Genevieve Becksted Muske, Portsmouth School Board Candidate

Genevieve Becksted Muske

Age (as of Election Day)

48

Position Sought

School Board

Party Affiliation

N/A

Family

Shawn Muske is my husband and we have a daughter, Sloan.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My brother Rick Becksted is the current Mayor of Portsmouth, NH

Education

I am 3 classes away from earning my Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a concentration on Industrial Organizational Psychology.

Occupation

I am employed as a Processing Supervisor in Real Estate Lending, with over 20 years of experience in this field.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

N/A

Why are you seeking elective office?

My goal is to offer a strong line of communication. I believe it’s important for all to feel that they are heard and have the opportunity to convey their individual thoughts and needs. If elected I hope to be a part of creating an environment were all feel able to come forward and be heard. In addition I would like to see an increase in communication; I believe it is important to be as transparent as possible. Taking the time to hear all sides of a topic is vital in an effort to make decisions that affect a community.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I believe there are several pressing issues facing the school board; one important item is the appointment of a new superintendent. With my experience interviewing in the work environments it is important to be able to see the strengths and benefits of an individual during the interview process. I expect the appropriate person to fill this position would need to be intelligent, aware and ready for the responsibilities of this position. They would need to be compassionate and conscious of the needs of the student, parents and faculty. And they also need to be prepared, regardless of the obstacles; this individual must have the ability to prioritize their actions and understand their resources.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe that all the candidates possess a great number of strengths and talents; it is in this diversity that makes our community so great. I feel what’s most important for any candidate is to be open to the wants and needs of others. They should present a patient nature, offering the ability to make the most appropriate decisions for all. In my current career with the members of my team and our customers, it is important that I offer a calm and open space for communication, all while providing much needed information. In creating an environment for such interactions allow for all individuals to feel appreciated and most importantly to feel heard. In addition to offering an environment open to all opinions I am also capable of making decisions and am willing to work hard to fight for what is important.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I believe that the current board has been faces with a great number of difficulty’s, experiencing events that no other board has ever had to address and I respect them for this dedication and efforts. I feel that working to improve upon communication would be beneficial for all, in offering open communication it can help to the earn respect and trust in any interactions. I feel confident in providing a platform for communication, encouraging interaction between all will be well received. Newsletters provided from the school district reflect a great deal of information. I would like to see an improvement in that form, in an effort to improve upon providing information that affects all.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

The decisions made by the current school board entered a realm very different from anything in past years. I believe it is important to consider all aspects of any subject matter before arriving at any decision. If I am offered the opportunity to serve on the School Board I intend to listen to professionals, while hearing the opinions of those that are effected by such decisions, in an effort to arrive at choices that are beneficial to all.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My platform is communication, I believe it’s important for parents to know the expectations and requirements of the educators and I believe it’s important for educators to be conscious of the wants and needs of the parents and the children. I do not have a personal agenda and am open to address any and all of the issues the School Board will be facing in the future. I intend to be diplomatic and would I walk in with an open mind to listen to all of the sides of an issue before arriving at a decision.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My professional life requires me to be organized and detail oriented, while guiding and supporting my team towards their successes as well as my companies. My hope is to take these skills into a board member position where I may offer my work ethic and dedication, in an effort to create an environment where all feel heard and understood.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“You're never wrong to do the right thing” (Mark Twain), and great advise from my father.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

In my past I have offered a great deal of time to volunteering. I was introduction to Portsmouth at the age of 10 and we were shown the importance of pride for our community through our parents. My mother worked for the Chamber of Commerce, my father served on the ProPortsmouth Board, Prescott Parks Arts Festival and the HDC Board. No matter the event, be it managing a stage at Market Square Day, stuffing envelopes at the Chamber or selling T-shirts at the arrival of the USS Albacore, my brothers and I were always there to help out whenever needed. For my efforts, I was graced with the honor of the Young Citizen of the Year award.

I continue the mindset of pride in my community into my adulthood and am always willing and ready to offer my assistance wherever needed. My husband and I are raising our daughter to have that same appreciate for others, to be conscious of the needs and feeling of others, and remember that our actions have influence. I recently came across the quote with my daughter stating that “people won’t remember what you said, people won’t remember what you did, but they will remember how you made them feel”. If I am graced with this responsibility I promise to provide my care, attention, and dedication to the responsibilities of a board position with an open mind and an understanding of the wants and needs of others.

I thank you for your time and consideration.