411 REFERENCE · Wikipedia
2011 Portland, Maine, mayoral election
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January 2025
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Presidential Maine no 2015 Portland, Maine, mayoral election 2015 November 8, 2011 First round vote First round percentage Final round vote Final round percentage Mike Brennan 2011 (2).png Michael F. Brennan c0c0c0 5,211 25.5% 8,971 55.7% Ethan Strimling 2011 (2) (cropped).png Ethan Strimling 4,392 22.3% 7,138 44.3% c0c0c0 Nicholas Mavodones 2011 (1) A.png Nicholas Mavodones 2,931 14.9% Eliminated Eliminated c0c0c0 Dave Marshall Portland 2011 (cropped).png David Marshall 1,506 7.6% Eliminated Eliminated c0c0c0 Jed Rathband 01 (a).png Jed Rathband 1,393 7.0% Eliminated Eliminated c0c0c0 Mayor Nicholas Mavodones Michael F. Brennan
Portland, Maine, held an election for mayor on November 8, 2011.
In November 2010, Portland voters approved a citywide referendum changing the city charter to recreate an elected mayor position that had previously been removed in 1923.Maine Voices | Why Portland doesn't have an elected mayor by Abraham Peck, Portland Press Herald, September 27, 2010 From 1923 until 2011, city councilors chose one of themselves each year to serve as mayor, a primarily ceremonial position. On November 8, 2011, former State Senator and candidate for U.S. Congress Michael F. Brennan was elected. On December 5, 2011, he was sworn in as the first citizen-elected mayor in 88 years.
The new citizen-elected mayor serves full-time in the position for a four-year term, exercises the powers and duties enumerated in Article II Section 5 of the Portland City Charter,Portland City Charter https://web.archive.org/web/20110908215143/http://www.portlandmaine.gov/citycode/chapter000.pdf 2011-09-08 SEE: Article II Section 5. Mayor’s powers and duties. be elected using instant-runoff voting,Ranked Choice Voting City of Portland, Maine and, like the rest of municipal government in Portland, be officially non-partisan.Portland, Maine, to get popularly elected mayor Boston Globe, November 4, 2010
Ballot access
The declared candidates filed paperwork with city hall to allow them to raise funds for their campaigns. The nomination papers became available on July 1 and the candidates were required to submit at least 300 valid signatures of Portland voters between August 15 and August 29 to be placed on the November ballot. As of the August 29 deadline, 16 candidates submitted their nomination petitions, and 15 petitions were validated: Bragdon, Brennan, Bryant, Carmona, Dodge, Duson, Eder, Haadoow, Lapchick, Marshall, Mavodones, Miller, Rathband, Strimling, and Vail. Bennett fell five signatures short of the required 300.Four gone 15 left: Field for Portland mayor now fits in a van, Portland Press Herald, August 31, 2011
Race
As of July 4, Christopher Vail was invalidated by city attorney Gary Wood from running due to his employment by the city as a firefighter but this was overturned shortly thereafter. As of July 8, Zouhair Bouzrara was in court facing charges after allegedly drinking alcohol, a violation of parole given to him a year early after being accused of threatening to kill a co-worker in July 2010.Mayoral candidate held for violating probation Portland Press Herald, July 8, 2011 Bouzrara withdrew during the petitioning process.Mayor Watch 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110212154028/http://www.thewestendnews.com/MayorWatch2011.html February 12, 2011 The West End News
Endorsements
On September 27, David Marshall was endorsed by the Maine League of Young Voters. On October 11, Portland Tomorrow, a group made up of some former charter commissioners and other supporters of the elected mayor referendum, endorsed Michael Brennan. On the same day, the Portland Education Association endorsed Nick Mavodones. On October 17, the Portland Press Herald endorsed Michael Brennan.Our View: For Portland mayor, Brennan gets our vote, Portland Press Herald, October 17, 2011 On October 26, Jed Rathband received the sole endorsement from the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee.Portland Chamber Political Action Committee Endorses Rathband for Mayor https://web.archive.org/web/20111031234032/http://www.portlandregion.com/content/portland-chamber-political-action-committee-endorses-rathband-mayor 2011-10-31 , October 26, 2011 On November 1, Ethan Strimling received the endorsement of John Eder.Eder endorses Strimling, Portland Daily Sun, November 1, 2011 On November 1, David Marshall received the endorsement of Maine Green Independent Party. On November 1, Nicholas Mavodones received the endorsements of Carpenters Local 1996 and AFSCME Local 481.Mavodones gets more labor endorsements, Portland Daily Sun, November 1, 2011 On November 5, The Portland Daily Sun endorsed Michael Brennan.Endorsement, Portland Daily Sun, November 5, 2011
