Zeli, Bryan Go Head to Head in
School Board Race
In their only face-to-face meeting on the campaign trail,
Portland School Committee candidates Anthony Zeli and Ed
Bryan hashed out their differences at a forum held at the King
Middle School on October 20th. District 1 candidate Jenna
Vendil, who is running unopposed, was also part of the forum.
(Bryan was unable to attend a debate scheduled earlier in the
campaign by the League of Young Voters.)
When asked about the differences between the two
candidates, Bryan said that the major difference is that he is
already deeply involved in the community. He cited his
involvement in the Reiche School Parent Teacher Organization,
the West End Neighborhood Association, and the newly-formed
WECAN, West End Community Action Network. Bryan, 44, is
married, with two children who are students at the Reiche
School.
Zeli is the longtime partner of Portland Charter Commissioner
Anna Trevorrow, whose campaign he helped organize. He has
been involved with a number of policy issues in the city,
including last year's campaign to stop the City from closing a
number of polling places. He is the State Treasurer of the Maine
Green Independent Party. He stressed his support for alternative
curriculums such as expeditionary learning, and for moving the
West End Community Policing Center to the Reiche School.
The forum was taped for broadcast on TV3 and will air this
week at the following times:
Monday, October 26th at 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, October 27th at 6:00 p.m.,
Wednesday, October 28th at 7:00 p.m.,
Thursday, October 29th at 10:00 a.m. and
October 30th through November 1st at 12:00 p.m.
Vote in the West End
NEWS Mayor Poll
The West End NEWS is conducting an informal, unscientific
poll to determine what people think about which City Councilor
will be Portland’s next mayor, after what may be one of the last
non-elected mayor campaign seasons in the city.
If you would like to cast an informal vote for the City Councilor
who you would like to be Portland’s next mayor, you can vote
by email at thewestendnews@yahoo.com. Tell us who you
would vote for, and feel free to discuss the reasons for your
choice, or any issues involved. We’ll keep a running tally of the
votes and comments at thewestendnews.com. One vote per
reader (honor system), anonymity OK. The tally so far is as
follows:
John Anton 2
John Coyne 0
Kevin Donoghue 1
Jill Duson 0
Cheryl Leeman 2
David Marshall 7
Nick Mavodones 0
Dan Skolnik 0
Dory Waxman 0
Marshall Takes Early Lead in
West End NEWS Mayor Poll
District 2 (West End) City Councilor David Marshall has
taken an early lead in the West End NEWS' informal poll
of voters' preference for which City Councilor should be
elected by his or her peers as Portland's next mayor.
One reader voted for Marshall "since he wants the job."
But added, "John Anton should bite the bullet and be one
of the last appointed mayors of Portland."
Another voted for Marshall because "it's his turn, and it's
about time Portland had a Mayor that can break dance!"
If you would like to cast an informal vote for the City
Councilor who you would like to be Portland’s next mayor,
you can vote by email at thewestendnews@yahoo.com. Tell
us who you would vote for, and feel free to discuss the
reasons for your choice, or any issues involved. We’ll keep
a running tally of the votes and comments at
thewestendnews.com. One vote per reader (honor system),
anonymity OK. The tally so far is as follows:
John Anton 2
John Coyne 0
Kevin Donoghue 1
Jill Duson 0
Cheryl Leeman 2
David Marshall 7
Nick Mavodones 0
Dan Skolnik 0
Dory Waxman 0
Monday, October 5, 2009
Who Do YOU Think
Should Be the Next
Portland Mayor?
West End NEWS Starts New Poll
The West End NEWS is conducting an informal, unscientific
poll to determine what people think about which City
Councilor will be Portland’s next mayor, after what may be
one of the last non-elected mayor campaign seasons in the
city.
District 2 (West End) City Councilor David Marshall is the
only councilor who has thus far publicly expressed an
interested in serving as Portland's next mayor, a position
which traditionally goes to the most senior Councilor who
has not held the post. By that criteria, Marshall was in line
for the post last year, but the Council unanimously elected
current Mayor Jill Duson to serve for the second time.
Neither Marshall nor East End Councilor Kevin Donoghue,
who was also qualified last year, (both were elected in
2006) opposed Duson’s election.
