To the editor,

I want to ensure to the people of Portsmouth and to the Portsmouth Business Community that, as director of business development for the Town of Portsmouth, I have always been and will continue to be the strongest advocate for Portsmouth businesses. 

My dedication to support of Portsmouth businesses may have been called in to question in a statement I made during a recent Town Council meeting, where I was trying to clarify the specifications that the Town Council desired to impose on the community banner program marketing firm to restrict sponsors of the banner program to Portsmouth businesses. 

If my question to the council inferred that I was advocating for non-Portsmouth businesses, I apologize. It was not my intent and it is not consistent with my dedication to the support of the Portsmouth business community. 

Richard Talipsky

Director of business development

Town of Portsmouth