| The West End NEWS 2008 Elections Page |
| November 5, 2008 LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS State Legislature District 118 (West End) -Jon Hinck (D)3247 (74.20%) -Joshua Miller (G)1129 (25.80%) District 119 (Parkside, Bayside) -Herb Adams (D) 2243 (64.45%) -Dan Jenkins (G) 887(25.49%) Ryan Hendrickson (R) 350 (10.06%) District 120 (Munjoy Hill, Downtown) -Sandy Amborn(G) 1231 (30.21) -Peter Doyle (R) 741 (18.18%) Diane Russell (D) 2103 (51.61%) State Senate District 8 Justin Alfond (D) 11,704 (62.77%) -Bill Linnell (G) 4153 (22.27%) -Eric Lusk (R) 2788 (14.95%) Portland School Committee -Elizabeth Holton 16,487 (60.03%) -Anna Trevorrow 10,979 (39.97) Portland City Council Tina Smith 6,385 (20.21%) Ed Suslovic 12,180 (38.55%) Dory Waxman 13,027 (41.24%) |
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Smith Criticizes Press Herald for
Misrepresentation
At-large Portland City Council candidate Tina Smith has
accused the Portland Press Herald of misrepresenting her
character and military record.
A recent article in the Press Herald said that Smith was
"dishonorably discharged after three years in the Army when
she informed a supervisor at Fort Bragg, N.C., that she was
homosexual."
Smith was discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Policy," which stipulates that homosexual admission provides
for an honorable discharge, which is what Smith received.
The Press Herald printed a correction to the story, and
allowed Smith to write a clarification of her record in their
Saturday, November 1st issue, along with a letter from
candidate Dory Waxman, under the title “Tina Smith, Dory
Waxman seek at-large support.”
Smith also accused the newspaper of being homophobic
because they listed her as “single” while identifying other
candidates as having a partner, as Smith does.
King Students to”Rock the Vote”
Sixth graders in York House at King Middle School in
Portland will gather in the school’s library on November 4
from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. to watch the election returns and
participate in activities such as creating electoral maps.
The election night party is part of York House’s learning
expedition called "Rock the Vote." Other activities included a
citywide voter registration drive conducted by students in
September
For more information, please call (207) 874-8140.
King Middle School is located at 92 Deering Avenue.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
League's Election Committee Defends
Endorsement Process
Dear West End News Readers,
Democracy prevails at The Portland League of Young Voters!
After a wonderfully competitive primary, and a highly
charged yet to be decided general election, The League is
proud to be further along its path of engaging, empowering,
and edifying the current, as well as prospective voters of the
Greater Portland community.
This was a season of firsts: a comprehensive primary voting
guide covering contested local, state and federal races (all but
county commissioner); a presidential race that has invigorated
the populace unlike any in this generation’s lifetime; and my
first cycle as a member of the League’s Elections Committee.
I bear testimony that each and every race from Water District
Board to U.S. Senate and Presidency enjoys the exhaustive
process of research, interviews (well, all but McCain and
Obama), drafts and re-writes, and the collective scrutiny of a
multi-partisan, six-member team. Through our work, we
develop candidate synopses and recommendations for each of
the races. This year was no easy task with so many fantastic
progressives throwing their hats into the ring. The committee
absolutely battled on several competitions. There are
candidates with similar vision for their seat but different
focuses, qualifying experience, and/or passions; and races
devoid of standout representatives altogether.
These hard-fought recommendations were presented in verbal
and written form to The League’s volunteer core at “Project
Vote” night in the same method used since its inception. The
Elections Committee’s duty is to supplement our members’
knowledge with thorough and tempered information. The
formula also calls for ample time for anyone and everyone to
offer their own knowledge, opinions, and responses or
rebuttals to others’ comments. Both of this year’s meetings
were lively affairs, with much discussion and debate.
Jennifer Jaroszuk’s admission in her letter to WEN that
Project Vote was “the first time I had heard anything about
some of these candidates…” is not an uncommon sentiment
among young voters and is our reason for being! The
Elections Committee’s work helps to transform all those
names on the ubiquitous campaign signs into real people with
real ideas and credibility through our outreach here in
Portland. Under- and- uninformed voters have the opportunity
to make educated decisions when they put pen to paper in the
voting booth.
I must disclose that I am a registered Green Independent and
at least some of my favorites were not recommended or
subsequently endorsed. Thus is the nature of democracy. My
votes were counted and tallied. I can now only theorize why
League members voted the way we did – why, in some
cases, we chose proven experience over the vitality of youth.
I stand behind every last endorsement, not only because these
candidates are ready and willing to enact progressive and
responsible change, but because they will effectively
represent the interests of young people all over our city and
state.
Carlin Whitehouse
Portland
Friday, October 31, 2008
ANTHONY ZELI ANNOUNCES
WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN FOR COUNTY
CHARTER COMMISSION
Congress Streeet resident Anthony Zeli has filed with the state
as a write-in candidate for Cumberland County Charter
Commission.
After hearing that the County Charter Commission failed to
attract any candidates for District 1—including Portland,
Falmouth, Cumberland, Yarmouth, Chebeague Island and
Long Island—Zeli decided to launch a write-in campaign.
The charter regulates how the county government is
organized, and the charter commission will have the
opportunity to inspect and make changes to the document.
The County Commissioners approved the charter commission
in order to examine how the county government works now,
and how it will need to work in the future as the region
grows and changes. The charter commission will spend a
year developing a new charter that will then be voted on by
the public in the Spring or Fall of 2010.
.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Portland Breaks Record for Absentee
Voting
As of 9:20 AM Wednesday, the City of Portland had issued
10,259,absentee ballots, breaking the record for absentee
voting of 10,003, set in 2004. The City Clerk estimates that
another 3,000 voters will vote absentee this week.
Saturday November 1st will be the last day residents of
Portland can vote by absentee in-person at City Hall. To
accommodate voters, the City Clerk's office will be open
from 8:00 AM to noon on Saturday. Voters can also vote
absentee at City Hall this week in the State of Maine room
during its regular hours of operation, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Please note that early voting is prohibited in the State of
Maine. In order to vote before Election Day, registered voters
must request an absentee ballot and return it to the City Clerk
before the polls close on Election Day.
For up-to-date information about voting this November, visit
www.portlandvoters.com or call the City's voter hotline at
874-8676.
Wednesday, October 29,2008
Head-to-Head Debates Begin Tonight
Local political candidates are entering the last week of the
campaign preparing for at least one more debate to be held
before the November 4th election.
The first-ever West End NEWS- sponsored "Head-to-Head"
will be a back and forth discussion among the candidates,
moderated by WEN Publisher Ed King. Hot button issues in
each race will be hashed over in a no-holds-barred format.
Each debate will be scheduled for one-half hour. Most of the
candidates have committed to participating in the debates The
forum will feature candidates for State Senate District 8, state
house district seats 118,119 and 120, as well as candidates
for the at-large Portland City Council seat, the Portland
School Committee, and the Cumberland County
Commissioners.
The debates will be held at the Community Television
Network studios on Congress Street and televised on Channel
4.
The schedule for the “Head-to-Head” debates is as follows:
Wednesday, October 29th at 5:30:
Portland City Council- Tina Smith;
-Ed Suslovic; Dory Waxman
State Senate District 8 - Justin Alfond (D) William Linnell (G)
Eric Lusk (R)
School Committee (At-Large) Elizabeth Holton, Anna
Trevorrow
Thursday, October 30th at 5:30:
West End District 118
Jon Hinck (D) and Joshua Miller (Green).
District 119 (Parkside, Bayside)-Herb Adams (D) Dan
Jenkins (G)
District 120 (Munjoy Hill, Downtown) Sandy Amborn (G) -
Peter Doyle (R) Diane Russell (D)
Cumberland County Commissioner
James Cloutier Jonathan Berry
Location: Community Television Network, 516 Congress St
Thursday, October 30th “the LIFE of the
PARTY: Critical Choices”
AMPHITHEATER, Woodbury Campus Center, USM
Portland Campus, 4:15 pm to 6:30 pm
This election season WE VOTE - a coalition of USM student
groups - is sponsoring a panel entitled “the LIFE of the
PARTY: Critical Choices”
Representatives from the Democratic, Green and Republican
parties will present their party’s platform, discuss its
relationship to their candidates, and reveal what they see as
the burning issues of this election.
Traditionally college and university campuses have been sites
of critical political discourse during times of war, economic
crises, and presidential elections. With the current
convergence of such events, this election season represents a
perfect political storm.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Greens to Make Some Noise
Local Green Independent Party candidates and their
supporters are planning a parade through downtown Portland
on November 2nd,.the Sunday before Election Day.
The parade will start at noon on Munjoy Hill and end in
Longfellow Square.
Candidates expected to take part are At-Large City Council
candidate Tina Smith, State Legislature candidates Sandy
Amborn (District 120, Munjoy Hill, Downtown), Dan Jenkins
(District 119, Parkside, Bayside), and School Board candidate
Anna Trevorrow.
The event, called ‘Make Some Noise,’ is being billed by
organizers as an alternative transportation parade - walking,
biking, skateboarding, roller-blading, hooting and hollering.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Candidate Responds to Letters Blasting
League
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing in response to the letters published in your last
edition regarding the League of Young Voters endorsements.
(WEN 10-8-08, See letters below.)
First, I would like to commend the League for the their
efforts involving young people in the political process, and for
taking the time to research the candidates. I am a School
Committee At -Large candidate, and found their questionnaire
and follow-up to be the most thorough of any organization.
In Liz McMahon's letter, I am characterized as a suburban
mother of three who may be a good candidate. She neglects
to mention that all three of my children attend Portland
schools - one at each level - and that I live in one of the most
diverse and affordable off-peninsula neighborhoods, East
Deering, and have a history of working with disadvantaged
youth.
She also neglects to mention that I have been involved for ten
years in a variety of community initiatives, and have
volunteered on many school-related committees and task
forces. While I agree that my opponent, Anna Trevorrow, is
“smart, kind and ambitious,"she has no children and no
background working with the school community.
In Jennifer Joroszuk's letter, she accuses the League of
favoring Democrats. While it does appear that they did select
mostly Democrats, it should be noted that I am running as
unenrolled or independent, and yet, they have endorsed me.
My belief is that politics don't have a place on the School
Committee, and should I be elected, I plan to be a voice for
ALL neighborhoods, whether located on or off-peninsula.
Best regards,
Liz Holton
School Committee At Large Candidate
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Former Member Blasts League
Endorsements
Dear West End News readers,
I'm writing to express my dismay over the League of Young
Voters 2008 voter guide. I was a huge supporter of The
League when Justin Alfond brought it to town in 2004. At the
time, it was "The League of Pissed-Off Voters", and we
infused Portland with an enthusiasm for civics, volunteerism,
and local politics.
The mission of the League (which is based out of Brooklyn
and has chapters all over America), has always been to
educate and engage young people in the political process.
Here is what they state on their website: "The League of
Young Voters empowers young people nationwide to
participate in the democratic process and create progressive
political change on the local, state and national level...
Founded in 2003, the League has become one of the
strongest youth organizations in the country fighting for
progressive change."
There are two keywords here: youth, and progressive. I
believe that our local chapter has veered way off the course
of that mission with their current slate of endorsements. Let's
take a look.
1. In the City Council At-Large race, they endorse current
mayor Ed Suslovic. They should have endorsed Tina Smith,
who is a young, progressive candidate who worked for the
League as a community organizer!
2. In the School Committee At-Large race, they endorse Liz
Holton, a mother of three who lives in the suburbs. She may
be a good candidate, but they should have endorsed Anna
Trevorrow, a young, progressive candidate who lives on the
West End. Their voter guide says "Anna has radical plans to
integrate schools..." What is this, 1950? Anna is smart, kind,
ambitious, and deserves the League's support!