CANDIDATE Maine League of Young Voters Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce PAC Portland Ed. Assn. https://web.archive.org/web/20111015133428/http://portlandea.org/ October 15, 2011 Portland Tomorrow Portland Press Herald Portland Daily Sun Maine Green Ind. Party Carpenters Local 1996 AFSCME Local 481 Charles Bragdon Michael Brennan #2 #2 #1 #1 #1 Peter Bryant Ralph Carmona Richard Dodge Jill Duson John Eder #3 Hamza Haadoow Jodie Lapchick David Marshall #1 #4 #1 Nicholas Mavodones #1 #2 #1 #1 Markos Miller #4 #3 #3 Jed Rathband #5 #1 Ethan Strimling #4 Christopher Vail
Candidates
On the ballot
Charles Bragdon, Munjoy Hill resident,Nomination Papers https://web.archive.org/web/20111006031855/http://www.portlandmaine.gov/voter/nominationpapers.pdf 2011-10-06 listing of candidate status & contact information maintained & published by Portland City Clerk perennial municipal candidate & taxi-driver. Bragdon has run for office as a Democrat, Green and unenrolled.Who’s running for mayor? (Yes, already!) https://web.archive.org/web/20110717040228/http://portland.thephoenix.com/news/112153-whos-running-for-mayor-yes-already/?page=1#TOPCONTENT 2011-07-17 Portland Phoenix, December 1, 2010http://theleague.com/me/charles-bragdon-city-council-district-1 Charles Bragdon - City Council District 1 — The League of Young Voters 2011-05-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20111002225841/http://theleague.com/me/charles-bragdon-city-council-district-1 2011-10-02 dead
Michael Brennan, Back Cove resident, former State Representative, former State Senator, unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Congress in 2008, Co-chair of the National Board of Advisors of Casey Family Services, former adjunct faculty member at the University of New England, and currently works as a policy associate at the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine.Former legislator expected to announce bid for mayor Portland Press Herald, May 16, 2011
Peter Bryant, Back Cove resident, retired merchant seaman and former U.S. Marine
Ralph Carmona, Munjoy Hill resident, resident of Portland for under one year,LULAC leader ponders mayoral bid Portland Daily Sun, May 21, 2011 former Bank of America executive and California lobbyistPortland mayoral field expected to sort itself out, Portland Daily Sun, August 19, 2011
Richard Dodge, Riverton resident, Republican, commercial real estate broker
Jill Duson, North Deering resident, retired lawyer, former ceremonial mayor,http://usm.maine.edu/bov/duson_jill.html Board of Visitors biography 2011-01-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20101105082724/http://www.usm.maine.edu/bov/duson_jill.html 2010-11-05 dead at-large City Councillor and three time delegate to the Democratic Party National Convention, former Maine lobbyisthttps://archive.today/20120905151902/http://www.mainecampaignfinance.com/Public/Lobbyist_profile.asp?ID=94 Lobbyist Profile Jill Duson Year of Last Registration: 2004, Maine Ethics Commission
John Eder, West End resident, former state legislator with the Maine Green Independent PartyRumors and Other Truths https://web.archive.org/web/20110220055030/http://www.thewestendnews.com/files/WEN_2-12-11.pdf 2011-02-20 West End News
Hamza Haadoow, East Deering resident, Somalia native and small business owner.Two more candidates register for mayor’s race Portland Daily Sun, June 17, 2011
Jodie Lapchick, West End resident & marketing consultantLapchick becomes seventh to file as mayoral candidate "Portland Press Herald", April 12, 2011
David Marshall, West End resident, Maine Green Independent Party affiliated fine artist and City Councilor for the West End, downtown and Parkside neighborhoods (District 2).Marshall to announce mayoral run Portland Daily Sun, March 25, 2011 Marshall was the first sitting city council member to declare his candidacy in March 2011.
