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2015 Portland, Maine, mayoral election

← 2011 November 3, 2015 2019 →

Candidate Ethan Strimling Michael F. Brennan Tom MacMillan Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 9,162 6,882 1,880 Percentage 51.1% 38.4% 10.5%

Mayor before election Michael F. Brennan Elected mayor Ethan Strimling

Elections in Maine
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City of Portland Mayoral elections 2011 2015 2019 2023
v t e

Portland, Maine, held an election for mayor on November 3, 2015. It was the second election since Portland voters approved a citywide referendum changing the city charter to recreate an elected mayor position in 2010.

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, be elected using instant-runoff voting, and, like the rest of municipal government in Portland, be officially non-partisan. Ethan Strimling defeated incumbent mayor Michael F. Brennan and fellow challenger Tom MacMillan.

Candidates

Official candidates

• Michael Brennan, incumbent mayor of Portland and Back Cove resident
• Tom MacMillan, Portland chair of the Maine Green Independent Party and Parkside resident
• Ethan Strimling, former State Senator, political pundit, and West End resident

Failed to make ballot

• Christopher Vail, North Deering resident, Portland firefighter

Declined

• Jill Duson, at-large city councilor and candidate for mayor in 2011
• Cheryl Leeman, former city councilor for District 4 (1984–2014) and former mayor (1988–1989; 2000–2001)
• Jon Hinck, at-large city councilor, former State Representative, and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012
• David Marshall, city councilor for District 2 and candidate for mayor in 2011
• Nicholas Mavodones, at-large city councilor, former mayor (1999–2000; 2006–2007; 2010–2011), and candidate for mayor in 2011 (endorsed Strimling)
• Jed Rathband, political consultant and candidate for mayor in 2011
• Edward Suslovic, city councilor for District 3, former mayor (2007–2008), and former state representative (endorsed Strimling)

Campaign

The day after Ethan Strimling announced his candidacy for mayor, a group of city councilors and school board members led by Nicholas Mavodones announced their opposition to the reelection of Mayor Brennan and support of Strimling. Mavodones cited division within the city and city government as well as an atmosphere of frustration under Brennan's leadership. Borth incumbent Brennan and Strimling opposed a $15 minium wage while MacMillan ran on raising the city's minium wage to $15.

Endorsements

State legislators (Portland Democrats unless otherwise specified)

• Justin Alfond, State Senator, former President of the Maine Senate
• Mark Eves, Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives (D-North Berwick)
• Richard Farnsworth, state representative
• Denise Harlow, state representative
• Erik Jorgensen, state representative
• Peter Stuckey, state representative
• Andrew Gattine, State Representative (D-Westbrook)

Unions

• Longshoremen’s Benevolent Association, ILA Local 861

State legislators

• Harlan Baker, State Representative (1979-1988) (D-Portland)

Other political endorsements

• Nisha Swinton, Water District Board of Trustees, Unenrolled
• Ben Meiklejohn, School Board (2001-2007) and former co-chair of the Maine Green Independent Party
• Asher Platts, former chair of the Maine Green Independent Party
• Jorge Maderal, Chair, Libertarian Party of Maine

City councilors

• Kevin Donoghue
• Jill Duson
• Nicholas Mavodones
• Edward Suslovic

Portland School Board members

• Sarah Thompson, chairwoman
• Pious Ali
• John Eder, former state representative (G-Portland)
• Anna Trevorrow
• Holly Seeliger
• Stephanie Hatzenbuehler
• Marnie Morrione

State legislators

• Anne Haskell, State Senator (D-Portland)
• Gerald Talbot, former State representative (D-Portland)

Unions

• United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry, UA Local 716
• Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association Local Union No 17
• International Association of Fire Fighters Local 740
• Professional Firefighters of Maine
• Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council

Media

• Portland Press Herald

Polling

Election results

Election Night Results

See also

• List of mayors of Portland, Maine

References

1. The U.S. Conference of Mayors: Meet the Mayors Archived 2015-04-13 at the Wayback Machine, The U.S. Conference of Mayors
2. Maine Voices | Why Portland doesn't have an elected mayor by Abraham Peck, Portland Press Herald, September 27, 2010
3. Portland City Charter Archived 2011-09-08 at the Wayback Machine SEE: Article II Section 5. Mayor’s powers and duties.
4. Ranked Choice Voting City of Portland, Maine
5. Portland, Maine, to get popularly elected mayor Boston Globe, November 4, 2010
6. Brennan unseated by Strimling after one term as Portland mayor Portland Press Herald
7. Billings, Randy (June 3, 2015). "Portland mayor formally announces re-election bid". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
8. ^ Moretto, Mario (August 19, 2015). "Portland elected officials rip Mayor Brennan, oppose his re-election". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
9. "Strimling to announce run for Portland mayor". WCSH6.com. August 18, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
10. ^ Billings, Randy (July 2, 2015). "Portland councilor Edward Suslovic to challenge mayor in November election". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
11. ^ Koenig, Seth (June 3, 2015). "Who are Brennan's potential challengers in the mayoral race?". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
12. ^ Koeing, Seth (October 5, 2015). "Endorsements are starting to pile up in the Portland mayoral race. Who's supporting who and why?". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
13. Eves, Mark (October 13, 2015). "Letter to the editor: With Portland thriving, give Brennan another term". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
14. Harry, David (August 25, 2015). "With Strimling in, Brennan defends record as Portland mayor". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
15. "Elect Tom MacMillan". Archived from the original on October 27, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
16. Zeli, Anthony (October 30, 2015). "JUMP INTO THE DUMPSTER – OCTOBER 2015". The West End News.
17. Haskell, Anne (September 25, 2015). "Letter to the editor: Strimling has qualities to lead Portland". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
18. Talbot, Gerald (September 16, 2015). "Letter to the editor: Strimling's experience makes him better choice for Portland mayor". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
19. "Our Endorsement: Ethan Strimling best-equipped candidate to unite Portland as mayor". Portland Press Herald. October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
20. Maine People's Resource Center
21. 2015 Election Results Portland Press Herald

External links

• Voter Registration/Elections Official elections & voting information published & maintained by the Portland City Clerk

• 2015 Maine elections
• 2015 United States mayoral elections
• Mayoral elections in Portland, Maine
• 21st century in Portland, Maine
• Non-partisan elections