Three City Council Candidates Answer Questions Ahead of the Election
By Nancy English
Current at-large city councilor Pious Ali and newcomer Sam Aborne are competing for the one at-large seat up this election cycle.
Pious Ali, At-Large
Ali, 56, has held the office through three terms for a total of nine years. He is seeking a fourth three-year term to “continue making Portland more welcoming.”
Born in Ghana, Ali migrated to the United States, first to New York City and then moved to Portland in 2002. He now works for his own nonprofit in community engagement and said, “Public service is the core of who I am.”
Housing First is his first choice for addressing homelessness, and he said he will continue to seek funding for more mental health services. He voted to approve the new Ambassador program, paying for additional Portland Downtown staff to clean Congress Street. He would consider analyzing the current 100 to 1 ratio of needles distributed by the Needle Exchange.
City staff, he said, are preparing a report on Inclusionary Zoning (IZ), a requirement that 25% of units be affordable to renters making 80% of the area median income in developments of ten or more units, which some have criticized as stalling new housing. Ali is open to revisions of IZ, as he is for the Rent Control Ordinance. That matter is before the Housing and Economic Development Committee, which he chairs, and which has heard from the Trelawny Tenants Union. The committee plans to hear from landlords next.
Ali looks forward to reports from the recently appointed Social Housing Task Force and points to approval of the city’s first cooperative development as positive accomplishments in creating more affordable housing.
He had no specific solution for slowing increases in property taxes, but plans to support the gubernatorial candidate who will help Portland with additional revenue from a local option tax. He voted in opposition to putting the proposal for an increase in the city minimum wage on the November ballot, concerned for businesses like childcare. The city’s solar panels are a step in slowing climate change, he said.
Sam Aborne, At-Large
Sam Aborne, 47, has lived in Portland for four years. He works as an engineer in “process mining” or analyzing work flows for the best outcomes. His “data driven” orientation informs his campaign motto, “We deserve better.” Aborne prides himself on being a good listener.
“Everyone deserves a home, a safe city, and a city that works for us,” he said. He said it is too hard to get things done at City Hall. He has filed a Freedom of Access Act request for data to see where the hold ups are, but at the time of the interview had not yet seen the material he asked for.
“Building code may be driving up costs,” he said, “We need to remove barriers, improving the permitting and building permit approval process, for example.”
He wants to raise the median wage, which is not enough to afford the housing that is available, especially by attracting technology industries. He pointed to the Portland Technology Park, which holds no technology companies. But a minimum wage increase may hurt social service providers.
Also at the time of the interview, the Portland Police Department was still 30 officers short of its full force, he said. Adding new officers to make the city safe is a priority for him.
“We need to stop alienating Augusta,” he said. “I don’t know when I have seen our city council go and have a conversation with Augusta or connect with other cities.” At the same time, he wants to see lower property tax increases.
And “reducing our carbon footprint” to save the waterfront is another priority, he said.
Regina Phillips Seeks Second Term in District 3
Regina Phillips, 63, has served one term as Councilor for District 3 and is running unopposed. “The first three years is just getting to know the ins and outs,” she said, emphasizing that she is always learning.
“I really want to continue the equity work,” she said. “My definition is different from others in the city. I want to look at equity specifically in communities of color, including the homeless. But city councilors have never been in an equity workshop training.”
Phillips wants to look at the Racial Steering Committee’s recommendations, accepted by the Portland City Council in April 2021, and add a community engagement staff person. “We need to be moving faster.”
With the Ambassador program downtown, she said, “We’ve heard that things are going a little better.” She approves of the current work of the Needle Exchange Program. “I’ve seen statistics that it’s working,” she said.
She supported the ballot question of a minimum wage increase to $19 an hour. “We’re putting it on the ballot. If people don’t want it, don’t vote for it.”
She is chair of the Sustainability and Transportation Committee and learning about the One Climate Future plan. That plan set a goal of reducing greenhouse gases to 80% of the 2017 level. Phillips does not have a particular goal in mind at this time. But that committee is considering a proposed scrubber-wash-water ban this fall.
Phillips praised a report from Assistant City Manager Greg Jordan on Vision Zero, with future years that include more bicycle lanes and walking improvements.
“I would like to see developers pay more money for a fee-in-lieu [paid if no affordable units are included in housing and hotel projects] into the Duson Housing Trust Fund,” she said.
“There are tons of issues. I may have made decisions that could have been better. It’s the toughest experience,” she said. “You’re in constant communication and constantly learning.”
Vote Nov. 4th
In-person absentee voting has already begun at Portland City Hall. Go to the State of Maine Room, adjacent to the City Clerk’s Office, on the 2nd floor. The hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On the Thursday before the election only, voting will continue until 7:00 p.m. This is the last day to absentee vote.
You can register to vote on Election Day at your polling location. Polls will open on Tuesday, November 4th from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For your polling location visit https://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php.