Other Portland City Councilors have, for the most part,
been silent about the process that will lead to one of them
becoming the City’s next non-elected mayor. Under
Portland’s current system of government, the mayor is
selected annually by a vote of his or her fellow city
councilors, in a vote held after the general election. That,
however, could change in the future if Portland’s Charter
Commission recommends that the city change to an
elected mayor form of government, and voters approve.
At-large councilor John Anton has said that he has no
interest in serving as mayor, and initially said he would
support Marshall, saying that Marshall had done a good job
and that his service on the Council would justify his
nomination as mayor. But Anton has since decided to step
back to the sidelines, and see how events unfold.
Donoghue also said he wasn’t interested in the job, but
stopped short of endorsing Marshall. He said that he was
not a candidate for mayor, but a candidate for re-election
to the District 1 City Council seat. He said if re-elected, he
plans to focus on the implementation of the Peninsula
Transit Plan, and continue as the Chair of the
Transportation Committee, and President of METRO.
Marshall is unopposed in his re-election bid.
At-Large Councilor Nick Mavodones, who is also running
unopposed, and who has held the mayor position twice in
his twelve years on the Council, would say only that it was
too early to start talking about it. Mayor Duson also said
the discussion was premature. None of the other councilors
responded to inquiries about their availability for the job.
If you would like to start talking about it, and would like
to cast an informal vote for the City Councilor who you
would like to be Portland’s next mayor, you can vote by
email at thewestendnews@yahoo.com. Tell us who you
would vote for, and feel free to discuss the reasons for
your choice, or any issues involved. We’ll keep a running
tally of the votes and comments at thewestendnews.com.
One vote per reader (honor system), anonymity OK. The
tally so far is as follows:
John Anton 2
John Coyne 0
Kevin Donoghue 1
Jill Duson 0
Cheryl Leeman 2
David Marshall 7
Nick Mavodones 0
Dan Skolnik 0
Dory Waxman 0
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Marshall a Candidate to be Portland's
Next Mayor
District 2 (West End) City Councilor David Marshall says
that he is interested in serving as Portland's next mayor, a
position which traditionally goes to the most senior
Councilor who has not held the post. By that criteria,
Marshall was in line for the post last year, but the Council
unanimously elected current Mayor Jill Duson to serve for
the second time. Neither Marshall nor East End Councilor
Kevin Donoghue, who was also qualified last year, (both
were elected in 2006) opposed Duson’s election.
Other Portland City Councilors have, for the most part,
been silent about the process that will lead to one of them
becoming the City’s next non-elected mayor. Under
Portland’s current system of government, the mayor is
selected annually by a vote of his or her fellow city
councilors. That, however, could change in the future if
Portland’s Charter Commission recommends that the city
change to an elected mayor form of government, and
voters approve.
At-large councilor John Anton said he had no interest in
serving as mayor and would support Marshall, saying that
Marshall had done a good job and that his service on the
Council would justify his nomination as mayor. Donoghue
also said he wasn’t interested in the job, but stopped short
of endorsing Marshall. He said that he was not a candidate
for mayor, but a candidate for re-election to the District 1
City Council seat. He said if re-elected, he plans to focus
on the implementation of the Peninsula Transit Plan, and
continue as the Chair of the Transportation Committee,
and President of METRO. Marshall is unopposed in his re-
election bid.
Councilor Nick Mavodones, who has held the mayor
position twice in his twelve years on the Council, would say
only that it was too early to start talking about it. Mayor
Duson also said the discussion was premature.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
City Dems Look to Rebuild
Organization
The Portland Democratic City Committee will elect a new
Chair and a Treasurer in an election on Wednesday,
September 2nd at the Reiche School Community Room All
registered Democrats are invited to vote in election, which
will be held at 7PM..
Stephen Gordon will continue in his role as Vice Chair, and
Ian Farnsworth will continue as Secretary. Reb Brann will
be stepping down as Treasurer to run for the Chair
position.
In the election held last fall, Timothy Rich was elected
Chair as Sadhbh "Sive" Neilan stepped down after several
years as Chair. Rich resigned as Chair in June because he
did not have the time to devote to the position.
Nineteen Democrats attended a meeting at the Riverton
School on August 12th. The group reviewed the PDCC
mission and by-laws, and began the process of rebuilding
the organization.
