Kelli Barnaby

City Clerk

Kelli Barnaby has been employed with the City of Portsmouth since 1988, when she began as a clerk/typist in the Office of the City Clerk. She was appointed Deputy Clerk in December of 1991 and became City Clerk in 1994. She became a certified New Hampshire City Clerk in 1998. She is one of the most highly qualified and certified city clerks in New England. She has received a certificate of merit from the City Manager and Mayor in 1998. She is a graduate from Salve Regina University through the New England Municipal Clerk’s Institute in 2005. She received a certified municipal clerk designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks in 2005. She has a master municipal clerk designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, received in 2015. She has long served the citizens of Portsmouth and beyond with her efforts in conducting elections and providing services which city clerk’s offices provide, from issuing marriage licenses to assisting the public with records involving birth certificates, death certificates and many other sensitive vital statistics matters. Ms. Barnaby, as City Clerk, serves as Portsmouth’s Chief Election Officer for federal, state and local elections.  These duties include conducting the election, ballot counting and reporting.  She conducts recounts when requested.

She has served on the New England Municipal Clerk’s Institute and Academy Board of Directors and ultimately served as Chairman of the Board and Co-Curriculum Chair in 2012 and 2013. She has also served on the Executive Board of the New England Association of City and Town Clerks, becoming President in 2013-2014. She currently will be serving as President of the New Hampshire City and Town Clerks Association in September through October 2018. Ms. Barnaby is a dedicated public servant with vast knowledge in areas involving city clerk procedures and enjoys an excellent reputation amongst municipal and state governments.