Roberto Rodriguez, the losing candidate, immediately said he would ask for a vote recount.
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
Rare ranked-choice tie means Portland will decide at-large council race by drawing lots
The top two vote-getters in the four-way race got the exact same number of votes in a ranked-choice runoff.
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Posted inLocal & State, Local Elections, News, Politics
Ballot measure calling for smaller shelters in Portland falls short with 31% of the vote
The unofficial result means the city likely will be able to move forward with its plan to build a 208-bed homeless services center without a legal battle.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland City Council approves leases for planned shelter, spending plan for pandemic aid
The shelter approval came the night before voters head to the polls to decide on a citizen referendum to limit the size and locations of new homeless shelters in Portland.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Jennings era comes to an end in Portland as city manager moves on
In a wide-ranging interview with the Press Herald, Jon Jennings reflects with mixed emotions on his 6-year tenure, including an incident that led his teenage daughter to urge him to find another job.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Uncategorized
Votes will be counted for Portland school board incumbent who dropped re-election bid, city says
City officials said Sarah Thompson can’t formally withdraw from the race because the city charter requires candidates to sign a pledge to stay in the race.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland council to vote next week on $14.2 million in federal recovery funds
Proposed funding includes $3.5 million for the city’s planned homeless services center and $3.6 million to replace a community pool.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Portland’s unsheltered homeless population is on the rise as temperatures drop
A winter of uncertainty looms for those living on the streets, with shelters operating at reduced capacity and federal funding for hotel rooms set to expire at the end of the year.
Posted inLocal & State, Local Elections, News, Politics
Developers backing Portland’s shelter plan spend $40,000 on referendum
A commercial real estate agent and a local developer have formed a ballot question committee to support Option C, which would allow the city’s 208-bed homeless services center in Riverton to move forward.
Posted inLocal & State, Local Elections, News
Portland charter commissioners warned of pitfalls of voting rights for noncitizens
Portland is once again debating whether to be the first city in Maine to allow noncitizens to vote in municipal elections. But immigration experts warn of unintended consequences.