Former Chairs Dick Farnsworth and Steve Rowe each
advocated for the continuance of the Portland Dems, both
emphasizing the need to focus on relevant issues in order
to engage a larger membership. The group plans to host
occasional programs that address specific, relevant issues
that would appeal to the larger Portland Democrats
community and might boost membership. Contact
portlanddems@gmail.com for more information.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
West End School Candidate Lists
Budget, Reiche as Priorities
West End (District 2 )School Committee candidate Ed
Bryan says that his biggest priority for the school
committee will be proposing informed budgets and
operating within those budgets. He says he also wants to
build better communications between Reiche School,
Portland Recreation and the West End Neighborhood
Association to help facilitate partnerships between the City
and School Department.
Bryan is a West End resident and Reiche School activist,
currently on the board of the West End Neighborhood
Association and on the steering committee for the West
End Community Action Network (WECAN), the group
charged with implementing plans and CDBG funds to build
a safer and more interconnected West End neighborhood.
Bryan has been on the Reiche School PTO and Parent
Advisory Committee since 2004, working with the school’s
administrators to help secure funding for improvements to
Reiche School.
Bryan is the owner of a small business, Crystal Reporting
Solutions. Working from his office on Congress Street, he
consults with and writes budget, finance, and personnel
reports for municipalities and school districts across the
country.
A Portland resident since 1993, Bryan graduated from
Bowdoin College in 1987, worked at L.L. Bean for seven
years, Tyler Technologies for seven years and has been
running his own business since 2005. Married since 1995 to
Suzanne, the current Reiche PTO co-chair, they have two
children at Reiche School and plan to send the first of
them to King Middle School next year. In his spare time he
coaches his son’s lacrosse, soccer and basketball teams,
sings with the Portland Community Chorus and swam his
first Peak’s to Portland race this past July.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Zeli, Bryan to Face Off for West End
School Board Seat
Portland Green Independent Party activist Anthony Zeli
has joined the race for the District 2 West End seat on the
Portland School Committee. The office is currently held by
Robert O’Brien, who is not running for re-election. Zeli
joins Ed Bryan, who announced his candidacy several
weeks ago.
Zeli came to Maine after graduating from Marlboro
College in 2003. He works at WGME, Channel 13, as a
Broadcast Technician, and is currently involved in creating
a nonprofit organization to promote the film industry in
Maine.
Zeli highlighted some of the initial issues he wants to work
on and talk about in the campaign:
-Continuing to invest in Reiche as a community center.
- "Green" school facilities with more efficient heating and
insulation, heating water with solar power, using natural
gas, and upgrading windows and insulation with money that
is being provided by the state and Federal governments for
those purposes.
-Improving student retention rate by advertising schools
and working with the City to provide more housing
downtown.
- Reduce expenditures without cutting existing social
services.
-Supporting and expanding expeditionary learning
programs.
Zeli lives on Congress Street with his partner, Charter
Commission member Anna Trevorrow. He ca be reached
at: zelidistrict2@gmail.com.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Farrell Drops Out of East End City
Council Race
Paul H. Farrell of Munjoy Hill has told the West End NEWS
that he will not challenge District 1 City Councilor Kevin
Donoghue in Donoghue's bid for reelection to the Portland
City Council, representing Munjoy Hill, Downtown,
Bayside, East Bayside, and the Casco Bay islands. Farrell
cited personal reasons in dropping out of the race, saying
that the timing was not good for him to devote sufficient
time to an election campaign.
Donoghue was elected to the seat in 2006, defeating
incumbent Will Gorham. Gorham announced recently that
he would not run a campaign to regain the seat. Donoghue
has focused on transportation and housing issues during
his term on the Council.
Farrell was the third candidate in the race, joining
Donoghue and Munjoy Hill taxi driver Charles Bragdon.
Farrell was an unsuccessful candidate for an at-large seat
on the Portland Charter Commission
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Marshall Kicks Off One-Man
Campaign
Although he has no declared opponent, City Councilor
David Marshall has kicked off his campaign for re-election
to the District 2 (West End) City Council seat. The
deadline for filing candidate papers is August 24th.
Marshall launched his campaign website (DAMarshall.com)
which connects to his blog, several social network sites,
and other sites. Marshall has also arranged for the
distribution of his campaign material, 2500 copies of his
palm card, to be distributed in the upcoming issue of the
West End NEWS.
