With the election only hours away, the pool of candidates have little more to do than wait to see which of them will become Portland’s new mayor.

Three of the candidates – Pious Ali, Mark Dion and Andrew Zarro – are serving as Portland city councilors. Justin Costa, who is also running, has served on both the council and the school board in the past. The fifth candidate, Dylan Pugh, is new to city politics.

A sixth candidate, George Rheault, is running as a write-in.

The candidates are vying for the post vacated by current Portland Mayor Kate Snyder, who announced after a single four-year term that she would not be seeking reelection this year. Of the five candidates, Snyder announced last month that she endorsed both Zarro and Dion. 

ALI

On his website, Ali describes himself as a community organizer. He cites affordable housing, protecting the environment, supporting education, shared economic development and protecting and expanding democracy as his key issues.  

For each, Ali suggests a number of actions for the city to take, including enforcing rent control, creating a municipal-level, consumer-owned utility and strengthening citizen initiatives.

DION

Dion lists more public service in his background than any other candidate. He describes himself as a former city councilor, former state senator and former state representative. He is also a former Portland deputy police chief and former Cumberland County Sheriff. Dion lists public safety as the city’s “first priority.”  

He cites a need for a more visible police presence in schools and also supports creating “recovery homes,” where people suffering from substance use disorder can get treatment.

ZARRO

Zarro is the founder and owner of the coffee shop Little Woodfords. He also describes himself as “a proud member” of the LGBTQ+ community and a “fierce advocate” for it.  

He also cites among his issues addressing homelessness, affordable housing, the environment, improving infrastructure, economic development and government transparency.  

Among his ideas are “building a transitional housing community” for the city’s homeless.

COSTA

Costa served two terms on the school board, followed by two terms on the city council, the last term ending in 2020. He cites affordable housing, education, environmental sustainability and economic development among his key issues.  

He said as mayor, he wants to propose changes to the city’s zoning laws to make it easier to build affordable housing, work to expand electric vehicle infrastructure and support the working waterfront, including ongoing efforts to continue dredging projects.

PUGH

Pugh said he bought his first home in Portland in 2020, and cites affordable housing among his issues, along with homelessness and what he describes as “economic justice.”  

Among his proposals as mayor, Pugh wants to place a moratorium on building new hotels and temporary lodging, create a coalition to address local homelessness and advocate for a living minimum wage.

RHEAULT

Rheault is running as an outsider, according to his campaign website. A lawyer by trade, Rheault has lived in Portland since 2015.

Among issues he is advocating for include a regional train service, lowering the cost of housing as a way to help curb Portland’s homeless problem and keeping the city council better informed so as to make better decisions.