WELCOME TO THE BECKSTED BLOG 2025 

My final post before Tuesdays Election : Portsmouth deserves real change — and that starts with your vote. Over the past two months on the campaign trail, one request has stood out above all others — change. But meaningful change in Portsmouth can only happen one way. This year, seven incumbents are running for re-election. On our City Council, it takes six votes to spend money — and five votes to create policies or make zoning changes. If six of the seven incumbents are re-e

Incase you missed last nights candidate forum, here is my final statement on why I am running for Portsmouths City Council and why you should vote for me! I just want to encourage the residents of Portsmouths to go out and Vote Novemeber 4th! Tell your neighbors, your friends, I cannot stress enough how important it is as a Portsmouth resident to go and vote Novemebr 4th! I look forward to seeing you all out there! Thank you, Rick Becksted Incase you would like to watch more,

One thing Portsmouth should be proud of is our AAA bond rating — the highest possible rating a city can earn. It’s a reflection of strong financial management, careful planning, and decades of responsible decision-making by city leaders, staff, and residents alike. During my four years on the City Council, we held several bond hearings that supported critical infrastructure projects — water and sewer upgrades, roads, sidewalks, and other improvements that keep our city runnin

Over the past four years, I’ve watched a troubling trend take hold in Portsmouth’s city government — one that should concern every resident who values transparency and honest representation. This current City Council has held around 70 non-public meetings during their term. Seventy. And most of them are non-descriptive, offering no meaningful information to the public about what was discussed or why the meeting was even called. When I served on the City Council, we didn’t com

Twelve years ago, I became deeply engaged in following how our city government operates. Over that time, I’ve attended meetings, listened to residents, and tried to stay informed about the issues that shape Portsmouth’s future. And in all those years, I’ve never seen our city less represented than it is right now. It often feels like today’s City Council is more focused on popularity and personal interests than on representing the people who live and work here. Too often, whe

9/29/2025 Hello, Portsmouth! For over 12 years, I've dedicated myself to our city’s well-being, serving both as an advocate and as a...