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.

Local & State, Local Elections, News

Business group’s poll shows it’s tight at the top in Portland’s race for mayor

by Randy Billings October 22, 2019October 22, 2019

The poll commissioned by the Portland Chamber of Commerce included 2nd- and 3rd-place voter preferences to account for the ranked-choice voting system.

Elections, Local & State, Local Elections, News, Politics

Thibodeau endorsed by 11 former mayors, including 3 who supported Strimling in last election

by Randy Billings October 18, 2019October 18, 2019

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.

Local & State, Local Elections, News, Politics

Strimling’s campaign and opponents trade ethics complaints in mayoral race

by Randy Billings October 17, 2019October 17, 2019

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.

Business, Elections, Local & State, Local Elections, News, Politics

Business group accuses Portland mayor of misleading supporters by saying he was ‘heckled’

by Randy Billings October 16, 2019October 17, 2019

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.’