3. In the race for House District 119 (Parkside/Bayside), the
League endorsed incumbent Herb Adams over Dan Jenkins,
young, progressive candidate who has volunteered for The
League for years on campaign after campaign. Their criticism
of him is that he thinks Dirigo is not working. Dan is in favor
of universal health care, and says Dirigo is not good enough.
The League apparently felt that Dan was inflexible on that
issue, although he maintains that they took his words out of
context.
In fact, all of these candidates (and others I spoke with), say
that The League had twisted their interviews around and
misrepresented them in some way. The Leagues' bottom line
for not endorsing these 3 young, progressive candidates?
Inexperience! I have a message for The League - you were
founded to HELP YOUNG PEOPLE GET EXPERIENCE!!!
Wake up and get the League train back on the tracks, or you
will fade away into the obscurity of just another special
interest group for the Democratic Party.
Citizens of Portland, please read The League's voter guide,
but take it with a grain of salt.
Liz McMahon
League Process Favors Democrats
Dear West End News Readers,
I, too, am writing - as did Liz McMahon - to express my
frustrations with the League of Young Voters, their 2008
voter guide, and the process used to create it.
I was appreciative to be invited to the League of Young
Voters to take part in the process that forms their voter guide,
a handy little guide that lists all the candidates and those who
the League endorses. The point of the guide is to create a
“voter bloc,” which helps the candidates create a sort of
mental “pre-tally” of who might be supporting them in the
months leading up to the actual election. As far as I know,
the League is made up of young, progressive
REPUBLICANS, GREENS, INDEPENDENTS AND
DEMOCRATS.
Unfortunately, at this point, I think the League would be
better off calling themselves “The League of People Who
Dismiss Anyone Who Isn’t Democrat.”
First of all, the League’s endorsement night was a joke,
because the “leaders” of the L.O.Y.V. had already put little
hearts next to the candidates that they felt “supported their
views” on the tally sheet they handed out. Well, how can this
be considered a democratic process when my view is already
being swayed by the little bold hearts next to candidates’
names?
It was the first time I had heard anything about some of these
candidates and the write-ups were so one-sided that I couldn’
t even get a feel for any of these people. The write-ups about
the candidates were equal in size but the problem lay in their
content. I got a negative vibe from the write-ups about the
candidates that the League didn’t favor, and a glowing review
for those they did favor.
The point to all this is: I have supported the League since
2004 and I have been proud to be apart of this YOUNG,
PROGRESSIVE group… it’s even on my resume! The
League has lost some key players over the past couple years
such as Tina Smith and Justin Alfond, whose names both
appear on this year’s ballot. Ever since they have made some
changes, I don’t feel as though this group supports its true
mission anymore, which is to get young people involved in
politics and put them in office - despite their political party.
Jennifer Jaroszuk
Portland
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Court Strikes Down Political Endorsement
Statute
Law was Cited in Waxman-Suslovic Feud
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on October 21st struck
down a Maine election statute as an unconstitutional
restriction of political speech and a violation of the First
Amendment.
The law was referenced recently in an ethics complaint by
Portland City Council candidate Dory Waxman against her
opponent, Portland mayor Ed Suslovic. The Ethics
Commission ruled unanimously in that case against Waxman.
The court sided with a Cape Elizabeth man who challenged
the law after he received a rebuke from the Maine
Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices
in his Republican primary campaign for election to the Maine
House of Representatives.
“This ruling is a victory for all the people in Maine,” said
MCLU Legal Director Zachary Heiden, who argued Michael
Mowles’ case before the Law Court. “The First Amendment
gives voters, not the government, the right to approve or
disapprove of candidate speech.”
Heiden told the Ethics Commission on October 17th - in
reference to the Waxman-Suslovic case - that the Maine law
that governs political campaign literature represented an
unconstitutional infringement on political speech.
The commission had censured Mowles for his use of quotes
from Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins which had
been made two years earlier. Waxman’s complaint accused
Suslovic of misrepresenting as an endorsement a comment by
Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings quoted in a Portland
Press Herald article.
In a unanimous ruling, the Law Court said that the statute
imposed too much of a burden on political speech. The Law
Court’s decision declared that the statute was unconstitutional
on its face, preventing its enforcement against any candidate.
In her opinion for the Court, Chief Justice Saufley wrote,
“American history cautions against governmental regulation
of political speech. Absent that caution, in the guise of the
most benevolent purposes, an incumbent government could
restrict the free flow of information and debate in the public
marketplace of ideas.”
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Candidates Debate as Election Nears
Head-to-Head Debates to be held Oct. 29-30
Local political candidates are preparing for at least one more
debate to be held before the November 4th election.
The first-ever West End NEWS- sponsored "Head-to-Head"
will be a back and forth discussion among the candidates,
moderated by WEN Publisher Ed King. Hot button issues in
each race will be hashed over in a no-holds-barred format.
Each debate will be scheduled for one-half hour. Most of the
candidates have committed to participating in the debates The
forum will feature candidates for State Senate District 8, state
house district seats 118,119 and 120, as well as candidates
for the at-large Portland City Council seat and the Portland
School Committee.
The League of Young Voters held the first forum of the
season on September 16th at the Community Television
Network studios on Congress Street.
The Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization hosted a
Candidates debate on Sunday, October 19th at the St.
Lawrence Arts Center on Congress Street.
Several other debates and forums have been held around the
city. The schedule for the “Head-to-Head” debates is as
follows:
Wednesday, October 29th at 5:30:
Portland City Council- Tina Smith; Ed Suslovic; Dory
Waxman
State Senate District 8 - Justin Alfond (D) William Linnell
(G) Eric Lusk (R)
School Committee (At-Large) Elizabeth Holton, Anna
Trevorrow
Thursday, October 30th at 5:30:
West End District 118
Jon Hinck (D) and Joshua Miller (Green).
District 119 (Parkside, Bayside)-Herb Adams (D) Dan
Jenkins (G)
District 120 (Munjoy Hill, Downtown) Sandy Amborn (G)
-Peter Doyle (R) Diane Russell (D)
Cumberland County Commissioner
Jonathan Berry James Cloutier
Location: Community Television Network, 516 Congress St
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Ethics Commission Dismisses Complaint
Against Suslovic
The state Ethics Commission voted 5 to 0 on October 17th to
dismiss a complaint filed against Portland Mayor and City
Council candidate, Ed Suslovic, for his use of quotes in
campaign materials.
Zachary Heiden, Legal Director of the Maine Civil Liberties
Union Foundation, told the Ethics Commission that the Maine
law that governs political campaign literature represents an
unconstitutional infringement on political speech. That law,
21-A M.R.S.A. 1014-A, prohibits the use of endorsement
quotes unless they are specifically authorized in writing by the
“endorser.”
The case grew out of the Portland City Council race, where
Suslovic was accused by one of his opponents, Dory
Waxman, of misrepresenting as an endorsement a comment
by Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings, quoted in a
Portland Press Herald article. Waxman filed the complaint,
which was referred to the State Commission on
Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.
The Commission members, who voted unanimously to
dismiss the complaint, decided that the quote in question did
not meet the specific definition of an endorsement and would
not be governed by the statute.
“The ruling in this latest case shows that free speech is alive
and well in the political process,” said Suslovic. “I hope this
sends a message that candidates will continue to be able to
engage in spirited debate and let the voters make the decision.”
Friday, October 17, 2008
MCLU Says Freedom of Speech is Issue in
Suslovic-Waxman Feud
The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election
Practices will once again find itself in the middle of a dispute
over campaign advertisements today when it hears a
complaint by Portland City Council candidate Dory Waxman
against her opponent in the race, Portland Mayor Ed Suslovic.
. At issue is a quote from Speaker of the House Glenn
Cummings in praise of Suslovic. Waxman claims the quote
of praise gives the false impression that the Mayor was
endorsed by Cummings, which Suslovic adamantly denies.
The Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation will represent
Suslovic at the hearing, arguing that the quote was clearly not
an endorsement, and that candidates have freedom of speech
when it comes to campaign advertisements.
The dispute arose when Waxman filed a complaint to the
Election Practices Commission over a flyer that quoted an
April 17, 2008 newspaper story. The flyer quoted Speaker
Cummings referring to Mayor Suslovic as “visionary”.
Cummings is not endorsing anyone in the City Council
election, though he does not dispute the accuracy of the
quote.
The hearing will be held at 1 p.m. in Room 208 of the Burton
Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street in Augusta.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Casco Bay HS Students to Hold Candidates
Forum
Eleventh graders at Casco Bay High School will host a local
candidates forum on October 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.
m. The forum will be broadcast live on TV3, Portland’s
educational access television station, and replayed several
times before the election.
Students in the humanities class, taught by Stephanie Doane
and Susan McCray, studied local issues and the
responsibilities of City officeholders in preparation for the
forum. They will ask questions of the candidates for
Portland City Council and those running for a contested At-
Large Portland School Committee seat.
The forum will be rebroadcast on TV3 on October 24-26 at 8:
30 p.m., October 29 at 7 p.m. and October 31-November 2
at 8:30 p.m.
Friday, October 10, 2009
Political Fireworks at Democratic Debate
Several Portland City Councilors interrupted what is usually a
sedate Democratic City Committee-sponsored pre-election
debate, shouting that Mayor Ed Suslovic was lying about
details of the controversial Maine State Pier development.
Councilors Jill Duson, Nick Mavodones, and Dan Skolnik
were seated together in the first row of an audience of about
30 people at the King Middle School on October 9th, when
Suslovic started talking about the financial qualifications of
the two competing bidders on the project.
“Not true!” the Councilors began shouting in anger when
Suslovic said that both bidders - Ocean Properties and The
Olympia Company - had passed a certain fiscal threshold.
Debate moderator and Portland City Committee Chair Sive
Nielan quickly interrupted the Councilors’ outburst and
restored order to the proceedings.
“Everything that Ed has said tonight has been either a
misrepresentation or an outright lie,” charged Skolnik later in
the evening. After the event, the two met briefly and Skolnik
angrily told the Mayor that he had lost all credibility.
The unapologetic Suslovic responded to his critics by calling
their actions “chicanery.” Suslovic and his two rivals for the
at-large City Council seat, Dory Waxman and Tina Smith, will
meet in at least two more debates before the November 4th
election.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Absentee Ballots Requests Increase 30% in
City
City Clerk's office prepares for a record setting voter turnout
By September 30th, and with one month to go before Election
Day, absentee ballot requests received by Portland's City
Clerk's Office have increased thirty percent when compared
to this time during the last presidential election.
For the 2004 election, 35,000 people - approximately seventy
percent of registered voters - voted in Portland, and thirty
percent of them voted absentee. The City Clerk is predicting a
record eighty percent turnout of registered voters this year -
with forty percent voting absentee.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Adams Too Busy for Head-to-Head Debate
With Jenkins
...but doesn't want opponent "to get free face time alone"
Parkside State Representative Herb Adams is one of the few
candidates who have not gotten on board with the first West
End NEWS Head-to-Head debate, to be held at the
Community Television Studio on Congress Street on October
29th and 30th.
Adams said that his schedule is full until Election Day on
November 4th, but has declined to say what commitments
are keeping him from debating his Green Party opponent, Dan
Jenkins. The debate would be held from 6:45 to 7:15 on
October 30th.
Adams did not respond to numerous calls attempting to work
around his busy campaign schedule. Organizers of the debate
offered to change the hour or the day the debate was
scheduled, or allow Adams to send a surrogate to take his
place, all of which he rejected. The debate was announced on
Thursday, September 18th and Jenkins accepted the invitation
on the same day.
