It’s an off year for most state and federal elections, but Portland residents will cast their ballots in three hotly contested city council races on Nov. 2.
Here are the quick facts on the seats up for grabs and who’s running to fill them:
Portland City Council: At-Large
The winner of the citywide contest for one of three at-large council posts will fill the shoes of longtime Portland public servant Nicholas Mavodones, who announced in June that he would not seek reelection this year. This race will use ranked-choice voting on November’s ballot:
Travis Curran, service industry worker who ran unsuccessfully for Portland mayor in 2019. His priorities include affordable housing growth and mitigating the property tax impacts of short-term rentals in Portland.
Brandon Mazer, chair of Portland’s planning board and an attorney with the Portland-based firm Perkins Thompson. He lists improved public transit, K-12 education and affordable housing among his priorities.
Roberto Rodríguez, at-large member of the Portland school board and physical therapy assistant who runs a home vegetable gardening service business. As a councilor, he says he’d focus on education, climate change, affordable housing and racial equity.
Stuart “Stu” Tisdale, attorney and history teacher at Cheverus High School. He says he’d prioritize issues such as affordable housing, climate change, homelessness and maintaining a “non-ideological” approach in city government.
Portland City Council: District 1
District 1 covers the Portland peninsula above High Street, including the East End, Bayside and most of the Old Port, as well as the Casco Bay islands. Its two-term incumbent, Belinda Ray, said in May she would not seek reelection. Here’s who’s running to replace her:
Sarah Michniewicz, community organizer in Bayside and freelance seamstress. She lists priorities such as affordable housing and shelters, sustainability and public transit.
Anna Trevorrow, at-large member of the Portland school board and medical malpractice paralegal. Her top issues include affordable housing and property tax relief, racial justice and support for the city’s working waterfront and island communities.
Portland City Council: District 2
This seat serves the West End, Valley Street and Parkside neighborhoods of Portland, as well as part of Oakdale. It was vacated just last month by former incumbent Spencer Thibodeau, who took a post in the U.S. Department of Energy. Here’s who’s on the ballot to fill the post:
Jon Hinck, attorney, former state representative and Portland city councilor at-large. He lists climate change action as a top priority, along with affordable housing, homelessness and racial equity.
Victoria “Tori” Pelletier, community organizer and project manager with the Greater Portland Council of Governments. She names racial justice, non-police crisis response reforms, affordable housing and an equitable climate change response as her priorities.
There are three other contested races on this year’s ballot (see a sample here), for an at-large school board seat and two positions with the Casco Bay Lines authority.
Voters will also decide on a referendum amending city code related to emergency shelters. Option A, from a citizen petition, requires smaller shelters with a maximum occupancy of 50 people. Option B, from the city council, would allow up to three times as many beds per shelter.
City residents can cast absentee ballots early, in person, through Oct. 28. The city clerk’s office will be open until 7 p.m. on that last day. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2, with same-day voter registration available. Click here to check your district, and find your polling place here.
