Portland’s Municipal Elections
Candidates on the Ballot this November 8th
By Tony Zeli
Portland voters face many ballot questions this November 8th but shouldn’t forget the candidates for municipal office. Races include one at-large city council seat, one at-large school board, and District 3 city council and school board. Also, there are races for Portland Water District Trustee and Peaks Island Council that did not draw competitive races.
At-Large City Council
City Councilor Pious Ali is running for reelection. He is the first African-born Muslim American to be elected to a public office in Maine. Some of his campaign issues include workforce improvement through education and trade programs, “fully” funding public education, and involving the public in government decisions.
Councilor Ali has two opponents in the race. Aqeel Mohialdeen is an Iraqi immigrant and Vice Chairman of the Maine GOP Multicultural Community Center. His talking points include prioritizing city infrastructure, identifying “sexually explicit materials” in the schools, and providing Halal meals in the schools.
Ali’s other challenger is Richard Ward, who believes in “standing up to the woke progressive mob” and “medical freedom”.
Two At-Large School Board Seats
There are only two candidates for two at-large school board seats, Ben Grant and Sarah Lentz. Both won office during a special election this past June after the seats were vacated by previous members.
District 3 City Council
District 3 draws two candidates for the open city council seat. Nathaniel Ferguson is a data analyst for a local nonprofit. He is running to make Portland more livable, especially increasing the housing supply, investing in buses, and improving cycling infrastructure.
Regina Phillips holds advanced degrees in social work and has worked for Westbrook School Department, the City of Portland’s homeless family shelter, Refugee Services Programs, and Head Start center. Phillips will focus on youth and families.
District 3 School Board
The District 3 school board seat has several contenders. School board member Adam Burk is running for reelection. He is a former Waynflete teacher and is running on his record, including fighting to prevent cuts to teacher pay and participating in the work group that developed the return to school plan after Covid closures.
His challengers include Julianne Opperman, who has forty years of experience teaching high school science. Opperman is running to improve student outcomes while supporting faculty and staff.
Samuel Rosenthal is a retired engineer who is concerned about education quality, grade inflation, and proficiency-based learning. He wants to adopt a code of conduct while improving academic achievement.
Four Peaks Island Council Members
No candidates withdrew paperwork to run for the seats on this advisory committee.
Two Portland Water District Trustees
For Portland water district, software developer Frederick McCann is the only candidate to qualify for the ballot for a one-year term. Longtime incumbent Gary Libby is the only candidate for the five-year term.
The election is on Tuesday, November 8th. Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots are available until November 3rd, and in-person absentee voting is in the State of Maine Room, second floor of City Hall until November 3rd.
There’s a quick rundown of candidates in Portland this November 8th. For polling places, voter registration and more visit: https://www.portlandmaine.gov/172/Elections-Voting
*Correction: Gary Libby is running for a five-year term, not a three-year term as stated in an earlier version of this article.
Tony Zeli is publisher and editor. Contact him at thewestendnews@gmail.com.