Adams said that he had already set up campaign events
around Labor Day for both days that the debates are
scheduled. He said that they would be very difficult, if not
impossible, to reschedule, and it is not fair to expect too
much flexibility for candidates in that position. He suggested
that organizers could invite candidates from a different house
race that has not yet had a TV presentation, or give the extra
time to the State Senate race.
He also said that it would not “be fair to a candidate who
cannot come to leave an open half hour alone for their
opponent (s) to thrash them without response, or to get free
face time alone, when the other candidate(s) might have to be
absent for perfectly good reasons.”
Organizers of the debate have allotted ten minutes to Jenkins
and to West End Representative Jon Hinck, to present their
platforms. Hinck’s opponent, Green Independent Joshua
Miller, has also not responded to the debate invitation.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Duson Demands Suslovic Apology
Portland City Councilor and former Mayor Jill Duson
demanded on October 3rd that Mayor Ed Suslovic apologize
to his City Council opponent, Dory Waxman.
Duson says that Suslovic falsely claimed that Waxman was a
lobbyist for Ocean Properties, whose Maine State Pier
proposal Suslovic voted against last spring. Waxman is
running against him in the at-large city council race.
“I admire Dory’s extraordinary work as a community
organizer in Bayside and as a community relations consultant,
and I’m disappointed that Ed feels compelled to spread lies
about her,” said Duson. She added, “This is the kind of
behavior that has made it very difficult to get things done on
the City Council for the last three years.”
Suslovic has not yet responded to his fellow councilor’s
demand in the escalating war of words.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Waxman to File Ethics Complaint Against
Suslovic
Portland City Council Candidate Dory Waxman will file an
ethics complaint on Friday, October 3rd against her
opponent, Mayor Ed Suslovic, for what her campaign calls “a
misleading palm card and web site that create the appearance
that he has been endorsed by Maine Speaker of the House
Glenn Cummings.”
According to Waxman, Cummings has not endorsed anyone
in the race and did not authorize Suslovic’s use of a quotation
attributed to him. She has called on Suslovic to apologize to
Portland’s voters.
The Waxman campaign says that Suslovic’s web site was
altered after Speaker Cummings complained to him.
Suslovic says he took down the quote in question to avoid a
misunderstanding, and out of respect for his friendship with
Cummings. The quote comes from an April 17, 2008 article
in the Portland Press Herald in which Cummings refers to
Suslovic as “visionary.”
Waxman also charges that Suslovic did not accompany any
of the endorsements on his site with a statement that they
were authorized by the endorsers, even though state law
expressly requires such a statement to accompany any
endorsement on campaign communications.
“This is misleading and irresponsible behavior, and Portland’s
voters deserve better,” said Waxman.
Suslovic called Waxman’s charges a “non-issue” and “clearly
an attempt to deflect from the real issue – that she is a paid
lobbyist for Ocean Properties.”
Suslovic has charged that Waxman has failed to disclose her
connection to Ocean Properties, the losing bidder in the
Maine State Pier sweepstakes, in which Suslovic supported
the Olympia Company in its successful bid. Waxman was an
independent contractor as a community liaison for Ocean
Properties during the process, a relationship that ended last
year.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Suslovic, Waxman Dispute Maine State Pier
Connection
Portland Mayor Ed Suslovic and Dory Waxman, one of his
two opponents in his upcoming City Council re-election bid,
are disputing Waxman’s role with Ocean Properties, the
losing bidder in the Maine State Pier sweepstakes.
Suslovic has charged that Waxman has failed to disclose her
connection to Ocean Properties in her campaign literature. He
says that he has been waiting for Waxman to disclose to the
public that she is a paid lobbyist for the firm. It was Suslovic’
s vote on the Portland City Council that made the Olympia
Companies the winning bidder on the multi-million dollar
project.
Waxman said that she was a sub-contractor to Ocean
Properties, not a paid employee. She said that a lobbyist tries
to influence legislation by meeting with public officials, but
describes herself as a community organizer who serves as a
liaison to bring information to the public.
Suslovic also asked if Waxman would recuse herself from
any decisions regarding the pier if she is elected to the
Council, to which Waxman responded with an emphatic
“No!”
“I’m the messenger,” said Waxman, “I’m not a lobbyist.”
During the Portland City Council’s review of the proposed
term sheet for the Maine State Pier on August 18th, Waxman
spoke out about her concerns with the deal and with the
process used to reach it.
Waxman called the deal “an objectively bad deal for the
citizens of Portland,” and said that she hoped the City Council
would rethink its decision.
Monday, September 29, 2008
League Endorses Adams, Hinck, Alfond,
Suslovic in Local Races
The League of Young Voters endorsed incumbent
Representatives Jon Hinck and Herb Adams, and Democratic
State Senate candidate Justin Alfond, among others, in its
endorsements, announced today. The League also endorsed
Mayor Ed Suslovic for re-election to his at-large seat on the
Portland City Council. It did not make an endorsement in the
District 120 house seat representing Munjoy Hill. Below is the
complete list of League endorsements.
District 114: (East Deering) Peter Stuckey
District 115: (Back Cove)Michael Hiltz
District 116: (Deering)Charlie Harlow
District 117: (Stroudwater)Anne Haskell
District 118:(West End) Jon Hinck
District 119:(Parkside, Bayside, Downtown) Herb Adams
Senate 8: Justin Alfond
School Committee At-Large: Elizabeth Holton
City Council District 5: Naomi Mermin
City Council At-Large: Ed Suslovic
Water Board Trustee: Jamie Willey
Congressional District 1: Chellie Pingree
US Senate: Tom Allen
President/Vice President: Barack Obama/Joe Biden
Monday, September 22, 2008
Group Art Show to Benefit Local Council
Candidate
The Committee to Elect Tina Smith, and LocalMotion, will
unite for a group art show/performance on First Friday,
October 3rd, 5-10pm at The Meg Perry Center, 644
Congress Street.
The show is in conjunction with the Tina Smith Beacon for
Change Campaign. Smith is a candidate for the at-large
Portland City Council seat. All mediums of artwork will be
raffled off at the event, which will benefit the Smith
campaign.
Performances starting at 8pm will feature Port Veritas Poets,
an AddVerb Productions skit, local writers, musicians and
storytellers.
LocalMotion is a 'collage' of Maine artisans exploring the
social, political, cultural and personal aspects of everyday life
in the 21st Century, as influenced by the interweaving of
global and local issues. FMI, or to be a part of the show,
contact Louisa Donelson, the show’s curator, at 978-807-
9313.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
MAINE GROUPS ENDORSE ALFOND
A number of Maine organizations, including the Maine
Education Association, the Maine Service Employees
Association Local 1989, and the Maine People’s Alliance have
endorsed Justin Alfond, Democratic candidate for Maine
Senate District 8.
Alfond, who hopes to represent voters in Portland’s
municipal districts one, two and three, was previously
endorsed by the Maine Prosperity PAC and The Alliance for
Maine's Future, The League of Young Voters and the
Portland Phoenix in his primary race.
Alfond is currently in business as a real estate developer and
is the former executive director of The League of Young
Voters. He grew up in central Maine and now lives in
Portland with his partner, Rachael Weinstein
September 20, 2008
Summers, Pingree to Hold Environmental
Forum
Congressional Candidates Charlie Summers and Chellie
Pingree will take part in a forum featuring environmental
issues on Sunday, September 28th at the USM Glickman
Library.
The forum will be moderated by MPBN's Irwin Gratz, and
discussion will include topics such as global warming, water
quality, wildlife habitat, alternative transportation, clean
energy, and supporting Maine agriculture and fisheries. The
forum is sponsored by Friends of Casco Bay.
A reception will follow, with light refreshments. Open to the
public and free of charge; but please RSVP to
keeper@cascobay.org. 3 - 5 pm, USM Glickman Library,
7th Floor.
September 18, 2008
Candidate Debates to be Broadcast
The League of Young Voters Candidates Forum which was
held on September 16th will be broadcast on the local
community access TV station, channel 4, starting tonight,
September 18th, at 6pm. It will also be broadcast on Friday,
September 19th, at 1PM, and Saturday, September 20th, at
7PM.
The forum includes candidates for the at-large Portland City
Council seat, and candidates for legislative seats in districts
115, 119, 120.
The candidates discussed issues ranging from the Maine State
Pier and the school budget to affordable health care and gay
marriage.
September 13, 2008
League Criticized for Not Planning State
Senate Debate
The Republican and the Green Independent candidates for
Portland’s District 8 State Senate seat say that their
Democratic opponent in the race is avoiding facing them in
debates to discuss issues in the race.
Green Independent candidate Bill Linnell referred to the
League of Young Voters failure to schedule a State Senate
debate along with a forum the League is sponsoring involving
other races.
“They should declare themselves a PAC and drop the charade
of being non-partisan,” said Linnell.
Justin Alfond, the Democratic candidate, is one of the
founders of the local organization and was its executive
director before entering the State Senate race. He said that he
has had no contact with the organization since stepping down
as its head on January 6th of this year. Alfond said he was
looking forward to facing his two opponents in a debate.
So far, the only debate scheduled for the State Senate race is
being planned by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization,
for an as-yet undetermined date in October, at the St.
Lawrence Arts Center.
Republican candidate Eric Lusk was also skeptical of the
League’s forum, pointing out that it will be moderated by
outgoing Maine Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings, who
is being term-limited from the District 115 seat. When asked
why they did not include the State Senate race in the forum,
Harris Parnell of the League said simply that they “chose not
to.” The forum will also not include West End District 118
candidates Jon Hinck (D) and Joshua Miller (Green).
The League of Young Voters will hold the forum on Tuesday,
September 16th, 5:30 to 8:30 PM at the Community
Television Network studios on Congress Street.
The forum will feature candidates for state house district
seats 115, 119 and 120, as well as candidates for the at-large
Portland City Council seat. Candidates in those races are as
follows:
District 115 (Back Cove, USM, Wood- fords, Oakdale)
Donna Bendikson (R) Stephen Lovejoy (D) Michael Hiltz
(G)
District 119 (Parkside, Bayside)-Herb Adams (D) Dan
Jenkins (G)
District 120 (Munjoy Hill, Downtown) Sandy Amborn (G) -
Peter Doyle (R) Diane Russell (D)
Portland City Council- Tina Smith;
-Ed Suslovic; Dory Waxman
League to Host Candidate Forum
Portland’s League of Young Voters will hold a Candidate
Forum on Tuesday, September 16th, 5:30 to 8:30 PM at
the Community Television Network studios on Congress
Street.
The forum will feature candidates for state house district
seats 115, 119 and 120, as well as candidates for the at-
large Portland City Council seats. Candidates in those races
are as follows:
District 115 (Back Cove, USM, Woodfords, Oakdale)
Donna Bendikson (R) Anne Haskell (D) Michael Hiltz (G)
District 119 (Parkside, Bayside)-Herb Adams (D) Dan
Jenkins (G)
District 120 (Munjoy Hill, Downtown) Sandy Amborn (G) -
Peter Doyle (R) Diane Russell (D)
Portland City Council- Tina Smith;
-Ed Suslovic; Dory Waxman
Thursday, August 28,2008
Linnell Upstages Local Dems at Energy
Workshop
Green Party State Senate candidate Bill Linnell staged his
own energy conservation workshop on August 21st in front
of Portland West on Brackett Street, as local Democratic
officials inside were preparing a workshop to provide
information to local residents worried about heating bills
this coming winter.