Marshall was elected to the City Council in 2006,
becoming, along with East End City Councilor Kevin
Donoghue, the first Green Party members elected to the
Portland City Council. Marshall beat out a number of
opponents to succeed Councilor Karen Geraghty in the seat
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Absentee Ballot Applications Available
Registered Maine voters may now apply for an absentee
ballot for the November 3rd election. Absentee ballots will
be mailed to voters who have requested them by the end of
September. Registered voters can request an absentee
ballot by phone, fax, or in person at the City Clerk's
Office. The absentee ballot application will be available
online at http://www.portlandmaine.gov/voter/absentee.pdf
later this month.
Voters requesting an absentee ballot in writing can
participate in a new pilot voting project approved by the
Maine Legislature this spring. The absentee ballot
application will offer voters the option to select Ongoing
Absentee Ballot Status, which means that the voter will
automatically receive absentee ballots for any election
through 2011 without needing to submit any additional
paperwork, unless the voter changes his/her address.
College students and residents serving in the military
interested in voting this election should consider applying
for an absentee ballot before leaving the state. Parents
visiting a college student may request a ballot in writing
and bring it to their child at school. The ballot can be
brought back with the parents after voting or returned by
mail. Members of the military serving overseas should
make sure to return their ballots with enough time to
ensure that they are received by the City Clerk by 8:00
PM on Election Day.
To receive an absentee ballot, you must be a registered
voter. To register to vote in Portland, you must bring
identification and something that shows a current address
to the City Clerk's office. A driver's license or state
identification card with the current address meets both
criteria; otherwise, a checkbook, car registration, or
personal mail addressed to the applicant at the current
address will suffice. On Election Day, Portland residents
can register to vote at their polling place.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Farrell to Challenge Donoghue for
East End City Council Seat
Paul H. Farrell of Munjoy Hill will challenge District 1 City
Councilor Kevin Donoghue in his bid for reelection to the
Portland City Council, representing Munjoy Hill,
Downtown, Bayside, East Bayside, and the Casco Bay
islands. Donoghue was elected to the seat in 2006,
defeating incumbent Will Gorham. Gorham announced
recently that he would not run a campaign to regain the
seat. Donoghue has focused on transportation and housing
issues during his term on the Council.
Farrell is the third candidate in the race, joining Donoghue
and Munjoy Hill taxi driver Charles Bragdon. Farrell was
an unsuccessful candidate for an at-large seat on the
Portland Charter Commission.
Polling places may have changed since voters last voted. To
check the location of your polling place, go to www.
portlandmaine.gov/voter/distlook.asp.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
O'Brien Won't Seek Reelection to
West End School Board Seat
West End School Committee representative Robert
O'Brien has announced that he will not be seeking
reelection to that seat. O'Brien was elected to the seat in
2006, defeating incumbent Stephen Spring.
O'Brien cited the School Committee's heavy schedule as
the determining factor in his decision, saying that it took
too much time away from his family. O'Brien is married
with a one-year-old daughter. He said that he would
consider serving on some subcommittees, if asked.
O'Brien is also the West End's representative on the City's
Charter Commission, a post he intends to retain.
Meanwhile, Ed Bryan, a Reiche School parent and activist,
and a board member of the West End Neighborhood
Association, has announced that he will be a candidate for
the vacated seat.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
First Candidates Announce for City
Council, School Board Races
Seven candidates have taken out papers at City Hall to run
in November’s election for Portland City Council and
School Committee.
Both incumbent city councilors on the peninsula, Kevin
Donoghue in District 1 (East End) and David Marshall in
District 2 (West End) have taken out papers. Donoghue
has one challenger, Charles Bragdon, who lives on Munjoy
Hill. Former councilor Will Gorham announced in late
June that he would not be running for that seat. Marshall
does not yet have a declared opponent.
Two candidates have announced their intentions to run for
the at-large city council seat currently held by Councilor
Nick Mavodones. They are Jack Woods, who lives in the
West End, and Anna T. Collins of Deering.
Jenna R. Vendil of Munjoy Hill has announced that she
will run for the District 1 (East End) school committee seat
currently held by Rebecca Minnick, who is not running for
reelection. No one has taken out papers to run for the
West End school committee seat, including incumbent
Robert O’Brien. School Committee member Sarah
Thompson will run for reelection to her at-large seat.
