City & town
Portsmouth City Council
- Vote for
- 3
- Term
- 4 years
- Candidates
- 5
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
What this office does: The city council sets City of Portsmouth's budget, tax rates and ordinances and appoints the city manager.
Taxes & budget
Lisa L. Lucas-BurkeNo party listed
- Proposes tax incentives for teachers, police and firefighters.
- Proposes tax breaks for longtime resident taxpayers.
Mark M. WhitakerNo party listed
- Opposes tax incentives and subsidies for developers.
- Supports real estate tax relief and full school funding.
Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr.No party listed
- Proposes lower real estate tax rates and wider relief.
Mark A. HugelNo party listed
- Proposes cutting costs and broadening the tax base.
William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr.No party listed
- Proposes indexing senior and veteran relief to inflation.
Public safety
Lisa L. Lucas-BurkeNo party listed
No documented position found.
Mark M. WhitakerNo party listed
No documented position found.
Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr.No party listed
No documented position found.
Mark A. HugelNo party listed
No documented position found.
William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr.No party listed
- Supports full staffing of police, fire and EMS.
Housing
Lisa L. Lucas-BurkeNo party listed
- Supports affordable housing for first-time buyers and seniors.
Mark M. WhitakerNo party listed
No documented position found.
Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr.No party listed
- Proposes city land and zoning incentives for workforce housing.
Mark A. HugelNo party listed
- Supports moving City Hall off the waterfront for housing.
William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr.No party listed
- Supports redeveloping vacant and underused properties for housing.
Economy & jobs
Lisa L. Lucas-BurkeNo party listed
- Supports small and minority business role in waterfront plans.
Mark M. WhitakerNo party listed
- Proposes penalties for breaking minority contracting rules.
Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr.No party listed
- Supports minority and women-owned business goals for waterfront contracts.
Mark A. HugelNo party listed
- Supports implementing the waterfront development plan.
William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr.No party listed
- Supports developing the former jail site and North Harbor.
Roads & infrastructure
Lisa L. Lucas-BurkeNo party listed
No documented position found.
Mark M. WhitakerNo party listed
No documented position found.
Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr.No party listed
- Proposes freezing automatic water and sewer rate hikes.
Mark A. HugelNo party listed
No documented position found.
William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr.No party listed
No documented position found.
Government & transparency
Lisa L. Lucas-BurkeNo party listed
No documented position found.
Mark M. WhitakerNo party listed
- Proposes open public presentations by waterfront developers.
Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr.No party listed
No documented position found.
Mark A. HugelNo party listed
- Supports council priorities led by public safety.
William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr.No party listed
No documented position found.
Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.