The Energy Conservation Workshop featured representatives
of Efficiency Maine, the Portland Fire Department, Irving
Oil and the Maine State Housing Authority, discussing
conservation strategies and distributing literature. Local
incumbent Democrats were also on hand to talk about state
programs available to local residents.
The Democratic and Republican State Senate candidates -
Justin Alfond and Eric Lusk - were also in attendance.
Linnell’s demonstration consisted of leaky containers -
representing inefficiently insulated houses - and how they
waste fuel, and what can be done about it. The
demonstration was set atop a homemade lobster trap
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
CONSERVATION VOTERS, PEOPLE'S
ALLIANCE ENDORSE ADAMS
Parkside/Bayside State Representative Herb Adams' re-
election bid has been endorsed by two of the state's largest
citizen action groups, the Maine People's Alliance
Campaign Vote 2008 committee and the Maine League of
Conservation Voters.
The MPA Campaign Vote 2008 board endorsed Adams
because of what they called his “strong commitment to
progressive values, strong voting record on our issues, and
willingness to be receptive to grassroots leaders."
The MPA, with offices in Portland and Bangor, has over
30,000 members statewide.
The Maine League of Conservation Voters cited Adams'
"strong and consistent voting record on conservation
issues... the foundation of our health, our jobs, and our
identity as a state."
In the last legislative session Adams sponsored successful
bills to clean up Casco Bay and a Land For Maine's Future
Bond that was overwhelmingly approved by voters last fall.
Both groups awarded Adams' a 100 % voting record in the
last legislative session.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Local Republicans to Attend National
Convention
Several Portlanders will be attending the Republican
National Convention -which begins on September 1st in
Minneapolis, Minnesota - as delegates or alternates.
Portland Republican City Committee members Jay Hibbard
and Vance Wheelock will be joining State Senate Candidate
Eric Lusk as alternates. They plan to report back their
impressions at the September meeting of the Portland
Republican City Committee on Monday, September 22nd,
at the Victory ’08 Campaign Office, 11 Baxter Boulevard.,
at 7:00 pm
To keep up on all of the action at the Republican National
Convention, go to
http://www.gopconvention2008.com.
Friday, August 22, 2008
WAXMAN CRITICIZES MAINE STATE
PIER DEAL AND PROCESS
During the Portland City Council’s review of the proposed
term sheet for the Maine State Pier on August 18th,
Portland City Council candidate Dory Waxman spoke out
about her concerns with the deal and with the process used
to reach it.
Waxman called the deal “an objectively bad deal for the
citizens of Portland,” and said that she hoped the City
Council would rethink its decision. Waxman is running
against Mayor Ed Suslovic, who supports the pier
agreement, and West End activist Tina Smith, for an at-
large seat.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Trevorrow Starts School Committee Campaign
Anna Trevorrow, candidate for the At-Large School
Committee seat that is being vacated by Susan Hopkins,
held a campaign kick-off event on Saturday, August 9.
Over twenty supporters joined her, including long-time
activists, young organizers and political newcomers. The
event raised over $300.
Trevorrow works as a customer service representative at
Norway Savings Bank. She was raised in Monmouth,
Maine, and both of of her parents are teachers. Trevorrow
graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 2007
with a BA in English.
Trevorrow is new to politics, but believes her background in
curriculum design and finance will uniquely situate her to
help the students of Portland. She supports a safe and
healthy learning environment, forward thinking
curriculum, and universal access to education. She
currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Maine
Green Independent Party, and is also a delegate to the
Green Party of the United States National Committee.
Trevorrow resides in the Arts District, with her partner of
seven years, Anthony Zeli.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Hinck to Face Green Opponent in
West End Race
West End State Representative Jon Hinck will run to retain
his District 118 house seat against Green Independent
candidate Joshua Miller.
The local Republican Party was unable to recruit a
candidate to run for the seat after James Willard Colston
dropped out of the race in late July.
Hinck was elected to the West End seat in 2006, defeating
incumbent John Eder in a close race. Eder at the time was
the highest-ranking Green Independent Party elected
official in the country.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
State Senate Candidate Calls on
Legislature to Enter Emergency Session
“What is Governor Baldacci waiting for,
Christmas?” asks Linnell.
Captain Bill Linnell, a candidate for State Senate District 8,
is calling for the Governor and the Legislature to go into
Emergency Session to deal with Maine’s heating oil crisis
before winter. Linnell has been running radio ads calling
for citizens to call the Governor’s office and demand a
special session of the Legislature to deal with the crisis.
Linnell drafted an action plan in July for the Legislature to
consider and adopt.
Former West End State Representative John Eder joined
Linnell in unveiling Linnell’s “Liberty Energy Plan” for
the State of Maine on August 4th
Inspired by the 30,000 South Portland shipyard workers who
built 236 Liberty Ships and 30 Ocean Ships in 41 months
during World War II, Linnell’s plan aims to insulate every
single-family home in Maine in 85 days.
Linnell says that under his plan, the state could insulate
500,000 attics in 85 days, would employ five times as many
people as Bath Iron Works, cut oil bills in half, and jump-
start the economy.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Time is Running Out for Economic Stimulus
Payments
Wesr End Representative Jon Hinck is reminding seniors
and veterans that they need to apply for the federal
economic stimulus payment, even if they did not earn
enough to be required to file taxes.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the AARP recently
informed Hinck and other elected officials that as many as
31,000 Maine seniors and veterans have yet to apply for the
economic stimulus payments that they are eligible to
receive. Hinck said that almost 2,000 residents of Portland
may be among this number.
Many people do not normally have to file federal income
taxes because their income is especially low. However, in
order to receive an economic stimulus payment, this year
they need to file Form 1040A with the IRS. This includes
people who receive at least $3,000 in earnings and/or
benefits from Social Security, Veterans Affairs disability or
a Retired Railroad Worker’s pension. The economic
stimulus payment is a one-time payment of $300 for
individuals, $600 for married couples filing jointly and
more if children are in the home.
Taxpayers who already filed a 2007 tax return began
receiving their economic stimulus checks in the spring. But
those who had no tax liability and did not file a 2007 tax
return will lose money due to them unless they file a 1040A
form by Oct. 15, 2008. They must file a 1040A form even if
they do not owe any taxes, in order to get their economic
stimulus check. All together, more than $9 million in
Maine could go unclaimed if people do not file by October
15th.
Seniors and veterans can call the AARP toll free at 877-353-
3771, visit www.aarp.org/stimulushelp, or call the IRS at 1-
800-829-0582, extension 377.
To have a copy of the “Economic Stimulus Payment,
Guide for Benefit Recipients” e-mailed or mailed to you by
Rep. Hinck, please call him at 450-0003 or e-mail him at
RepJon.Hinck@legislature.maine.gov.
Smith Criticizes Press Herald for
Misrepresentation
At-large Portland City Council candidate Tina Smith has
accused the Portland Press Herald of misrepresenting her
character and military record.
A recent article in the Press Herald said that Smith was
"dishonorably discharged after three years in the Army when
she informed a supervisor at Fort Bragg, N.C., that she was
homosexual."
Smith was discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Policy," which stipulates that homosexual admission provides
for an honorable discharge, which is what Smith received.
The Press Herald printed a correction to the story, and
allowed Smith to write a clarification of her record in their
Saturday, November 1st issue, along with a letter from
candidate Dory Waxman, under the title “Tina Smith, Dory
Waxman seek at-large support.”
Smith also accused the newspaper of being homophobic
because they listed her as “single” while identifying other
candidates as having a partner, as Smith does.
King Students to”Rock the Vote”
Sixth graders in York House at King Middle School in
Portland will gather in the school’s library on November 4
from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. to watch the election returns and
participate in activities such as creating electoral maps.
The election night party is part of York House’s learning
expedition called "Rock the Vote." Other activities included a
citywide voter registration drive conducted by students in
September
For more information, please call (207) 874-8140.
King Middle School is located at 92 Deering Avenue.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
League's Election Committee Defends
Endorsement Process
Dear West End News Readers,
Democracy prevails at The Portland League of Young Voters!
After a wonderfully competitive primary, and a highly
charged yet to be decided general election, The League is
proud to be further along its path of engaging, empowering,
and edifying the current, as well as prospective voters of the
Greater Portland community.
This was a season of firsts: a comprehensive primary voting
guide covering contested local, state and federal races (all but
county commissioner); a presidential race that has invigorated
the populace unlike any in this generation’s lifetime; and my
first cycle as a member of the League’s Elections Committee.
I bear testimony that each and every race from Water District
Board to U.S. Senate and Presidency enjoys the exhaustive
process of research, interviews (well, all but McCain and
Obama), drafts and re-writes, and the collective scrutiny of a
multi-partisan, six-member team. Through our work, we
develop candidate synopses and recommendations for each of
the races. This year was no easy task with so many fantastic
progressives throwing their hats into the ring. The committee
absolutely battled on several competitions. There are
candidates with similar vision for their seat but different
focuses, qualifying experience, and/or passions; and races
devoid of standout representatives altogether.
These hard-fought recommendations were presented in verbal
and written form to The League’s volunteer core at “Project
Vote” night in the same method used since its inception. The
Elections Committee’s duty is to supplement our members’
knowledge with thorough and tempered information. The
formula also calls for ample time for anyone and everyone to
offer their own knowledge, opinions, and responses or
rebuttals to others’ comments. Both of this year’s meetings
were lively affairs, with much discussion and debate.
Jennifer Jaroszuk’s admission in her letter to WEN that
Project Vote was “the first time I had heard anything about
some of these candidates…” is not an uncommon sentiment
among young voters and is our reason for being! The
Elections Committee’s work helps to transform all those
names on the ubiquitous campaign signs into real people with
real ideas and credibility through our outreach here in
Portland. Under- and- uninformed voters have the opportunity
to make educated decisions when they put pen to paper in the
voting booth.
I must disclose that I am a registered Green Independent and
at least some of my favorites were not recommended or
subsequently endorsed. Thus is the nature of democracy. My
votes were counted and tallied. I can now only theorize why
League members voted the way we did – why, in some
cases, we chose proven experience over the vitality of youth.
I stand behind every last endorsement, not only because these
candidates are ready and willing to enact progressive and
responsible change, but because they will effectively
represent the interests of young people all over our city and
state.
Carlin Whitehouse
Portland
Friday, October 31, 2008
ANTHONY ZELI ANNOUNCES
WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN FOR COUNTY
CHARTER COMMISSION
Congress Streeet resident Anthony Zeli has filed with the state
as a write-in candidate for Cumberland County Charter
Commission.
After hearing that the County Charter Commission failed to
attract any candidates for District 1—including Portland,
Falmouth, Cumberland, Yarmouth, Chebeague Island and
Long Island—Zeli decided to launch a write-in campaign.
The charter regulates how the county government is
organized, and the charter commission will have the
opportunity to inspect and make changes to the document.
The County Commissioners approved the charter commission
in order to examine how the county government works now,
and how it will need to work in the future as the region
grows and changes. The charter commission will spend a
year developing a new charter that will then be voted on by
the public in the Spring or Fall of 2010.
.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Portland Breaks Record for Absentee
Voting
As of 9:20 AM Wednesday, the City of Portland had issued
10,259,absentee ballots, breaking the record for absentee
voting of 10,003, set in 2004. The City Clerk estimates that
another 3,000 voters will vote absentee this week.
Saturday November 1st will be the last day residents of
Portland can vote by absentee in-person at City Hall. To
accommodate voters, the City Clerk's office will be open
from 8:00 AM to noon on Saturday. Voters can also vote
absentee at City Hall this week in the State of Maine room
during its regular hours of operation, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Please note that early voting is prohibited in the State of
Maine. In order to vote before Election Day, registered voters
must request an absentee ballot and return it to the City Clerk
before the polls close on Election Day.