School Board Race
In their only face-to-face meeting on the campaign trail,
Portland School Committee candidates Anthony Zeli and Ed
Bryan hashed out their differences at a forum held at the King
Middle School on October 20th. District 1 candidate Jenna
Vendil, who is running unopposed, was also part of the forum.
(Bryan was unable to attend a debate scheduled earlier in the
campaign by the League of Young Voters.)
When asked about the differences between the two
candidates, Bryan said that the major difference is that he is
already deeply involved in the community. He cited his
involvement in the Reiche School Parent Teacher Organization,
the West End Neighborhood Association, and the newly-formed
WECAN, West End Community Action Network. Bryan, 44, is
married, with two children who are students at the Reiche
School.
Zeli is the longtime partner of Portland Charter Commissioner
Anna Trevorrow, whose campaign he helped organize. He has
been involved with a number of policy issues in the city,
including last year's campaign to stop the City from closing a
number of polling places. He is the State Treasurer of the Maine
Green Independent Party. He stressed his support for alternative
curriculums such as expeditionary learning, and for moving the
West End Community Policing Center to the Reiche School.
The forum was taped for broadcast on TV3 and will air this
week at the following times:
Monday, October 26th at 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, October 27th at 6:00 p.m.,
Wednesday, October 28th at 7:00 p.m.,
Thursday, October 29th at 10:00 a.m. and
October 30th through November 1st at 12:00 p.m.
Vote in the West End
NEWS Mayor Poll
The West End NEWS is conducting an informal, unscientific
poll to determine what people think about which City Councilor
will be Portland’s next mayor, after what may be one of the last
non-elected mayor campaign seasons in the city.
If you would like to cast an informal vote for the City Councilor
who you would like to be Portland’s next mayor, you can vote
by email at thewestendnews@yahoo.com. Tell us who you
would vote for, and feel free to discuss the reasons for your
choice, or any issues involved. We’ll keep a running tally of the
votes and comments at thewestendnews.com. One vote per
reader (honor system), anonymity OK. The tally so far is as
follows:
John Anton 2
John Coyne 0
Kevin Donoghue 1
Jill Duson 0
Cheryl Leeman 2
David Marshall 7
Nick Mavodones 0
Dan Skolnik 0
Dory Waxman 0
Marshall Takes Early Lead in
West End NEWS Mayor Poll
District 2 (West End) City Councilor David Marshall has
taken an early lead in the West End NEWS' informal poll
of voters' preference for which City Councilor should be
elected by his or her peers as Portland's next mayor.
One reader voted for Marshall "since he wants the job."
But added, "John Anton should bite the bullet and be one
of the last appointed mayors of Portland."
Another voted for Marshall because "it's his turn, and it's
about time Portland had a Mayor that can break dance!"
If you would like to cast an informal vote for the City
Councilor who you would like to be Portland’s next mayor,
you can vote by email at thewestendnews@yahoo.com. Tell
us who you would vote for, and feel free to discuss the
reasons for your choice, or any issues involved. We’ll keep
a running tally of the votes and comments at
thewestendnews.com. One vote per reader (honor system),
anonymity OK. The tally so far is as follows:
John Anton 2
John Coyne 0
Kevin Donoghue 1
Jill Duson 0
Cheryl Leeman 2
David Marshall 7
Nick Mavodones 0
Dan Skolnik 0
Dory Waxman 0
Monday, October 5, 2009
Who Do YOU Think
Should Be the Next
Portland Mayor?
West End NEWS Starts New Poll
The West End NEWS is conducting an informal, unscientific
poll to determine what people think about which City
Councilor will be Portland’s next mayor, after what may be
one of the last non-elected mayor campaign seasons in the
city.
District 2 (West End) City Councilor David Marshall is the
only councilor who has thus far publicly expressed an
interested in serving as Portland's next mayor, a position
which traditionally goes to the most senior Councilor who
has not held the post. By that criteria, Marshall was in line
for the post last year, but the Council unanimously elected
current Mayor Jill Duson to serve for the second time.
Neither Marshall nor East End Councilor Kevin Donoghue,
who was also qualified last year, (both were elected in
2006) opposed Duson’s election.
