Portland is at a crossroads. The city must balance the vision of preservation with a vision of sustainable growth and development.

While our current leadership has done reasonably well at striking a balance, a new leader has emerged with fresh energy and pragmatic ideas. That leader is Spencer Thibodeau.

When I met Spencer, I found a young leader and person of color who I could relate to and who shared my concern for the future of a city we both love.

Spencer has the expertise necessary to tackle issues facing the city when it comes to smart and sustainable growth.

He is an attorney with experience in real estate and family law pro bono cases. I trust Spencer to make the right decisions when it comes to issues such as affordable housing and urban planning and development.

He also understands what it means to be a young person looking for work in Portland and Maine. As a recent graduate who returned to Portland with student loan debt, he understands what the city can and ought to do to encourage our young people to stay and contribute to our local economy.

Spencer has a vision for the city to engage students at the University of Southern Maine in a city-led internship program, giving them valuable experience and skills while also providing assistance to city staff who have been asked to do more with less.

Finally, we need a younger and more diverse City Council. Our current leaders are doing a good job, but the city is missing out on the contributions that young people and people of color can make to a city we all love.

That is why I support Spencer for Portland City Council, District 2. I hope you’ll join me.

Marpheen Chann

former student body vice president, University of Southern Maine; Minority Caucus chair, Maine Young Democrats

Portland

Copy the Story Link