Three of the 4 contenders have raised almost $360,000 combined, and 2 have significant cash on hand to get their messages out during the final week of the campaign.
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, Local Elections, News, Politics
Portland mayoral candidates tout their endorsements as Election Day nears
The 4 candidates highlight the support of various backers in city politics, business, arts and education circles.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland council designates 5 historical landmarks on Forest Avenue
Councilors focused preservation efforts on buildings near Woodfords Corner rather than approving a staff proposal to preserve others between the corner and Interstate 295.
Posted inLocal & State, Local Elections, News
Portland voters will decide whether to open up city government to major changes
Several councilors say they don’t want a charter commission but felt legally obligated to put it to voters in response to a petition by supporters of a taxpayer-funded clean elections program.
Posted inElections, Local & State, Local Elections, News, Politics
Thibodeau endorsed by 11 former mayors, including 3 who supported Strimling in last election
The announcement comes late in a heated mayoral campaign, with incumbent Ethan Strimling’s campaign trading ethics complaints with a Portland political action committee formed to oppose his re-election.
Posted inLocal & State, Local Elections, News, Politics
Strimling’s campaign and opponents trade ethics complaints in mayoral race
While the complaint by the incumbent’s campaign says Unite Portland failed to file disclosure reports and concealed a consultant’s identity, a group opposing Ethan Strimling’s re-election says his operation failed to report in-kind contributions.
Posted inBusiness, Elections, Local & State, Local Elections, News, Politics
Business group accuses Portland mayor of misleading supporters by saying he was ‘heckled’
Ethan Strimling said in a fundraising email that business leaders ‘heckled’ him for saying he’d propose a $15 minimum wage, but the chamber of commerce calls it a ‘flat-out misrepresentation.’
Posted inLocal & State, News
New ICE office in downtown Portland draws protests
A spokesperson says the the Homeland Security Investigations office will specialize in transnational criminal probes, not deportations.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Tae Chong says school board and professional experience sets him apart
He says the City Council needs his breadth of experience of having worked with immigrants, the poor, the wealthy, entrepreneurs and the schools.
Posted inBusiness, Elections, Local & State, Local Elections, News, Politics
Portland mayor tells business leaders he’ll push for $15 minimum wage if he is re-elected
Ethan Strimling made the statement at a chamber of commerce forum with the 3 candidates who are trying to unseat him, telling the audience, ‘I know you’re going to light your hair on fire.’