By Tony Zeli
Spencer Thibodeau vacates District 2 seat for job in Biden administration
Spencer Thibodeau had announced that he would not run for reelection for District 2 city council. Then at a Portland City Council meeting in September he resigned effective immediately. Thibodeau had accepted a position at the US Department of Energy. The position required Thibodeau to step down from elected office.
Immediately after, the city council deadlocked in a 4-4 vote on an indoor mask mandate. This divided vote highlights a council that is in transition. Fresh faces are winning seats as experienced councilors opt not to run for reelection.
In fact, there are three open seats up for grabs on November 2nd. That is three out of nine. Plus, five of Portland’s sitting city councilors (including Mayor Kate Snyder) are serving their first terms. No matter how the votes tally up, Portland will have a vastly different council by the end of this year.
Hinck, Pelletier Campaign for Open District 2 Seat
District 2 represents the neighborhoods of the West End, Western Promenade, Parkside, Valley Street, and Oakdale. There are two candidates vying for the seat. One is a former councilor and familiar face in Portland politics and another is a newcomer with public policy experience seeking to represent diversity and inclusion.
JON HINCK
Jon Hinck taught English in Iran before managing a first run movie theater in Seattle. He worked for a decade at Greenpeace and is now a lawyer in private practice. He has represented Portland in both the Maine House of Representatives (2006-2012) and as an at-large city councilor (2013-2016).
Hinck says he is running to represent his home for twenty-five years “because it has a wonderful mix of people including many who care deeply about their city and all of its residents.
“A major focus of my campaign will be on how we can make Portland affordable for a diverse population especially as to the cost of housing and including for those who are just starting out here and those who are long time older residents,” says Hinck.
Read Jon Hinck’s answers to the WEN Candidate Questionnaire here.
VICTORIA PELLETIER
Victoria Pelletier has a background in racial equity and economic development. She currently works at the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), a regional planning organization working with over 30 Maine municipalities. Pelletier works with towns to advance racial equity and inclusion and manages GPCOG’s Community Development Block Grant program. She is also a board member of Maine Black Community Development and is a BIPOC advisor of Maine Community Foundation.
Pelletier says she is running to be a leader who reflects “the lived experiences of the district, and it would be an honor to ensure that the entirety of District 2 is well represented.”
“We have a really exciting melting pot of different cultures, experiences and viewpoints in this area, but at times it can seem like we’re all in our separate pockets. I want to restore a really important level of community back in this District, so we can support one another as allies and neighbors, regardless of socioeconomic status,” says Pelletier.
Read Victoria Pelletier’s answers to the WEN Candidate Questionnaire here.
Tony Zeli is publisher and editor. Reach him at thewestendnews@gmail.com.
