Pious Ali, who in 2013 became the first African-born Muslim elected to the Portland school board, will challenge former state Rep. Jon Hinck in his bid for a second term as an at-large city councilor in November’s municipal elections.

Pious Ali

Pious Ali

Also challenging Hinck in the three-way race will be Matthew Coffey, a homeless man and activist who was among the people evicted by police this week from a homeless encampment on private property behind the Pine Tree Shopping Center on outer Brighton Avenue.

It’s one of three contested races among the nonpartisan City Council and school board elections that will be on the Nov. 8 ballot, according to a list of nomination petitions certified this week by the city clerk’s office.

Jon Hinck

Jon Hinck

Ali, of 184 Pearl St., moved to Maine from Ghana in 2002, became a citizen in 2009 and was elected to the school board in a six-way race for two at-large seats. Coffey, who lists his address as the Preble Street social services center at 5 Portland St., has run for public office before. Hinck, of 142 Pine St., served three terms as a Democratic state representative before he was elected to the council three years ago.

In other races, Brian Batson of 209 Stevens Ave. will challenge District 3 Councilor Ed Suslovic of 46 Kenwood St., a former Democratic state representative who served two nonconsecutive terms on the council before being re-elected three years ago.

On the school board, William Linnell of 1905 Congress St., who has been a Green Independent Party legislative candidate, will challenge District 3 member Laurie Davis of 134 Oakdale St., who is seeking her third three-year term on the board.

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District 3 covers the Libbytown, Stroudwater, Nason’s Corner, Rosemont and University of Southern Maine neighborhoods.

Two candidates are running unopposed for two at-large school board seats: political newcomer Roberto Rodriguez of 17 Sanborn St. and Anna Trevorrow of 5 Mayo St., a former chairwoman of Maine’s Green Independent Party who was the top vote-getter in a six-way race for two at-large seats in 2013.

In other elections, Howard Pedlikin, Alexander David Stankowicz and John Dromgoole are in a three-way race for one two-year term on the Peaks Island Council. Also, Stuart Jackson, Lisa Penalver and Patrick Flynn are running unopposed for three three-year seats on the island council.

 


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