03-03-2025
Hampton Select Board candidate 2025: Derek Beaupre
Name: Derek Beaupre
Town: Hampton
Education: Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
Occupation: Consultant, medical device product development, quality assurance and regulatory affairs
Political or civic experience highlights: Attending American Legion Massachusetts Boys State in high school built on my history and civics classes to introduce me to democratic values, to improve my knowledge of government workings, and to teach me about the importance of citizen involvement. I've become involved throughout the years by coaching Hampton Youth Association and Hampton Attack Soccer and by volunteering at the annual Hampton Beach Seafood Festival and during the town of Hampton election.
How would you address concerns residents have about rising property taxes?: I have recently been taking in a lot of the feedback that the current Board of Selectman have heard regarding the property tax increase due to the revaluation in Hampton. I feel that too, as a homeowner. While property taxes ebb and flow, I believe the first thing our citizens need is more top-down education. Keeping our community informed ahead of time will help to reduce the sticker shock when the time comes. As a board, we need to continue to have fiscal responsibility. When elected, I will help to ensure that budgets have everything we need and nothing we don't. The budget should be as low as possible while meeting the needs of the town.
I will work towards building stronger relationships with our state representatives and senators in Concord, bolstering our partnerships with the state of NH and the federal government to utilize grant opportunities benefitting the town. I will try to find new ways to encourage more businesses to move to Hampton to offset the residential property taxes. Also, we have lots of seasonal businesses that could potentially become year-round, which would attract more visitors and create a cycle of attracting even more businesses.
Summer tourism is already a huge part of Hampton, but we could do even more to encourage family-friendly businesses to relocate or expand here. I'd love to help find a replacement business for the water slides and add amusement rides and ziplines or similar activities at or near the beach.
What are your top three priorities if elected?: 1. For me, stability right now is paramount more than ever. As a board, we need to view the issues Hampton residents face with a measured approach. Finding creative solutions to the unique problems that are presented to the board while continually driving the community forward.
2. Work with our town departments to ensure fiscally responsible practices are being met. Ensuring that together, collectively, we are keeping our focus on the property tax impact on our citizens, and that our citizens are getting the best value for their dollar.
3. Try to ensure that Hampton is marketable in attracting new business or development opportunities. We provide excellent services here, and there are certain ways that this community could benefit from outside investment. As a community, we need to make sure that we aren't short-sighted in cutting spending, keeping Hampton a primary consideration for new businesses or prospective residents.
What else should voters know about you?: I am proud to have been a member of the Hampton community for over 20 years. My wife and I have raised our three wonderful children here and plan to continue making Hampton our home. The exceptional quality of life in Hampton is what initially drew us here, and I am committed to preserving and enhancing that quality for future generations.
With over 30 years of experience in the medical device industry, I possess a deep understanding of navigating government regulations. My roles as an engineer, project manager, and quality & regulatory department head have sharpened my ability to collaborate with diverse groups, listen to stakeholders, and implement creative solutions that address challenges while staying on schedule and within budget.
I firmly believe in teamwork, transparency, accountability, and fostering an inclusive environment where every voice is valued. My vision for Hampton includes promoting sustainable development, maintaining our excellent public services in a cost-effective manner, and ensuring that the town's economic growth benefits all residents.
I am excited about the opportunity to serve as your selectman and work together to secure a vibrant future for our community. Please vote Derek Beaupre for Hampton selectman on March 11th at the Winnacunnet High School – polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Select Board candidate 2025: Derek Beaupre
