Brandon Mazer conceded the race after a recount.
Randy Billings
Staff Writer
Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined the Press Herald in 2012 as the Portland City Hall reporter, where his beat touched on a wide range of topics, including municipal government, immigration, homelessness, housing and social services. Prior to that, he worked at various weeklies as well as business and arts publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two children and enjoys the outdoors and playing his upright bass.
Roberto Rodriguez leads by 35 votes as recount of Portland council race remains unresolved
The process was to continue Wednesday morning, with 37 ballots still disputed.
Portland moves ahead with new shelter plan after effort to block it fails at the polls
Opponents of a new 208-bed shelter say they will no longer try to stop it and will instead focus their efforts on housing, rather than sheltering, the homeless.
Brandon Mazer wins Portland at-large council seat in drawing of lots
Roberto Rodriguez, the losing candidate, immediately said he would ask for a vote recount.
Rare ranked-choice tie means Portland will decide at-large council race by drawing lots
The top two vote-getters in the four-way race got the exact same number of votes in a ranked-choice runoff.
Ballot measure calling for smaller shelters in Portland falls short with 31% of the vote
The unofficial result means the city likely will be able to move forward with its plan to build a 208-bed homeless services center without a legal battle.
Portland City Council approves leases for planned shelter, spending plan for pandemic aid
The shelter approval came the night before voters head to the polls to decide on a citizen referendum to limit the size and locations of new homeless shelters in Portland.
Jennings era comes to an end in Portland as city manager moves on
In a wide-ranging interview with the Press Herald, Jon Jennings reflects with mixed emotions on his 6-year tenure, including an incident that led his teenage daughter to urge him to find another job.
Votes will be counted for Portland school board incumbent who dropped re-election bid, city says
City officials said Sarah Thompson can’t formally withdraw from the race because the city charter requires candidates to sign a pledge to stay in the race.
Portland council to vote next week on $14.2 million in federal recovery funds
Proposed funding includes $3.5 million for the city’s planned homeless services center and $3.6 million to replace a community pool.