Candidate Q&A: James Ellis

What makes you the best candidate for City Council?

Citizens should be heard and empowered. I want to do that by using my experience and concern for neighborhoods. As a retired federal auditor (U. S. General Accounting Office ), I examined federal programs and scrutinized budgets, often reporting directly to Congress. As a Portsmouth planning commissioner, I have experience in zoning and land use . I am founding president of Green Lakes Civic League.

What should be the city’s top priority now, and how can it be achieved?

Improving citizens’ quality of life . To accomplish this , my objectives are to: (1) lower the real estate tax rate by restoring fiscal responsibility, eliminating wasteful expenditures, and making better spending decisions; (2) improve neighborhood safety by increasing law enforcement salaries to retain quality and quantity of officers; and (3) secure more federal and state money to offset the taxpayer burden.

What do you think will be the city’s most pressing issue in 10 years, and how can the city prepare for it?

Funding transportation is the critical long-term issue with the largest price tag and most complex problems. Transportation is the connective framework that supports economic health and regional access. There must be a productive dialogue with nearby cities. It is imperative to analyze problems and adopt a focused, visionary approach .

Should Portsmouth lobby for a light rail crossing through the Midtown Tunnel? Why?

Portsmouth must prepare for transportation demands to stay competitive. The city should lobby for a light rail crossing to connect with regional systems and seek more federal and state financing for our own rail improvements.

Should the city and state raise more money to pay for transportation projects? If yes, how?

Against citizen protest, the incumbents voted to include Portsmouth in the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority with its excessive fees, taxes and tolls. Without state wide citizen protest and the State Supreme Court ruling the HRTA as unconstitutional, these fees would be another burden. Port commerce benefits the state and nation. The legislature has responsibility to manage the budget and fund transportation needs.

What would you do to improve conditions in Portsmouth’s neighbor- hoods?

Citizens’ voices must be heard . Communities flood during heavy rains, have boarded up structures that attract criminals, endure schools that are not healthy for students or teachers, have infrastructures that are out-dated and often unsafe, and have large trucks parked in neighborhoods. I would work to change selective code enforcement, the complaint-driven policy that prevents change, and inequities in spending policies .