Other Portland City Councilors have, for the most part,
been silent about the process that will lead to one of them
becoming the City’s next non-elected mayor. Under
Portland’s current system of government, the mayor is
selected annually by a vote of his or her fellow city
councilors, in a vote held after the general election. That,
however, could change in the future if Portland’s Charter
Commission recommends that the city change to an
elected mayor form of government, and voters approve.
At-large councilor John Anton has said that he has no
interest in serving as mayor, and initially said he would
support Marshall, saying that Marshall had done a good job
and that his service on the Council would justify his
nomination as mayor. But Anton has since decided to step
back to the sidelines, and see how events unfold.
Donoghue also said he wasn’t interested in the job, but
stopped short of endorsing Marshall. He said that he was
not a candidate for mayor, but a candidate for re-election
to the District 1 City Council seat. He said if re-elected, he
plans to focus on the implementation of the Peninsula
Transit Plan, and continue as the Chair of the
Transportation Committee, and President of METRO.
Marshall is unopposed in his re-election bid.
At-Large Councilor Nick Mavodones, who is also running
unopposed, and who has held the mayor position twice in
his twelve years on the Council, would say only that it was
too early to start talking about it. Mayor Duson also said
the discussion was premature. None of the other councilors
responded to inquiries about their availability for the job.
If you would like to start talking about it, and would like
to cast an informal vote for the City Councilor who you
would like to be Portland’s next mayor, you can vote by
email at thewestendnews@yahoo.com. Tell us who you
would vote for, and feel free to discuss the reasons for
your choice, or any issues involved. We’ll keep a running
tally of the votes and comments at thewestendnews.com.
One vote per reader (honor system), anonymity OK. The
tally so far is as follows:
John Anton 2
John Coyne 0
Kevin Donoghue 1
Jill Duson 0
Cheryl Leeman 2
David Marshall 7
Nick Mavodones 0
Dan Skolnik 0
Dory Waxman 0
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Marshall a Candidate to be Portland's
Next Mayor
District 2 (West End) City Councilor David Marshall says
that he is interested in serving as Portland's next mayor, a
position which traditionally goes to the most senior
Councilor who has not held the post. By that criteria,
Marshall was in line for the post last year, but the Council
unanimously elected current Mayor Jill Duson to serve for
the second time. Neither Marshall nor East End Councilor
Kevin Donoghue, who was also qualified last year, (both
were elected in 2006) opposed Duson’s election.
Other Portland City Councilors have, for the most part,
been silent about the process that will lead to one of them
becoming the City’s next non-elected mayor. Under
Portland’s current system of government, the mayor is
selected annually by a vote of his or her fellow city
councilors. That, however, could change in the future if
Portland’s Charter Commission recommends that the city
change to an elected mayor form of government, and
voters approve.
At-large councilor John Anton said he had no interest in
serving as mayor and would support Marshall, saying that
Marshall had done a good job and that his service on the
Council would justify his nomination as mayor. Donoghue
also said he wasn’t interested in the job, but stopped short
of endorsing Marshall. He said that he was not a candidate
for mayor, but a candidate for re-election to the District 1
City Council seat. He said if re-elected, he plans to focus
on the implementation of the Peninsula Transit Plan, and
continue as the Chair of the Transportation Committee,
and President of METRO. Marshall is unopposed in his re-
election bid.
Councilor Nick Mavodones, who has held the mayor
position twice in his twelve years on the Council, would say
only that it was too early to start talking about it. Mayor
Duson also said the discussion was premature.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
City Dems Look to Rebuild
Organization
The Portland Democratic City Committee will elect a new
Chair and a Treasurer in an election on Wednesday,
September 2nd at the Reiche School Community Room All
registered Democrats are invited to vote in election, which
will be held at 7PM..
Stephen Gordon will continue in his role as Vice Chair, and
Ian Farnsworth will continue as Secretary. Reb Brann will
be stepping down as Treasurer to run for the Chair
position.
In the election held last fall, Timothy Rich was elected
Chair as Sadhbh "Sive" Neilan stepped down after several
years as Chair. Rich resigned as Chair in June because he
did not have the time to devote to the position.
Nineteen Democrats attended a meeting at the Riverton
School on August 12th. The group reviewed the PDCC
mission and by-laws, and began the process of rebuilding
the organization.
