Election losses in 2015 expose rifts over strategy and loyalty as factions engage in a tug of war for the soul of the party.
Randy Billings
Staff Writer
Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined the Press Herald in 2012 as the Portland City Hall reporter, where his beat touched on a wide range of topics, including municipal government, immigration, homelessness, housing and social services. Prior to that, he worked at various weeklies as well as business and arts publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two children and enjoys the outdoors and playing his upright bass.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland police still issuing marijuana citations, despite legalization ordinance
The report comes as debate is heating up statewide and nationally about the merits of legalizing pot for recreational use.
advertisement
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland OKs new eligibility guidelines for asylum-seekers
The City Council makes the program as broad as possible despite questions about how the state will implement a new law on General Assistance.
Posted inElections, Local & State, News, Politics
Candidates divided over Portland mayor’s role as city leader
The three point to differences in style and on issues such as the minimum wage and the handling of assistance to immigrants.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Campaign for $15-per-hour minimum wage kicks off in Portland
Question 1 on the city’s Nov. 3 ballot will ask voters whether they support raising pay for all workers.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Study: Affordable housing requirements don’t stifle development, raise rents
A Massachusetts think tank says zoning rules similar to those being discussed in Portland can prevent ‘housing segregation’ in hot real estate markets.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine mayors develop $2 million plan to fight drug addiction
The idea for eight pilot projects statewide to attack the heroin and painkiller epidemic will be presented to state Department of Health and Human Services this week.
Posted inBusiness, Lifestyle, Local & State, News
Promoter raises prospect of covering concerts at Maine State Pier
Portland city councilors hear about Waterfront Concerts’ idea of covering the pier to give audiences a better experience and address neighbors’ noise concerns.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland uses courts to enforce housing safety rules
Some landlords are surprised as the city gets serious about issuing summonses and fines to ensure code violations are fixed.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland council may insist on affordable housing units in big projects
A proposed ordinance rejected by the city’s Planning Board may have enough support from councilors to become law.