For up-to-date information about voting this November, visit
www.portlandvoters.com or call the City's voter hotline at
874-8676.
Wednesday, October 29,2008
Head-to-Head Debates Begin Tonight
Local political candidates are entering the last week of the
campaign preparing for at least one more debate to be held
before the November 4th election.
The first-ever West End NEWS- sponsored "Head-to-Head"
will be a back and forth discussion among the candidates,
moderated by WEN Publisher Ed King. Hot button issues in
each race will be hashed over in a no-holds-barred format.
Each debate will be scheduled for one-half hour. Most of the
candidates have committed to participating in the debates The
forum will feature candidates for State Senate District 8, state
house district seats 118,119 and 120, as well as candidates
for the at-large Portland City Council seat, the Portland
School Committee, and the Cumberland County
Commissioners.
The debates will be held at the Community Television
Network studios on Congress Street and televised on Channel
4.
The schedule for the “Head-to-Head” debates is as follows:
Wednesday, October 29th at 5:30:
Portland City Council- Tina Smith;
-Ed Suslovic; Dory Waxman
State Senate District 8 - Justin Alfond (D) William Linnell (G)
Eric Lusk (R)
School Committee (At-Large) Elizabeth Holton, Anna
Trevorrow
Thursday, October 30th at 5:30:
West End District 118
Jon Hinck (D) and Joshua Miller (Green).
District 119 (Parkside, Bayside)-Herb Adams (D) Dan
Jenkins (G)
District 120 (Munjoy Hill, Downtown) Sandy Amborn (G) -
Peter Doyle (R) Diane Russell (D)
Cumberland County Commissioner
James Cloutier Jonathan Berry
Location: Community Television Network, 516 Congress St
Thursday, October 30th “the LIFE of the
PARTY: Critical Choices”
AMPHITHEATER, Woodbury Campus Center, USM
Portland Campus, 4:15 pm to 6:30 pm
This election season WE VOTE - a coalition of USM student
groups - is sponsoring a panel entitled “the LIFE of the
PARTY: Critical Choices”
Representatives from the Democratic, Green and Republican
parties will present their party’s platform, discuss its
relationship to their candidates, and reveal what they see as
the burning issues of this election.
Traditionally college and university campuses have been sites
of critical political discourse during times of war, economic
crises, and presidential elections. With the current
convergence of such events, this election season represents a
perfect political storm.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Greens to Make Some Noise
Local Green Independent Party candidates and their
supporters are planning a parade through downtown Portland
on November 2nd,.the Sunday before Election Day.
The parade will start at noon on Munjoy Hill and end in
Longfellow Square.
Candidates expected to take part are At-Large City Council
candidate Tina Smith, State Legislature candidates Sandy
Amborn (District 120, Munjoy Hill, Downtown), Dan Jenkins
(District 119, Parkside, Bayside), and School Board candidate
Anna Trevorrow.
The event, called ‘Make Some Noise,’ is being billed by
organizers as an alternative transportation parade - walking,
biking, skateboarding, roller-blading, hooting and hollering.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Candidate Responds to Letters Blasting
League
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing in response to the letters published in your last
edition regarding the League of Young Voters endorsements.
(WEN 10-8-08, See letters below.)
First, I would like to commend the League for the their
efforts involving young people in the political process, and for
taking the time to research the candidates. I am a School
Committee At -Large candidate, and found their questionnaire
and follow-up to be the most thorough of any organization.
In Liz McMahon's letter, I am characterized as a suburban
mother of three who may be a good candidate. She neglects
to mention that all three of my children attend Portland
schools - one at each level - and that I live in one of the most
diverse and affordable off-peninsula neighborhoods, East
Deering, and have a history of working with disadvantaged
youth.
She also neglects to mention that I have been involved for ten
years in a variety of community initiatives, and have
volunteered on many school-related committees and task
forces. While I agree that my opponent, Anna Trevorrow, is
“smart, kind and ambitious,"she has no children and no
background working with the school community.
In Jennifer Joroszuk's letter, she accuses the League of
favoring Democrats. While it does appear that they did select
mostly Democrats, it should be noted that I am running as
unenrolled or independent, and yet, they have endorsed me.
My belief is that politics don't have a place on the School
Committee, and should I be elected, I plan to be a voice for
ALL neighborhoods, whether located on or off-peninsula.
Best regards,
Liz Holton
School Committee At Large Candidate
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Former Member Blasts League
Endorsements
Dear West End News readers,
I'm writing to express my dismay over the League of Young
Voters 2008 voter guide. I was a huge supporter of The
League when Justin Alfond brought it to town in 2004. At the
time, it was "The League of Pissed-Off Voters", and we
infused Portland with an enthusiasm for civics, volunteerism,
and local politics.
The mission of the League (which is based out of Brooklyn
and has chapters all over America), has always been to
educate and engage young people in the political process.
Here is what they state on their website: "The League of
Young Voters empowers young people nationwide to
participate in the democratic process and create progressive
political change on the local, state and national level...
Founded in 2003, the League has become one of the
strongest youth organizations in the country fighting for
progressive change."
There are two keywords here: youth, and progressive. I
believe that our local chapter has veered way off the course
of that mission with their current slate of endorsements. Let's
take a look.
1. In the City Council At-Large race, they endorse current
mayor Ed Suslovic. They should have endorsed Tina Smith,
who is a young, progressive candidate who worked for the
League as a community organizer!
2. In the School Committee At-Large race, they endorse Liz
Holton, a mother of three who lives in the suburbs. She may
be a good candidate, but they should have endorsed Anna
Trevorrow, a young, progressive candidate who lives on the
West End. Their voter guide says "Anna has radical plans to
integrate schools..." What is this, 1950? Anna is smart, kind,
ambitious, and deserves the League's support!
3. In the race for House District 119 (Parkside/Bayside), the
League endorsed incumbent Herb Adams over Dan Jenkins,
young, progressive candidate who has volunteered for The
League for years on campaign after campaign. Their criticism
of him is that he thinks Dirigo is not working. Dan is in favor
of universal health care, and says Dirigo is not good enough.
The League apparently felt that Dan was inflexible on that
issue, although he maintains that they took his words out of
context.
In fact, all of these candidates (and others I spoke with), say
that The League had twisted their interviews around and
misrepresented them in some way. The Leagues' bottom line
for not endorsing these 3 young, progressive candidates?
Inexperience! I have a message for The League - you were
founded to HELP YOUNG PEOPLE GET EXPERIENCE!!!
Wake up and get the League train back on the tracks, or you
will fade away into the obscurity of just another special
interest group for the Democratic Party.
Citizens of Portland, please read The League's voter guide,
but take it with a grain of salt.
Liz McMahon
League Process Favors Democrats
Dear West End News Readers,
I, too, am writing - as did Liz McMahon - to express my
frustrations with the League of Young Voters, their 2008
voter guide, and the process used to create it.
I was appreciative to be invited to the League of Young
Voters to take part in the process that forms their voter guide,
a handy little guide that lists all the candidates and those who
the League endorses. The point of the guide is to create a
“voter bloc,” which helps the candidates create a sort of
mental “pre-tally” of who might be supporting them in the
months leading up to the actual election. As far as I know,
the League is made up of young, progressive
REPUBLICANS, GREENS, INDEPENDENTS AND
DEMOCRATS.
Unfortunately, at this point, I think the League would be
better off calling themselves “The League of People Who
Dismiss Anyone Who Isn’t Democrat.”
First of all, the League’s endorsement night was a joke,
because the “leaders” of the L.O.Y.V. had already put little
hearts next to the candidates that they felt “supported their
views” on the tally sheet they handed out. Well, how can this
be considered a democratic process when my view is already
being swayed by the little bold hearts next to candidates’
names?
It was the first time I had heard anything about some of these
candidates and the write-ups were so one-sided that I couldn’
t even get a feel for any of these people. The write-ups about
the candidates were equal in size but the problem lay in their
content. I got a negative vibe from the write-ups about the
candidates that the League didn’t favor, and a glowing review
for those they did favor.
The point to all this is: I have supported the League since
2004 and I have been proud to be apart of this YOUNG,
PROGRESSIVE group… it’s even on my resume! The
League has lost some key players over the past couple years
such as Tina Smith and Justin Alfond, whose names both
appear on this year’s ballot. Ever since they have made some
changes, I don’t feel as though this group supports its true
mission anymore, which is to get young people involved in
politics and put them in office - despite their political party.
Jennifer Jaroszuk
Portland
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Court Strikes Down Political Endorsement
Statute
Law was Cited in Waxman-Suslovic Feud
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on October 21st struck
down a Maine election statute as an unconstitutional
restriction of political speech and a violation of the First
Amendment.
The law was referenced recently in an ethics complaint by
Portland City Council candidate Dory Waxman against her
opponent, Portland mayor Ed Suslovic. The Ethics
Commission ruled unanimously in that case against Waxman.
The court sided with a Cape Elizabeth man who challenged
the law after he received a rebuke from the Maine
Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices
in his Republican primary campaign for election to the Maine
House of Representatives.
“This ruling is a victory for all the people in Maine,” said
MCLU Legal Director Zachary Heiden, who argued Michael
Mowles’ case before the Law Court. “The First Amendment
gives voters, not the government, the right to approve or
disapprove of candidate speech.”
Heiden told the Ethics Commission on October 17th - in
reference to the Waxman-Suslovic case - that the Maine law
that governs political campaign literature represented an
unconstitutional infringement on political speech.
The commission had censured Mowles for his use of quotes
from Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins which had
been made two years earlier. Waxman’s complaint accused
Suslovic of misrepresenting as an endorsement a comment by
Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings quoted in a Portland
Press Herald article.
In a unanimous ruling, the Law Court said that the statute
imposed too much of a burden on political speech. The Law
Court’s decision declared that the statute was unconstitutional
on its face, preventing its enforcement against any candidate.
In her opinion for the Court, Chief Justice Saufley wrote,
“American history cautions against governmental regulation
of political speech. Absent that caution, in the guise of the
most benevolent purposes, an incumbent government could
restrict the free flow of information and debate in the public
marketplace of ideas.”
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Candidates Debate as Election Nears
Head-to-Head Debates to be held Oct. 29-30
Local political candidates are preparing for at least one more
debate to be held before the November 4th election.
The first-ever West End NEWS- sponsored "Head-to-Head"
will be a back and forth discussion among the candidates,
moderated by WEN Publisher Ed King. Hot button issues in
each race will be hashed over in a no-holds-barred format.
Each debate will be scheduled for one-half hour. Most of the
candidates have committed to participating in the debates The
forum will feature candidates for State Senate District 8, state
house district seats 118,119 and 120, as well as candidates
for the at-large Portland City Council seat and the Portland
School Committee.
The League of Young Voters held the first forum of the
season on September 16th at the Community Television
Network studios on Congress Street.
The Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization hosted a
Candidates debate on Sunday, October 19th at the St.
Lawrence Arts Center on Congress Street.
Several other debates and forums have been held around the
city. The schedule for the “Head-to-Head” debates is as
follows:
Wednesday, October 29th at 5:30:
Portland City Council- Tina Smith; Ed Suslovic; Dory
Waxman
State Senate District 8 - Justin Alfond (D) William Linnell
(G) Eric Lusk (R)
School Committee (At-Large) Elizabeth Holton, Anna
Trevorrow
Thursday, October 30th at 5:30:
West End District 118
Jon Hinck (D) and Joshua Miller (Green).