Former Chairs Dick Farnsworth and Steve Rowe each
advocated for the continuance of the Portland Dems, both
emphasizing the need to focus on relevant issues in order
to engage a larger membership. The group plans to host
occasional programs that address specific, relevant issues
that would appeal to the larger Portland Democrats
community and might boost membership. Contact
portlanddems@gmail.com for more information.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
West End School Candidate Lists
Budget, Reiche as Priorities
West End (District 2 )School Committee candidate Ed
Bryan says that his biggest priority for the school
committee will be proposing informed budgets and
operating within those budgets. He says he also wants to
build better communications between Reiche School,
Portland Recreation and the West End Neighborhood
Association to help facilitate partnerships between the City
and School Department.
Bryan is a West End resident and Reiche School activist,
currently on the board of the West End Neighborhood
Association and on the steering committee for the West
End Community Action Network (WECAN), the group
charged with implementing plans and CDBG funds to build
a safer and more interconnected West End neighborhood.
Bryan has been on the Reiche School PTO and Parent
Advisory Committee since 2004, working with the school’s
administrators to help secure funding for improvements to
Reiche School.
Bryan is the owner of a small business, Crystal Reporting
Solutions. Working from his office on Congress Street, he
consults with and writes budget, finance, and personnel
reports for municipalities and school districts across the
country.
A Portland resident since 1993, Bryan graduated from
Bowdoin College in 1987, worked at L.L. Bean for seven
years, Tyler Technologies for seven years and has been
running his own business since 2005. Married since 1995 to
Suzanne, the current Reiche PTO co-chair, they have two
children at Reiche School and plan to send the first of
them to King Middle School next year. In his spare time he
coaches his son’s lacrosse, soccer and basketball teams,
sings with the Portland Community Chorus and swam his
first Peak’s to Portland race this past July.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Zeli, Bryan to Face Off for West End
School Board Seat
Portland Green Independent Party activist Anthony Zeli
has joined the race for the District 2 West End seat on the
Portland School Committee. The office is currently held by
Robert O’Brien, who is not running for re-election. Zeli
joins Ed Bryan, who announced his candidacy several
weeks ago.
Zeli came to Maine after graduating from Marlboro
College in 2003. He works at WGME, Channel 13, as a
Broadcast Technician, and is currently involved in creating
a nonprofit organization to promote the film industry in
Maine.
Zeli highlighted some of the initial issues he wants to work
on and talk about in the campaign:
-Continuing to invest in Reiche as a community center.
- "Green" school facilities with more efficient heating and
insulation, heating water with solar power, using natural
gas, and upgrading windows and insulation with money that
is being provided by the state and Federal governments for
those purposes.
-Improving student retention rate by advertising schools
and working with the City to provide more housing
downtown.
- Reduce expenditures without cutting existing social
services.
-Supporting and expanding expeditionary learning
programs.
Zeli lives on Congress Street with his partner, Charter
Commission member Anna Trevorrow. He ca be reached
at: zelidistrict2@gmail.com.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Farrell Drops Out of East End City
Council Race
Paul H. Farrell of Munjoy Hill has told the West End NEWS
that he will not challenge District 1 City Councilor Kevin
Donoghue in Donoghue's bid for reelection to the Portland
City Council, representing Munjoy Hill, Downtown,
Bayside, East Bayside, and the Casco Bay islands. Farrell
cited personal reasons in dropping out of the race, saying
that the timing was not good for him to devote sufficient
time to an election campaign.
Donoghue was elected to the seat in 2006, defeating
incumbent Will Gorham. Gorham announced recently that
he would not run a campaign to regain the seat. Donoghue
has focused on transportation and housing issues during
his term on the Council.
Farrell was the third candidate in the race, joining
Donoghue and Munjoy Hill taxi driver Charles Bragdon.
Farrell was an unsuccessful candidate for an at-large seat
on the Portland Charter Commission
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Marshall Kicks Off One-Man
Campaign
Although he has no declared opponent, City Councilor
David Marshall has kicked off his campaign for re-election
to the District 2 (West End) City Council seat. The
deadline for filing candidate papers is August 24th.
Marshall launched his campaign website (DAMarshall.com)
which connects to his blog, several social network sites,
and other sites. Marshall has also arranged for the
distribution of his campaign material, 2500 copies of his
palm card, to be distributed in the upcoming issue of the
West End NEWS.
