Leo Gagnon
Age: 41, yrs. in Portsmouth: 17
Occupation: realtor with Keller Williams Coastal Realty; bartender at Radici Italian Restaurant
Public Experience: Steering Committee for Portsmouth Listens; facilitated PMS study group; Associate Board for Concord Boys and Girls Club; various organizing committees for nonprofits; Year of the Dolphin supporter for Blue Ocean Society

-As the cost of living in Portsmouth rises, what can be done to provide affordable housing for working families and people with moderate incomes?

Work closely with the Coalition for Workforce Housing in finding ways to bring mixed-use development, offering affordable housing to employees working in the city of Portsmouth.

-What would you do to manage growth in the city’s Northern Tier?

 Growth must comply with Portsmouth’s Master Plan. By creating a fertile environment for innovative, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use projects, government can provide leadership for smart growth that the private sector is sure to support.

-What kind of new businesses would you like to see opening in Portsmouth?

Locally owned, sustainable small businesses that offer locally produced and grown products.

-What would you do to promote sustainable practices and green building in the city?

We need to start with education on the individual level. We start by encouraging citizens to get involved with groups like the Piscataqua Sustainability Initiative. Practicing the ways of other eco-municipalities explained to us in the “Natural Steps for Communities.” We need to ensure that any new development comply with green practices. It has been shown that the cost of initializing sustainable practices can pay for themselves in less than 10 years.

-What was the last cultural or artistic event you attended in Portsmouth?

I most recently attended the Chili Fest and the Blue Ocean Society Foliage Cruise two weekends ago.

-It was largely the artistic community that made Portsmouth a popular destination, but now most artists will tell you that they cannot afford to live or work here. Have we killed the goose that laid the golden egg?