Jim Splaine Running for Portsmouth City Council

Longtime Portsmouth politician Jim Splaine announced Thursday he's running for City Council.

Splaine is one of 13 candidates who have signed up for the race so far. All nine council seats are up for grabs in the Nov. 5 election.

Splaine, 66, previously served on the council for 12 years. He served in the Legislature for 30 years.

"I will work to generate positive conversation about the future of our community that includes as many people as want to be involved," Splaine said in a statement. "Each of us is on this planet for only a short time, and I'm asking for the chance to be able to help for the next two years."

Other candidates who have filed to run include:

• Mayor Eric Spear (incumbent)
• Brad Lown (incumbent)
• Jack Thorsen (incumbent)
• Esther Kennedy (incumbent)
• J. Robert Shouse
  
• Josh Denton
  
• Gibson "Mike" Kennedy
  
• Steven Taylor
• Shelly Lyn Saunders
• Devin Murphy
• Tristan Law
• Joe Caldarola