Marshall was elected to the City Council in 2006,
becoming, along with East End City Councilor Kevin
Donoghue, the first Green Party members elected to the
Portland City Council. Marshall beat out a number of
opponents to succeed Councilor Karen Geraghty in the seat
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Absentee Ballot Applications Available
Registered Maine voters may now apply for an absentee
ballot for the November 3rd election. Absentee ballots will
be mailed to voters who have requested them by the end of
September. Registered voters can request an absentee
ballot by phone, fax, or in person at the City Clerk's
Office. The absentee ballot application will be available
online at http://www.portlandmaine.gov/voter/absentee.pdf
later this month.
Voters requesting an absentee ballot in writing can
participate in a new pilot voting project approved by the
Maine Legislature this spring. The absentee ballot
application will offer voters the option to select Ongoing
Absentee Ballot Status, which means that the voter will
automatically receive absentee ballots for any election
through 2011 without needing to submit any additional
paperwork, unless the voter changes his/her address.
College students and residents serving in the military
interested in voting this election should consider applying
for an absentee ballot before leaving the state. Parents
visiting a college student may request a ballot in writing
and bring it to their child at school. The ballot can be
brought back with the parents after voting or returned by
mail. Members of the military serving overseas should
make sure to return their ballots with enough time to
ensure that they are received by the City Clerk by 8:00
PM on Election Day.
To receive an absentee ballot, you must be a registered
voter. To register to vote in Portland, you must bring
identification and something that shows a current address
to the City Clerk's office. A driver's license or state
identification card with the current address meets both
criteria; otherwise, a checkbook, car registration, or
personal mail addressed to the applicant at the current
address will suffice. On Election Day, Portland residents
can register to vote at their polling place.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Farrell to Challenge Donoghue for
East End City Council Seat
Paul H. Farrell of Munjoy Hill will challenge District 1 City
Councilor Kevin Donoghue in his bid for reelection to the
Portland City Council, representing Munjoy Hill,
Downtown, Bayside, East Bayside, and the Casco Bay
islands. Donoghue was elected to the seat in 2006,
defeating incumbent Will Gorham. Gorham announced
recently that he would not run a campaign to regain the
seat. Donoghue has focused on transportation and housing
issues during his term on the Council.
Farrell is the third candidate in the race, joining Donoghue
and Munjoy Hill taxi driver Charles Bragdon. Farrell was
an unsuccessful candidate for an at-large seat on the
Portland Charter Commission.
Polling places may have changed since voters last voted. To
check the location of your polling place, go to www.
portlandmaine.gov/voter/distlook.asp.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
O'Brien Won't Seek Reelection to
West End School Board Seat
West End School Committee representative Robert
O'Brien has announced that he will not be seeking
reelection to that seat. O'Brien was elected to the seat in
2006, defeating incumbent Stephen Spring.
O'Brien cited the School Committee's heavy schedule as
the determining factor in his decision, saying that it took
too much time away from his family. O'Brien is married
with a one-year-old daughter. He said that he would
consider serving on some subcommittees, if asked.
O'Brien is also the West End's representative on the City's
Charter Commission, a post he intends to retain.
Meanwhile, Ed Bryan, a Reiche School parent and activist,
and a board member of the West End Neighborhood
Association, has announced that he will be a candidate for
the vacated seat.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
First Candidates Announce for City
Council, School Board Races
Seven candidates have taken out papers at City Hall to run
in November’s election for Portland City Council and
School Committee.
Both incumbent city councilors on the peninsula, Kevin
Donoghue in District 1 (East End) and David Marshall in
District 2 (West End) have taken out papers. Donoghue
has one challenger, Charles Bragdon, who lives on Munjoy
Hill. Former councilor Will Gorham announced in late
June that he would not be running for that seat. Marshall
does not yet have a declared opponent.
Two candidates have announced their intentions to run for
the at-large city council seat currently held by Councilor
Nick Mavodones. They are Jack Woods, who lives in the
West End, and Anna T. Collins of Deering.
Jenna R. Vendil of Munjoy Hill has announced that she
will run for the District 1 (East End) school committee seat
currently held by Rebecca Minnick, who is not running for
reelection. No one has taken out papers to run for the
West End school committee seat, including incumbent
Robert O’Brien. School Committee member Sarah
Thompson will run for reelection to her at-large seat.
Find out more about District 2
School Committee Candidates
School Committee Candidates
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