of service,” Mr. Katzman said. 

Selecting a council president is “one of the hardest votes” a member can make, he added. 

“It’s a difficult decision to choose one among all of our friends,” said Mr. Katzman. While he believed Ms. Ujifusa could do the council president’s job “quite admirably,” Mr. Katzman said he also didn’t think the top vote-getter should automatically lead the panel.

Mr. Aguiar received votes from himself, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Katzman and Mr. Kelly, with the others supporting Ms. Ujifusa.

“Congratulations, Mr. Aguiar,” said Town Clerk Jennifer West. “I declare you president of the Portsmouth Town Council."

Ms. Ujifusa was then selected council vice president by unanimous vote, after being nominated by Mr. Kelly. There were no other nominations.

Departing words

Three council incumbents lost their bid for reelection: Republicans Paul F. Kesson and Elizabeth A. Pedro, and Independent David M. Gleason. Ms. Pedro did not attend Monday’s ceremony, but the other two shared brief remarks before stepping down.

“I can’t say it was always a fun experience, but it was never a dull experience,” said Mr. Gleason, who noted he never missed a meeting during the six years he served. 

He pointed out that the other two departing council members have another 12 years of council service between them. “Amazingly a collective 18 years of service replaced by a combined four years of council experience, although Mr. Kelley does have two years of School Committee experience,” said Mr. Gleason, who congratulated the Democrats on their use of “social media, campaign managers and the solicitation of senior citizens” to get their message out.

He urged the council to continue work on unfinished business, such as completing the Comprehensive Community and Harbor Management plans, and finding occupants for numerous, vacant town buildings.

Mr. Gleason said he regretted a couple of decisions while serving on the council, the most glaring being his support for the wind turbine at the high school. Allowing it to be located so close to a residential area was a mistake, he said, and he partly blamed a vocal minority of locals for convincing the panel of its worth.

“Beware the smooth-talking salesman from within the town,” he said.

Mr. Kesson was concise in his remarks, saying “I think we accomplished a lot,” and that it was an honor and a privilege to serve on the council.

School board swearing-in

Four candidates who won seats on the School Committee were also sworn in by Secretary Gorbea Monday night: incumbents Allen J. Shers and Thomas R. Vadney, both Republicans, and Frederick Faerber III, an Independent. They were joined by political newcomer Catherine H. Holtman, a Democrat.

Monday’s meeting began with a flag ceremony by Boy Scouts Troop 82 and Girl Scouts Troop 730, followed by the Portsmouth High School Vocal Ensemble singing The National Anthem. 

The Rev. Peter J. Andrews of St. Barnabas Church gave the invocation, while Howard Hancock Newman of the Newport Havurah offered the closing benediction.

Portsmouth Town Council, Portsmouth School Committee

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