District 119 (Parkside, Bayside)-Herb Adams (D) Dan
Jenkins (G)
District 120 (Munjoy Hill, Downtown) Sandy Amborn (G)
-Peter Doyle (R) Diane Russell (D)
Cumberland County Commissioner
Jonathan Berry James Cloutier
Location: Community Television Network, 516 Congress St
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Ethics Commission Dismisses Complaint
Against Suslovic
The state Ethics Commission voted 5 to 0 on October 17th to
dismiss a complaint filed against Portland Mayor and City
Council candidate, Ed Suslovic, for his use of quotes in
campaign materials.
Zachary Heiden, Legal Director of the Maine Civil Liberties
Union Foundation, told the Ethics Commission that the Maine
law that governs political campaign literature represents an
unconstitutional infringement on political speech. That law,
21-A M.R.S.A. 1014-A, prohibits the use of endorsement
quotes unless they are specifically authorized in writing by the
“endorser.”
The case grew out of the Portland City Council race, where
Suslovic was accused by one of his opponents, Dory
Waxman, of misrepresenting as an endorsement a comment
by Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings, quoted in a
Portland Press Herald article. Waxman filed the complaint,
which was referred to the State Commission on
Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.
The Commission members, who voted unanimously to
dismiss the complaint, decided that the quote in question did
not meet the specific definition of an endorsement and would
not be governed by the statute.
“The ruling in this latest case shows that free speech is alive
and well in the political process,” said Suslovic. “I hope this
sends a message that candidates will continue to be able to
engage in spirited debate and let the voters make the decision.”
Friday, October 17, 2008
MCLU Says Freedom of Speech is Issue in
Suslovic-Waxman Feud
The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election
Practices will once again find itself in the middle of a dispute
over campaign advertisements today when it hears a
complaint by Portland City Council candidate Dory Waxman
against her opponent in the race, Portland Mayor Ed Suslovic.
. At issue is a quote from Speaker of the House Glenn
Cummings in praise of Suslovic. Waxman claims the quote
of praise gives the false impression that the Mayor was
endorsed by Cummings, which Suslovic adamantly denies.
The Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation will represent
Suslovic at the hearing, arguing that the quote was clearly not
an endorsement, and that candidates have freedom of speech
when it comes to campaign advertisements.
The dispute arose when Waxman filed a complaint to the
Election Practices Commission over a flyer that quoted an
April 17, 2008 newspaper story. The flyer quoted Speaker
Cummings referring to Mayor Suslovic as “visionary”.
Cummings is not endorsing anyone in the City Council
election, though he does not dispute the accuracy of the
quote.
The hearing will be held at 1 p.m. in Room 208 of the Burton
Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street in Augusta.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Casco Bay HS Students to Hold Candidates
Forum
Eleventh graders at Casco Bay High School will host a local
candidates forum on October 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.
m. The forum will be broadcast live on TV3, Portland’s
educational access television station, and replayed several
times before the election.
Students in the humanities class, taught by Stephanie Doane
and Susan McCray, studied local issues and the
responsibilities of City officeholders in preparation for the
forum. They will ask questions of the candidates for
Portland City Council and those running for a contested At-
Large Portland School Committee seat.
The forum will be rebroadcast on TV3 on October 24-26 at 8:
30 p.m., October 29 at 7 p.m. and October 31-November 2
at 8:30 p.m.
Friday, October 10, 2009
Political Fireworks at Democratic Debate
Several Portland City Councilors interrupted what is usually a
sedate Democratic City Committee-sponsored pre-election
debate, shouting that Mayor Ed Suslovic was lying about
details of the controversial Maine State Pier development.
Councilors Jill Duson, Nick Mavodones, and Dan Skolnik
were seated together in the first row of an audience of about
30 people at the King Middle School on October 9th, when
Suslovic started talking about the financial qualifications of
the two competing bidders on the project.
“Not true!” the Councilors began shouting in anger when
Suslovic said that both bidders - Ocean Properties and The
Olympia Company - had passed a certain fiscal threshold.
Debate moderator and Portland City Committee Chair Sive
Nielan quickly interrupted the Councilors’ outburst and
restored order to the proceedings.
“Everything that Ed has said tonight has been either a
misrepresentation or an outright lie,” charged Skolnik later in
the evening. After the event, the two met briefly and Skolnik
angrily told the Mayor that he had lost all credibility.
The unapologetic Suslovic responded to his critics by calling
their actions “chicanery.” Suslovic and his two rivals for the
at-large City Council seat, Dory Waxman and Tina Smith, will
meet in at least two more debates before the November 4th
election.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Absentee Ballots Requests Increase 30% in
City
City Clerk's office prepares for a record setting voter turnout
By September 30th, and with one month to go before Election
Day, absentee ballot requests received by Portland's City
Clerk's Office have increased thirty percent when compared
to this time during the last presidential election.
For the 2004 election, 35,000 people - approximately seventy
percent of registered voters - voted in Portland, and thirty
percent of them voted absentee. The City Clerk is predicting a
record eighty percent turnout of registered voters this year -
with forty percent voting absentee.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Adams Too Busy for Head-to-Head Debate
With Jenkins
...but doesn't want opponent "to get free face time alone"
Parkside State Representative Herb Adams is one of the few
candidates who have not gotten on board with the first West
End NEWS Head-to-Head debate, to be held at the
Community Television Studio on Congress Street on October
29th and 30th.
Adams said that his schedule is full until Election Day on
November 4th, but has declined to say what commitments
are keeping him from debating his Green Party opponent, Dan
Jenkins. The debate would be held from 6:45 to 7:15 on
October 30th.
Adams did not respond to numerous calls attempting to work
around his busy campaign schedule. Organizers of the debate
offered to change the hour or the day the debate was
scheduled, or allow Adams to send a surrogate to take his
place, all of which he rejected. The debate was announced on
Thursday, September 18th and Jenkins accepted the invitation
on the same day.
Adams said that he had already set up campaign events
around Labor Day for both days that the debates are
scheduled. He said that they would be very difficult, if not
impossible, to reschedule, and it is not fair to expect too
much flexibility for candidates in that position. He suggested
that organizers could invite candidates from a different house
race that has not yet had a TV presentation, or give the extra
time to the State Senate race.
He also said that it would not “be fair to a candidate who
cannot come to leave an open half hour alone for their
opponent (s) to thrash them without response, or to get free
face time alone, when the other candidate(s) might have to be
absent for perfectly good reasons.”
Organizers of the debate have allotted ten minutes to Jenkins
and to West End Representative Jon Hinck, to present their
platforms. Hinck’s opponent, Green Independent Joshua
Miller, has also not responded to the debate invitation.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Duson Demands Suslovic Apology
Portland City Councilor and former Mayor Jill Duson
demanded on October 3rd that Mayor Ed Suslovic apologize
to his City Council opponent, Dory Waxman.
Duson says that Suslovic falsely claimed that Waxman was a
lobbyist for Ocean Properties, whose Maine State Pier
proposal Suslovic voted against last spring. Waxman is
running against him in the at-large city council race.
“I admire Dory’s extraordinary work as a community
organizer in Bayside and as a community relations consultant,
and I’m disappointed that Ed feels compelled to spread lies
about her,” said Duson. She added, “This is the kind of
behavior that has made it very difficult to get things done on
the City Council for the last three years.”
Suslovic has not yet responded to his fellow councilor’s
demand in the escalating war of words.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Waxman to File Ethics Complaint Against
Suslovic
Portland City Council Candidate Dory Waxman will file an
ethics complaint on Friday, October 3rd against her
opponent, Mayor Ed Suslovic, for what her campaign calls “a
misleading palm card and web site that create the appearance
that he has been endorsed by Maine Speaker of the House
Glenn Cummings.”
According to Waxman, Cummings has not endorsed anyone
in the race and did not authorize Suslovic’s use of a quotation
attributed to him. She has called on Suslovic to apologize to
Portland’s voters.
The Waxman campaign says that Suslovic’s web site was
altered after Speaker Cummings complained to him.
Suslovic says he took down the quote in question to avoid a
misunderstanding, and out of respect for his friendship with
Cummings. The quote comes from an April 17, 2008 article
in the Portland Press Herald in which Cummings refers to
Suslovic as “visionary.”
Waxman also charges that Suslovic did not accompany any
of the endorsements on his site with a statement that they
were authorized by the endorsers, even though state law
expressly requires such a statement to accompany any
endorsement on campaign communications.
“This is misleading and irresponsible behavior, and Portland’s
voters deserve better,” said Waxman.
Suslovic called Waxman’s charges a “non-issue” and “clearly
an attempt to deflect from the real issue – that she is a paid
lobbyist for Ocean Properties.”
Suslovic has charged that Waxman has failed to disclose her
connection to Ocean Properties, the losing bidder in the
Maine State Pier sweepstakes, in which Suslovic supported
the Olympia Company in its successful bid. Waxman was an
independent contractor as a community liaison for Ocean
Properties during the process, a relationship that ended last
year.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Suslovic, Waxman Dispute Maine State Pier
Connection
Portland Mayor Ed Suslovic and Dory Waxman, one of his
two opponents in his upcoming City Council re-election bid,
are disputing Waxman’s role with Ocean Properties, the
losing bidder in the Maine State Pier sweepstakes.
Suslovic has charged that Waxman has failed to disclose her
connection to Ocean Properties in her campaign literature. He
says that he has been waiting for Waxman to disclose to the
public that she is a paid lobbyist for the firm. It was Suslovic’
s vote on the Portland City Council that made the Olympia
Companies the winning bidder on the multi-million dollar
project.
Waxman said that she was a sub-contractor to Ocean
Properties, not a paid employee. She said that a lobbyist tries
to influence legislation by meeting with public officials, but
describes herself as a community organizer who serves as a
liaison to bring information to the public.
Suslovic also asked if Waxman would recuse herself from
any decisions regarding the pier if she is elected to the
Council, to which Waxman responded with an emphatic
“No!”
“I’m the messenger,” said Waxman, “I’m not a lobbyist.”
During the Portland City Council’s review of the proposed
term sheet for the Maine State Pier on August 18th, Waxman
spoke out about her concerns with the deal and with the
process used to reach it.
Waxman called the deal “an objectively bad deal for the
citizens of Portland,” and said that she hoped the City Council
would rethink its decision.
Monday, September 29, 2008
League Endorses Adams, Hinck, Alfond,
Suslovic in Local Races
The League of Young Voters endorsed incumbent
Representatives Jon Hinck and Herb Adams, and Democratic
State Senate candidate Justin Alfond, among others, in its
endorsements, announced today. The League also endorsed
Mayor Ed Suslovic for re-election to his at-large seat on the
Portland City Council. It did not make an endorsement in the
District 120 house seat representing Munjoy Hill. Below is the
complete list of League endorsements.
District 114: (East Deering) Peter Stuckey
District 115: (Back Cove)Michael Hiltz
District 116: (Deering)Charlie Harlow
District 117: (Stroudwater)Anne Haskell
District 118:(West End) Jon Hinck
District 119:(Parkside, Bayside, Downtown) Herb Adams
Senate 8: Justin Alfond
School Committee At-Large: Elizabeth Holton
City Council District 5: Naomi Mermin
City Council At-Large: Ed Suslovic
Water Board Trustee: Jamie Willey
Congressional District 1: Chellie Pingree
US Senate: Tom Allen
President/Vice President: Barack Obama/Joe Biden
Monday, September 22, 2008
Group Art Show to Benefit Local Council
Candidate
The Committee to Elect Tina Smith, and LocalMotion, will
unite for a group art show/performance on First Friday,
October 3rd, 5-10pm at The Meg Perry Center, 644
Congress Street.
The show is in conjunction with the Tina Smith Beacon for
Change Campaign. Smith is a candidate for the at-large
Portland City Council seat. All mediums of artwork will be
raffled off at the event, which will benefit the Smith
campaign.