Nicholas Mavodones, Back Cove resident, Democrat, current ceremonial mayor and at-large City Councillor,First mayoral election likely to draw a crowd [Portland Press Herald], November 4, 2010Time for Portland's mayoral candidates to make an appearance Portland Press Herald, March 2, 2011 opposed charter change to elected mayorMavodones enters Portland mayors race Portland Press Herald, August 19, 2011
Markos Miller, Munjoy Hill resident, Served as co-chair of the Franklin Street Arterial Study Committee https://web.archive.org/web/20101211112742/http://www.portlandmaine.gov/franklinstreetarterial.htm 2010-12-11 and teaches at Deering High School.Another candidate announces for position of Portland's elected mayor Portland Press Herald, June 6, 2011
Jed Rathband, East Bayside resident, professional PR consultant, ran the committee that campaigned for the elected mayor in 2010,Three candidates file for mayor of Portland Portland Press Herald, January 20, 2011 worked for the now defunct Maine Green Energy Alliance,By Naomi Schalit, Senior reporter, Maine Center for Public Interest ReportingAugust 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Brunswick Times Record, February 8, 2011Probe finds mismanagement, but no fraud at Maine Green Energy Alliance https://web.archive.org/web/20111113095904/http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/maine-green-energy-allianceprobe-finds-no-signs-of-fraud_2011-08-22.html 2011-11-13 , Portland Press Herald, August 23, 2011 former Maine lobbyist,https://archive.today/20130128063156/http://www.mainecampaignfinance.com/Public/Lobbyist_profile.asp?ID=308 Lobbyist Profile Jed Rathband Year of Last Registration: 2009, Maine Ethics Commission former PR consultant for the Olympia Companies on Maine State Pier proposalThe Bollard https://web.archive.org/web/20120331093508/http://www.thebollard.com/bollard/?p=3350 2012-03-31 December 24, 2007
Ethan Strimling, West End resident, former State Senator with the Democratic Party, unsuccessful candidate for Portland City Council and for his party's nomination for the United States Congress in 2008
Christopher Vail, North Deering resident, Portland firefighterMayoral hopefuls taking first step with finance forms Portland Daily Sun, March 22, 2011
Write-in
Erick Bennett, Parkside resident, Republican blogger and campaign media aide to Governor Paul LePage,Bennett steps into mayoral ring Portland Daily Sun, March 22, 2011 submitted nomination papers with insufficient valid signatures, announced Write-in candidacy on August 30 pending request of petition recount with Portland City Clerk's office
Withdrawn/Failed
Nicholas Hall, failed to submit nomination papers
Robert Higgins, failed to submit nomination papers
Steve Huston, homeless activist who announced candidacy but never picked up petitions
Paul Schafer, failed to submit nomination papers
Jay York
Results
Portland, Maine mayoral election, 2011
15
Michael Brennan
Non-partisan
26.5
5,211
5,214
5,228
5,251
5,307
5,362
5,455
5,508
5,578
5,652
5,858
6,107
6,537
7,515
8,971
Ethan Strimling
Non-partisan
22.3
4,392
4,399
4,406
4,435
4,452
4,505
4,554
4,601
4,674
4,754
4,859
5,072
5,472
5,934
7,138
Nicholas Mavodones
Non-partisan
14.9
2,941
2,947
2,957
2,968
2,984
2,998
3,023
3,072
3,124
3,237
3,303
3,504
3,793
4,075
David Marshall
Non-partisan
7.6
1,506
1,507
1,526
1,542
1,548
1,616
1,636
1,653
1,677
1,717
1,894
2,002
2,306
Jed Rathband
Non-partisan
7.0
1,393
1,394
1,405
1,411
1,423
1,444
1,465
1,495
1,530
1,623
1,745
1,807
Jill Duson
Non-partisan
4.2
839
840
858
867
879
898
922
948
960
989
1,049
Markos Miller
Non-partisan
3.6
717
718
721
727
731
748
766
775
815
856
Richard Dodge
Non-partisan
3.3
662
666
667
667
675
680
691
740
789
Christopher Vail
Non-partisan
2.0
403
407
416
417
425
429
440
460
Peter Bryant
Non-partisan
1.8
366
367
371
373
385
392
403
Ralph Carmona
Non-partisan
1.6
316
317
320
324
339
344
John Eder
Non-partisan
1.3
274
275
278
291
298
Charles Bragdon
Non-partisan
1.1
218
220
223
226
Hamza Haadoow
Non-partisan
0.9
185
187
192
Jodie Lapchick
Non-partisan
0.6
130
130
Write-in
Non-partisan
0.4
81
15
19,634
578
20,212
See also
List of mayors of Portland, Maine
References
2
External links
Voter Registration/Elections Official elections & voting information published & maintained by the Portland City Clerk
https://archive.today/20130208202401/http://www.thewestendnews.com/MayorWatch2011.html MayorWatch 2011 el a bi-weekly non-partisan column dedicated to following the mayoral race
Portland's Mayoral Race 2011 Special coverage by Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram
Maine League of Young Voters Portland Voter Guide
Maine League of Women Voters Portland Voter Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20120425092249/http://www.lwvme.org/files/PortlandGuideWeb.pdf April 25, 2012
Portland's Mayoral Race Begins to Take Shape Downeast.com, June 30, 2011
Category:2011 Maine elections
Category:2011 United States mayoral elections
2011
Category:21st century in Portland, Maine
Category:Non-partisan mayoral elections in the United States
Category:November 2011 in the United States