August 27, 2012

Eleven candidates vying for six seats in Portland

Only one race on Nov. 6 – the at-large School Board seat – may be uncontested.

By Randy Billings rbillings@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

PORTLAND — Eleven people have turned in signatures to compete in the Nov. 6 elections for three seats on the City Council and another three on the School Board.

Two district seats and one-at-large seat are up for grabs on both panels. Only one race – for the at-large School Board seat – is uncontested.

In District 1, Councilor Kevin Donoghue of Beckett Street has qualified for the ballot. The 32-year-old administrator for Spectrum Cos., a Cape Elizabeth-based affordable housing consultant, is finishing his second term on the council.

He is being challenged by Justin Benjamin Pollard, an Eastern Promenade resident who ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Olympia Snowe.

Pollard, a 39-year-old carpenter, previously served two years of a three-year elected term to the Blue Hill Planning Board and was appointed to its comprehensive plan committee in the 1990s.

Pollard, whose signatures still need to be verified by the city clerk's office, said he is dropping his write-in campaign for U.S. Senate to focus on local politics.

Two-term Councilor David Marshall and Shane Boyington, both of Pine Street, have qualified for the District 2 council race. Marshall, 34, is the executive director of Maine Artist Collective. Boyington, 34, is a student of political science at the University of Southern Maine with 10 years of experience in providing direct care in group homes.

Five-term Councilor Nicholas Mavodones Jr., 52, will defend his at-large council seat. Mavodones has been the operations manager of Casco Bay Lines for the past 15 years.

Mavodones, of Chenery Street, is being challenged by Wellington "Wells" Lyons, an attorney and entrepreneur with Portland's Rogue Industries. Lyons, of Danforth Street, sits on the Maine League of Young Voters' Steering Committee and the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust's Land Committee.

In the School Board races, incumbent Jenna Vendil of Vesper Street has qualified for the District 1 race. She is being challenged by Thomas Kelley, of Morning Street.

Kelley, a 26-year-old congressional liaison to Snowe, has never held elected office, but serves on the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization's Board of Directors.

In District 2, where incumbent Ed Bryan is not seeking re-election to the School Board, Jeanne Swanton of Thomas Street and Holly Seeliger of Brackett Street have qualified for the ballot.

Vendil, Swanton and Seeliger could not be immediately reached.

Incumbent Sarah Thompson is running unopposed for the at-large School Board seat.

Staff Writer Randy Billings can be contacted at 791-6346 or at:

rbillings@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @randybillings

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