Performances starting at 8pm will feature Port Veritas Poets,
an AddVerb Productions skit, local writers, musicians and
storytellers.
LocalMotion is a 'collage' of Maine artisans exploring the
social, political, cultural and personal aspects of everyday life
in the 21st Century, as influenced by the interweaving of
global and local issues. FMI, or to be a part of the show,
contact Louisa Donelson, the show’s curator, at 978-807-
9313.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
MAINE GROUPS ENDORSE ALFOND
A number of Maine organizations, including the Maine
Education Association, the Maine Service Employees
Association Local 1989, and the Maine People’s Alliance have
endorsed Justin Alfond, Democratic candidate for Maine
Senate District 8.
Alfond, who hopes to represent voters in Portland’s
municipal districts one, two and three, was previously
endorsed by the Maine Prosperity PAC and The Alliance for
Maine's Future, The League of Young Voters and the
Portland Phoenix in his primary race.
Alfond is currently in business as a real estate developer and
is the former executive director of The League of Young
Voters. He grew up in central Maine and now lives in
Portland with his partner, Rachael Weinstein
September 20, 2008
Summers, Pingree to Hold Environmental
Forum
Congressional Candidates Charlie Summers and Chellie
Pingree will take part in a forum featuring environmental
issues on Sunday, September 28th at the USM Glickman
Library.
The forum will be moderated by MPBN's Irwin Gratz, and
discussion will include topics such as global warming, water
quality, wildlife habitat, alternative transportation, clean
energy, and supporting Maine agriculture and fisheries. The
forum is sponsored by Friends of Casco Bay.
A reception will follow, with light refreshments. Open to the
public and free of charge; but please RSVP to
keeper@cascobay.org. 3 - 5 pm, USM Glickman Library,
7th Floor.
September 18, 2008
Candidate Debates to be Broadcast
The League of Young Voters Candidates Forum which was
held on September 16th will be broadcast on the local
community access TV station, channel 4, starting tonight,
September 18th, at 6pm. It will also be broadcast on Friday,
September 19th, at 1PM, and Saturday, September 20th, at
7PM.
The forum includes candidates for the at-large Portland City
Council seat, and candidates for legislative seats in districts
115, 119, 120.
The candidates discussed issues ranging from the Maine State
Pier and the school budget to affordable health care and gay
marriage.
September 13, 2008
League Criticized for Not Planning State
Senate Debate
The Republican and the Green Independent candidates for
Portland’s District 8 State Senate seat say that their
Democratic opponent in the race is avoiding facing them in
debates to discuss issues in the race.
Green Independent candidate Bill Linnell referred to the
League of Young Voters failure to schedule a State Senate
debate along with a forum the League is sponsoring involving
other races.
“They should declare themselves a PAC and drop the charade
of being non-partisan,” said Linnell.
Justin Alfond, the Democratic candidate, is one of the
founders of the local organization and was its executive
director before entering the State Senate race. He said that he
has had no contact with the organization since stepping down
as its head on January 6th of this year. Alfond said he was
looking forward to facing his two opponents in a debate.
So far, the only debate scheduled for the State Senate race is
being planned by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization,
for an as-yet undetermined date in October, at the St.
Lawrence Arts Center.
Republican candidate Eric Lusk was also skeptical of the
League’s forum, pointing out that it will be moderated by
outgoing Maine Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings, who
is being term-limited from the District 115 seat. When asked
why they did not include the State Senate race in the forum,
Harris Parnell of the League said simply that they “chose not
to.” The forum will also not include West End District 118
candidates Jon Hinck (D) and Joshua Miller (Green).
The League of Young Voters will hold the forum on Tuesday,
September 16th, 5:30 to 8:30 PM at the Community
Television Network studios on Congress Street.
The forum will feature candidates for state house district
seats 115, 119 and 120, as well as candidates for the at-large
Portland City Council seat. Candidates in those races are as
follows:
District 115 (Back Cove, USM, Wood- fords, Oakdale)
Donna Bendikson (R) Stephen Lovejoy (D) Michael Hiltz
(G)
District 119 (Parkside, Bayside)-Herb Adams (D) Dan
Jenkins (G)
District 120 (Munjoy Hill, Downtown) Sandy Amborn (G) -
Peter Doyle (R) Diane Russell (D)
Portland City Council- Tina Smith;
-Ed Suslovic; Dory Waxman
League to Host Candidate Forum
Portland’s League of Young Voters will hold a Candidate
Forum on Tuesday, September 16th, 5:30 to 8:30 PM at
the Community Television Network studios on Congress
Street.
The forum will feature candidates for state house district
seats 115, 119 and 120, as well as candidates for the at-
large Portland City Council seats. Candidates in those races
are as follows:
District 115 (Back Cove, USM, Woodfords, Oakdale)
Donna Bendikson (R) Anne Haskell (D) Michael Hiltz (G)
District 119 (Parkside, Bayside)-Herb Adams (D) Dan
Jenkins (G)
District 120 (Munjoy Hill, Downtown) Sandy Amborn (G) -
Peter Doyle (R) Diane Russell (D)
Portland City Council- Tina Smith;
-Ed Suslovic; Dory Waxman
Thursday, August 28,2008
Linnell Upstages Local Dems at Energy
Workshop
Green Party State Senate candidate Bill Linnell staged his
own energy conservation workshop on August 21st in front
of Portland West on Brackett Street, as local Democratic
officials inside were preparing a workshop to provide
information to local residents worried about heating bills
this coming winter.
The Energy Conservation Workshop featured representatives
of Efficiency Maine, the Portland Fire Department, Irving
Oil and the Maine State Housing Authority, discussing
conservation strategies and distributing literature. Local
incumbent Democrats were also on hand to talk about state
programs available to local residents.
The Democratic and Republican State Senate candidates -
Justin Alfond and Eric Lusk - were also in attendance.
Linnell’s demonstration consisted of leaky containers -
representing inefficiently insulated houses - and how they
waste fuel, and what can be done about it. The
demonstration was set atop a homemade lobster trap
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
CONSERVATION VOTERS, PEOPLE'S
ALLIANCE ENDORSE ADAMS
Parkside/Bayside State Representative Herb Adams' re-
election bid has been endorsed by two of the state's largest
citizen action groups, the Maine People's Alliance
Campaign Vote 2008 committee and the Maine League of
Conservation Voters.
The MPA Campaign Vote 2008 board endorsed Adams
because of what they called his “strong commitment to
progressive values, strong voting record on our issues, and
willingness to be receptive to grassroots leaders."
The MPA, with offices in Portland and Bangor, has over
30,000 members statewide.
The Maine League of Conservation Voters cited Adams'
"strong and consistent voting record on conservation
issues... the foundation of our health, our jobs, and our
identity as a state."
In the last legislative session Adams sponsored successful
bills to clean up Casco Bay and a Land For Maine's Future
Bond that was overwhelmingly approved by voters last fall.
Both groups awarded Adams' a 100 % voting record in the
last legislative session.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Local Republicans to Attend National
Convention
Several Portlanders will be attending the Republican
National Convention -which begins on September 1st in
Minneapolis, Minnesota - as delegates or alternates.
Portland Republican City Committee members Jay Hibbard
and Vance Wheelock will be joining State Senate Candidate
Eric Lusk as alternates. They plan to report back their
impressions at the September meeting of the Portland
Republican City Committee on Monday, September 22nd,
at the Victory ’08 Campaign Office, 11 Baxter Boulevard.,
at 7:00 pm
To keep up on all of the action at the Republican National
Convention, go to
http://www.gopconvention2008.com.
Friday, August 22, 2008
WAXMAN CRITICIZES MAINE STATE
PIER DEAL AND PROCESS
During the Portland City Council’s review of the proposed
term sheet for the Maine State Pier on August 18th,
Portland City Council candidate Dory Waxman spoke out
about her concerns with the deal and with the process used
to reach it.
Waxman called the deal “an objectively bad deal for the
citizens of Portland,” and said that she hoped the City
Council would rethink its decision. Waxman is running
against Mayor Ed Suslovic, who supports the pier
agreement, and West End activist Tina Smith, for an at-
large seat.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Trevorrow Starts School Committee Campaign
Anna Trevorrow, candidate for the At-Large School
Committee seat that is being vacated by Susan Hopkins,
held a campaign kick-off event on Saturday, August 9.
Over twenty supporters joined her, including long-time
activists, young organizers and political newcomers. The
event raised over $300.
Trevorrow works as a customer service representative at
Norway Savings Bank. She was raised in Monmouth,
Maine, and both of of her parents are teachers. Trevorrow
graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 2007
with a BA in English.
Trevorrow is new to politics, but believes her background in
curriculum design and finance will uniquely situate her to
help the students of Portland. She supports a safe and
healthy learning environment, forward thinking
curriculum, and universal access to education. She
currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Maine
Green Independent Party, and is also a delegate to the
Green Party of the United States National Committee.
Trevorrow resides in the Arts District, with her partner of
seven years, Anthony Zeli.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Hinck to Face Green Opponent in
West End Race
West End State Representative Jon Hinck will run to retain
his District 118 house seat against Green Independent
candidate Joshua Miller.
The local Republican Party was unable to recruit a
candidate to run for the seat after James Willard Colston
dropped out of the race in late July.
Hinck was elected to the West End seat in 2006, defeating
incumbent John Eder in a close race. Eder at the time was
the highest-ranking Green Independent Party elected
official in the country.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
State Senate Candidate Calls on
Legislature to Enter Emergency Session
“What is Governor Baldacci waiting for,
Christmas?” asks Linnell.
Captain Bill Linnell, a candidate for State Senate District 8,
is calling for the Governor and the Legislature to go into
Emergency Session to deal with Maine’s heating oil crisis
before winter. Linnell has been running radio ads calling
for citizens to call the Governor’s office and demand a
special session of the Legislature to deal with the crisis.
Linnell drafted an action plan in July for the Legislature to
consider and adopt.
Former West End State Representative John Eder joined
Linnell in unveiling Linnell’s “Liberty Energy Plan” for
the State of Maine on August 4th
Inspired by the 30,000 South Portland shipyard workers who
built 236 Liberty Ships and 30 Ocean Ships in 41 months
during World War II, Linnell’s plan aims to insulate every
single-family home in Maine in 85 days.
Linnell says that under his plan, the state could insulate
500,000 attics in 85 days, would employ five times as many
people as Bath Iron Works, cut oil bills in half, and jump-
start the economy.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Time is Running Out for Economic Stimulus
Payments
Wesr End Representative Jon Hinck is reminding seniors
and veterans that they need to apply for the federal
economic stimulus payment, even if they did not earn
enough to be required to file taxes.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the AARP recently
informed Hinck and other elected officials that as many as
31,000 Maine seniors and veterans have yet to apply for the
economic stimulus payments that they are eligible to
receive. Hinck said that almost 2,000 residents of Portland
may be among this number.
Many people do not normally have to file federal income
taxes because their income is especially low. However, in
order to receive an economic stimulus payment, this year
they need to file Form 1040A with the IRS. This includes
people who receive at least $3,000 in earnings and/or
benefits from Social Security, Veterans Affairs disability or
a Retired Railroad Worker’s pension. The economic
stimulus payment is a one-time payment of $300 for
individuals, $600 for married couples filing jointly and
more if children are in the home.
Taxpayers who already filed a 2007 tax return began
receiving their economic stimulus checks in the spring. But
those who had no tax liability and did not file a 2007 tax
return will lose money due to them unless they file a 1040A
form by Oct. 15, 2008. They must file a 1040A form even if
they do not owe any taxes, in order to get their economic
stimulus check. All together, more than $9 million in
Maine could go unclaimed if people do not file by October
15th.
