Democracy for New Hampshire is pleased to announce the endorsement of Portsmouth City Councilor Ned Raynolds in his first reelection bid for the office. "It’s been an honor and privilege to serve my fellow Portsmouth citizens on our City Council,” says Raynolds. “However, having this perspective has led me to believe that in order to deal successfully with some of our biggest challenges – fiscal, educational, health care, environmental – we are going to have to temper our prized New Hampshire tradition of strong local government (the famous "Live Free or Die" mentality) with a stronger sense of regional and statewide community and responsibility to each other and to future generations." Portsmouth municipal elections take place November 8th.

Professionally, Raynolds has worked for years to educate state legislators, Congressional staff, and regulatory policy makers about energy and environmental isssues, promoting policies and funding of statewide programs to help homeowners, businesses, and industries reap the multiple benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy while addressing global warming. Formerly Senior Program Officer at Clean Air-Cool Planet, a Portsmouth-based environmental non-profit, Raynolds has also worked for Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), the Alliance to Save Energy, and the Lawrence-Berkeley National Laboratory.

Ned embodies the ideals of DFNH's mission: supporting socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates who speak honestly about policy choices and promoting grassroots political activism in the Granite State. He was first elected to City Council in 2003 after advocating that two major city building projects – its high school and new public library – should be models of energy efficiency and other sustainable design practices. "Sustainability is, in my view, the ultimate in being socially progressive and fiscally responsible, because it all about being sound, long-term stewards of our environment and our community fabric, rather than sacrificing quality and equity for short-term economic gain."

During his first term, Raynolds has teamed with fellow Councilor Steve Marchand to push for a transition to "outcome-based budgeting" and a focus on results by the City's departments (Police, Fire, School, and Municipal) in order to restrain growth in taxes while delivering improved performance year by year. Ned has spoken out for, demonstrated personally, and pledges to continue to promote open, vigorous, and respectful public discourse in order to achieve the best long-term decisions while working against cynicism and mistrust of government. "I will not stand for hidden agendas, segmented discussions and decision-taking, and committees that are fig leaves for predetermined outcomes," he said, referring as an example to on-going discussions about the future of Portsmouth’s downtown Middle School.

In addition to help knocking doors before the election, Ned will need volunteers to canvass, write Letters to the Editor, help with sign placement and maintenance, and participate in GOTV activities. Ned needs help, in particular, because he has been recalled to active duty for 30 days by the U.S. Coast Guard in support of Hurricane Recovery Operations in Louisiana.

At the time of his deployment, Raynolds had just completed nearly five months on active duty, during which he served as a Homeland Security Watchstander in the Coast Guard’s First District Command Center in Boston. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1986, then served eight years on active duty, and has remained an active Reservist since 1994. His experience with disaster response operations dates back to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, to which he deployed in April of 1989 as a member of the Coast Guard’s Congressional Affairs Staff.

Those who want to help with visibility on Election Day, November 8 should show-up at 7:30 a.m. at the Portsmouth Middle School (the Ward 2 polling location) for signs and location assignments. To read more about Ned and his views on the issues Portsmouth faces, and to contact him by email, visit his website at www.VoteNed.org.