Name: Kathryn W. “Kitty” Bryant

Age: 43

Website: KittyforCouncil.com

Biography: Kitty and her husband Hunter chose Portsmouth as their home when looking to buy their first house nearly 15 years ago. Today, they are raising their three children in the city, all of whom attend Portsmouth Public Schools. Kitty earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Rutgers University and worked for several years as a newspaper reporter. In 2009, Kitty earned a master’s degree with licensure in secondary education from Old Dominion University. She was a classroom teacher and department head for Hampton City Schools. Currently, Kitty is the director of children and family ministry at Trinity Episcopal Church where she leads instruction, plans events, and organizes community involvement for local children, youth, and families. Under Kitty’s direction, the church has partnered with Portsmouth Public Schools to provide paid internships for students participating in Manor High School’s Early Childhood Education Program.

As a volunteer, Kitty has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for the city of Portsmouth, advocating for safe and permanent housing for children in foster care. She has served as a liaison for Portsmouth Public Schools’ Title I Parent Advisory Committee and is active in school-related activities. Currently, Kitty is president of the Olde Towne Portsmouth Civic League and represents the league on the Portsmouth Council of Civic Organizations. She is also a member of Portsmouth’s History Commission; a Girl Scout leader; and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Why are you running for this office?

As a working mother raising three children in Portsmouth, I see our city’s incredible potential, but like many, have become increasingly frustrated by the lack of steady leadership to move our city forward. As a member of council, I plan to strengthen our community through collaborative leadership. I will work professionally to make pragmatic decisions that will make our city safer, our schools stronger, and our communities family-friendly. By planning new development that will lead to sustainable sources of revenue for Portsmouth, we can also lower the tax burden on our residents.

I will also move Portsmouth forward by offering a diverse perspective on council. In our city’s long history, we have only ever elected five women to Portsmouth City Council. This misrepresentation of our community is unfair and is hurting our efforts to think creatively and holistically to effectively problem-solve. As an elected leader I will represent all of our city, but especially the women and families who are currently lacking a voice.

What is the top challenge facing Portsmouth, and how would you address it?

The top challenge facing Portsmouth is our lack of stable leadership. People across our city are tired of representation that is unprepared, unreliable, and unprofessional. With extreme turnovers in top city jobs in recent years, we have lost our ability to function in a way that provides adequate services to our residents. We are a city full of thoughtful and hard-working folks who have a deep love for Portsmouth. They deserve to be represented by leaders who will engage, listen, collaborate, and support meaningful dialogue that leads us to decisions that will benefit our city and its people. With professional leadership and a collaborative focus in place, we can truly tackle our challenges, including crime, economic development, schools, and taxes.

What is your view addressing the affordable housing crisis?

Affordable housing is a problem nationwide. To address this crisis locally, we need to support smart development. We must think creatively about space; how zoning and parking codes play a role in development; the availability of rental properties; and the potential incentives for developing smaller homes, which are in demand as family size drops across the country.

We have great potential to redevelop our beautiful waterfront and link it to our planned Innovation District. This will allow us to capitalize on two areas of our city that have been underutilized for decades. By developing a downtown that includes business, entertainment, and residences, we can offer new housing opportunities while creating a city that is safer, walkable, bikeable, and vibrant. Electing leaders who understand the importance of collaboration will help us address the affordable housing crisis in Portsmouth and I look forward to working with council leaders on this issue, and others that face our city.

The city has a longstanding history of dysfunction on City Council. How will you civilly work with your colleagues?

We have suffered several years of dysfunctional leadership on Portsmouth City Council and folks across the city are eager for a change. They are tired of unprofessional leaders that don’t represent us, our values as Portsmouth residents, or the incredible potential of our city. It is time for our leaders to act with decorum and respect. We must engage, listen, collaborate, and support meaningful dialogue that leads us to decisions that will benefit our city and its people. With a professional background in communication and education, I understand the importance of building relationships by meeting people face-to-face, listening, and respecting the role of leadership by being prepared. Our elected leaders have a responsibility to represent all of our city and I look forward to taking on this position respectfully when elected.

What is your vision for the former Civic Center and Holiday Inn site in Olde Towne Portsmouth?

We have the incredible opportunity to make our downtown waterfront an asset to our city. With beautiful views, direct connections to Norfolk, and a rich historic district within walking distance, our waterfront has the potential to drive huge change in Portsmouth. In engaging with folks on this issue, they have been clear in communicating their desire to see a vibrant waterfront district that makes them proud of their home. This development should include new businesses, great restaurants, affordable residences, and places for entertainment. All of our residents and visitors deserve to enjoy this area, which really defines our foundation as a maritime city. Portsmouth is a unique city with a special history and it is important for us to maintain that distinctly “Portsmouth” feel. Our waterfront should reflect the culture, creativity, and community or our city and be a destination for all families, entertainment, shopping, and dining. Making smart decisions about this development will impact our city for generations to come and it is critical we elect folks who are strong leaders.

What is your view on taking money from individuals who will likely have business before the city?

As a grassroots campaign, we are extremely grateful to the individual donors who are driving our effort to bring collaborative leadership to Portsmouth City Council. The need to build a stronger community in Portsmouth is one that resonates with many people who know we can raise expectations and reach new heights. Our donors reflect the energy of all the people who love this city. As a campaign, we are committed to maintaining our political independence, representing all voters on local issues. Businesses are a key part of our Portsmouth community and have a vested interest in ensuring our city’s success. We also welcome engagement from all of the people and businesses who believe in our goals, care for our city, and want to invest in our efforts to make Portsmouth stronger.