Seniors and veterans can call the AARP toll free at 877-353-
3771, visit www.aarp.org/stimulushelp, or call the IRS at 1-
800-829-0582, extension 377.
To have a copy of the “Economic Stimulus Payment,
Guide for Benefit Recipients” e-mailed or mailed to you by
Rep. Hinck, please call him at 450-0003 or e-mail him at
RepJon.Hinck@legislature.maine.gov.
Tuesday, July 29,2008
Adams Urges Groundfish Aid
Legislation
National fish forum meets in Portland – fish
stocks update grim
State Rep. Herb Adams, D-Portland, has filed a bill to develop
an aid package for Maine fishermen struggling to survive in
the face of dwindling fish stocks, competition from
Massachusetts, and fewer days at sea.
Adams’ bill for a $300,000 short-term aid package would
cover rebates for landing fees at the Portland Fish Exchange,
trucking fees for deliveries, Maine sales tax on diesel fuel, and
for the ice needed to preserve catches at sea.
The proposal would restore funding to the level established by
a similar bill sponsored by Adams in 2007 that expired on June
30, 2008, the end of the state fiscal year. Adams serves as
chair of the Groundfishing Subcommittee of the Legislature’s
Marine Resources Committee.
Adams filed the bill in response to information presented by
scientists when the New England Fishery Management
Council gathered in Portland June 3-5. Scientists said fish
stocks remain surprisingly weak and quotas to reduce
harvests in the Gulf of Maine haven’t worked as hoped. Also,
the number of federally permitted Maine fishing vessels still at
sea is at an all-time low.
The Portland Fish Exchange is the last nonprofit public fish
exchange north of Boston. Declining landings and increased
competition from Massachusetts have threatened its ability to
keep its doors open.
“From 1996 to 2006 the number of federal fishing permits
held by Mainers dropped from 165 to 91, a 45 percent loss,
and it continues,” said Adams. “Just 12 years ago, fishing
boats lined the Portland waterfront. Now it’s condos and
boutiques. A way of life is at risk on the Maine coast, unless
we give both fishermen and fish a chance to come back in
better days.”
A Legislative Resolve authored by Adams, calling for a fair cut
of permits and landings, was presented to the New England
Forum by Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Hancock, chair of the
Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee. Both houses of
the Legislature unanimously passed the Resolve on April 18.
Adams notes that only a few shoreside firms in Portland and
Port Clyde still remain to service fishing vessels with ice and
supplies.
“A whole Maine way of life is on the edge,” he said.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Conservative Caucus Calls for
State Hiring Freeze
The Portland Conservative Candidates’ Caucus announced on
July 24th that it favors a freeze on all new state government
hires, permanent elimination of all currently vacant state
positions, and a comprehensive review of state government
positions to identify those that are genuinely productive and
those that are not.
According to the United States Census Bureau, about 15,000
people are employed by the Maine state government, about
five state government employees for every 100 people
employed in the private sector.
The PCCC says that Maine could save hundreds of millions of
dollars by reducing its state government workforce to the
national average, and could save tens of millions of dollars by
eliminating the 894 vacant positions reported by the Maine
Department of Administrative and Financial Services.
. The PCCC consists of the Republican candidates for the
state legislative districts that represent the City of Portland.
Adams Urges Groundfish Aid
Legislation
National fish forum meets in Portland – fish
stocks update grim
State Rep. Herb Adams, D-Portland, has filed a bill to develop
an aid package for Maine fishermen struggling to survive in
the face of dwindling fish stocks, competition from
Massachusetts, and fewer days at sea.
Adams’ bill for a $300,000 short-term aid package would
cover rebates for landing fees at the Portland Fish Exchange,
trucking fees for deliveries, Maine sales tax on diesel fuel, and
for the ice needed to preserve catches at sea.
The proposal would restore funding to the level established by
a similar bill sponsored by Adams in 2007 that expired on June
30, 2008, the end of the state fiscal year. Adams serves as
chair of the Groundfishing Subcommittee of the Legislature’s
Marine Resources Committee.
Adams filed the bill in response to information presented by
scientists when the New England Fishery Management
Council gathered in Portland June 3-5. Scientists said fish
stocks remain surprisingly weak and quotas to reduce
harvests in the Gulf of Maine haven’t worked as hoped. Also,
the number of federally permitted Maine fishing vessels still at
sea is at an all-time low.
The Portland Fish Exchange is the last nonprofit public fish
exchange north of Boston. Declining landings and increased
competition from Massachusetts have threatened its ability to
keep its doors open.
“From 1996 to 2006 the number of federal fishing permits
held by Mainers dropped from 165 to 91, a 45 percent loss,
and it continues,” said Adams. “Just 12 years ago, fishing
boats lined the Portland waterfront. Now it’s condos and
boutiques. A way of life is at risk on the Maine coast, unless
we give both fishermen and fish a chance to come back in
better days.”
A Legislative Resolve authored by Adams, calling for a fair cut
of permits and landings, was presented to the New England
Forum by Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Hancock, chair of the
Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee. Both houses of
the Legislature unanimously passed the Resolve on April 18.
Adams notes that only a few shoreside firms in Portland and
Port Clyde still remain to service fishing vessels with ice and
supplies.
“A whole Maine way of life is on the edge,” he said.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Conservative Caucus Calls for
State Hiring Freeze
The Portland Conservative Candidates’ Caucus announced on
July 24th that it favors a freeze on all new state government
hires, permanent elimination of all currently vacant state
positions, and a comprehensive review of state government
positions to identify those that are genuinely productive and
those that are not.
According to the United States Census Bureau, about 15,000
people are employed by the Maine state government, about
five state government employees for every 100 people
employed in the private sector.
The PCCC says that Maine could save hundreds of millions of
dollars by reducing its state government workforce to the
national average, and could save tens of millions of dollars by
eliminating the 894 vacant positions reported by the Maine
Department of Administrative and Financial Services.
. The PCCC consists of the Republican candidates for the
state legislative districts that represent the City of Portland.
| Political Candidates ADVERTISE AT thewestendnews.com Election Day 2008 - November 4th |
Saturday, July 19, 2008
WAXMAN MAKES CITY
COUNCIL BID OFFICIAL
Among a crowd of nearly 50 supporters, Dory Waxman
announced on Sunday, July 13th that she is officially seeking the
At-Large City Council seat, a seat currently held by Mayor Ed
Suslovic. The gathering was held at former Portland Mayor
Peter O'Donnell's home. Waxman's first, campaign event raised
more than $2,000.
Waxman raised her family on Stevens Avenue, sending all three
of her sons to public schools.For twelve years, she owned and
operated Casco Bay Wool Works, a manufacturing and retail
business in the Old Port. Presently, she runs a small community
and public relations business.
Waxman served one term on the Portland School Committee in
the late 1990s and was Chair of the Portland Democratic City
Committee from 2002
through 2004. In 1994, Waxman co-founded Portland
Community Action, a city-wide organization
devoted to electing community-minded municipal officials, and
she continued to serve on its executive committee through 2002.
Most recently, Waxman is perhaps best known for her outreach
in the
Bayside Neighborhood. As a community organizer, she built
community consensus around a number of initiatives and
organized the Bayside World Market Fair.
Waxman and her husband, Dan reside in the Rosemont
neighborhood and have three grown sons.
She is currently a member of the Southern Maine Labor Council
and serves on the Board of Directors for Opportunity Maine
Campaign, a nonprofit devoted to education and economic
development.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Conservative Candidates Oppose
Polling Place Reduction
The Portland Conservative Candidates’ Caucus has announced
that it opposes the Portland City Clerk’s proposal to reduce the
number of polling places in Portland from 16 to 6. The Clerk
has proposed the reduction in order to save approximately
$13,000 in costs per election. The proposal is on the agenda of
the July 21st City Council meeting.
The proposal continues a trend of decreasing the number of
polling places available to voters in Portland, which used to have
26 polling places. The Caucus says that a reduction would result
in longer lines and more confusion on election day, with the
result that citizens will be discouraged from voting, if they are
not denied the opportunity to vote altogether.
Thursday, July 17,2008
City to Begin Elected Mayor
Process
The Portland City Council is scheduled to begin a process that
would lead to Portland residents electing a mayor independent of
the Council. Currently, the mayor is chosen from among the
nine City Councilors by the Councilors themselves.
At its July 21st meeting, the Council will decide whether or not
to put a referendum on the November ballot calling for the
establishment of a Charter Commission, which would look at
changing the City’s charter to allow for an elected mayor.
If a Charter Commission is OK’d by voters, then another
election would be held next spring to elect members of the
Commission. That commission would then have to approve the
change, and a mayoral election would be held in 2010.
WAXMAN MAKES CITY
COUNCIL BID OFFICIAL
Among a crowd of nearly 50 supporters, Dory Waxman
announced on Sunday, July 13th that she is officially seeking the
At-Large City Council seat, a seat currently held by Mayor Ed
Suslovic. The gathering was held at former Portland Mayor
Peter O'Donnell's home. Waxman's first, campaign event raised
more than $2,000.
Waxman raised her family on Stevens Avenue, sending all three
of her sons to public schools.For twelve years, she owned and
operated Casco Bay Wool Works, a manufacturing and retail
business in the Old Port. Presently, she runs a small community
and public relations business.
Waxman served one term on the Portland School Committee in
the late 1990s and was Chair of the Portland Democratic City
Committee from 2002
through 2004. In 1994, Waxman co-founded Portland
Community Action, a city-wide organization
devoted to electing community-minded municipal officials, and
she continued to serve on its executive committee through 2002.
Most recently, Waxman is perhaps best known for her outreach
in the
Bayside Neighborhood. As a community organizer, she built
community consensus around a number of initiatives and
organized the Bayside World Market Fair.
Waxman and her husband, Dan reside in the Rosemont
neighborhood and have three grown sons.
She is currently a member of the Southern Maine Labor Council
and serves on the Board of Directors for Opportunity Maine
Campaign, a nonprofit devoted to education and economic
development.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Conservative Candidates Oppose
Polling Place Reduction
The Portland Conservative Candidates’ Caucus has announced
that it opposes the Portland City Clerk’s proposal to reduce the
number of polling places in Portland from 16 to 6. The Clerk
has proposed the reduction in order to save approximately
$13,000 in costs per election. The proposal is on the agenda of
the July 21st City Council meeting.
The proposal continues a trend of decreasing the number of
polling places available to voters in Portland, which used to have
26 polling places. The Caucus says that a reduction would result
in longer lines and more confusion on election day, with the
result that citizens will be discouraged from voting, if they are
not denied the opportunity to vote altogether.
Thursday, July 17,2008
City to Begin Elected Mayor
Process
The Portland City Council is scheduled to begin a process that
would lead to Portland residents electing a mayor independent of
the Council. Currently, the mayor is chosen from among the
nine City Councilors by the Councilors themselves.
At its July 21st meeting, the Council will decide whether or not
to put a referendum on the November ballot calling for the
establishment of a Charter Commission, which would look at
changing the City’s charter to allow for an elected mayor.
If a Charter Commission is OK’d by voters, then another
election would be held next spring to elect members of the
Commission. That commission would then have to approve the
change, and a mayoral election would be held in 2010.
| Check out these local Green Party Candidates! Dan Jenkins - State House District 119 (Parkside, Bayside) Sandy Amborn - State House District 120 (Munjoy Hill, Downtown) Tina Smith - Portland City Council Anna Trevorrow - Portland School Committee Paid for by the Cumberland County Green Independent Committee. Morgan D'Arc, Treasurer |
| Vote for Diane M. Russell Democratic Candidate for District 120 Maine Legislature Munjoy Hill, Downtown |
