With higher premiums and lost federal funding, Maine can’t afford these ‘savings.’

For decades, political activists in Portland have argued that the city would be better off with a popularly elected mayor.

It took three elections – one to create a charter commission, one to approve the charter changes and, finally, one to elect a mayor – to settle the question. On Monday, Portland residents got a chance to see what they have been arguing over.

A study of a triple murder-suicide shows there is still more that could be done.

The first popularly elected mayor in 88 years will start writing the city’s next chapter.