A closer look at the candidates for the Portland City Council at-large race
The departure of Portland City Councilor April Fournier, who is running for the legislature instead of seeking a third term, has opened up one of the city’s three at-large council seats. Three candidates are now vying for the position in the Nov. 3 election, each bringing a distinct background and set of priorities to the race.
The field includes a former mayor, a community activist with a background in social work, and a longtime local political contender. Early voting in Maine begins Oct. 5.
A Veteran Public Servant Seeks a Return
Kate Snyder, who served as Portland’s mayor from 2019 to 2023, is returning to city politics. Before her tenure as mayor, she was on the school board from 2007 to 2013. Snyder describes her motivation as a simple desire to continue public service.
“I care a lot about this city,” she said. “I’m raising my hand for City Council because I think I can help. To me this is just a natural continuation of everything I’ve done here.”
Her time as mayor was marked by significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice protests, and the emergence of homeless encampments. Snyder believes this experience prepares her for unforeseen crises. “We never know what’s around the corner,” she said. “I ask voters to think about how candidates will navigate unforeseeable challenges that will come our way.”
Her platform focuses on housing affordability, transportation safety, and homelessness. She wants the city to fully utilize new zoning policies to spur housing construction and believes the current inclusionary zoning rules are insufficient. Snyder also emphasizes the need to address substance use and mental health by increasing access to detox beds, calling it a critical issue for downtown vitality. “We’ve done a lot of work on homelessness and shelters, we need to do the same for substance use and mental health,” she stated.
A Clinician Focused on Prevention and Belonging
Atiim Boykin, a 50-year-old mental health clinician, is making his second attempt at office, having previously run for the District 2 seat in 2024. Boykin’s motivation stems from a deep concern about gentrification and its effect on the city’s artists and working-class residents.
“Other cities have suffered growing pains that hollowed out their neighborhoods and priced out the people who built them. I refuse that fate for Portland,” he said.
Having helped found San Francisco’s first Young Adult Court, Boykin brings a focus on diversion and crisis prevention. He argues the city is playing “whack-a-mole” with issues like homelessness and substance use and needs a centralized resource hub to provide coordinated services. “Twenty years as a clinician taught me how to hold a community through hard change. That is the work I want to bring to City Hall,” he added.
His housing plan involves encouraging partnerships between hospitals, schools, developers, and the city to build affordable live/work spaces, specifically pointing to empty lots in the Bayside area. While supportive of inclusionary zoning, he believes the policy needs revisiting to encourage more development. Boykin, a registered Democrat, stresses that local candidates should “lead with being a nonpartisan listener.”
An Activist Seeking Broader Collaboration
Joey Brunelle, 41, has been a visible presence in Portland’s civic life for a decade, even without prior electoral success. He has run for office twice before and currently serves as chair of the newly formed Civilian Police Review Board. Brunelle describes himself as a candidate who can unite people to collaborate on solutions.
He believes local government operates with an “old-school mentality” and wants to expand meaningful public participation. “In reality, city government is just us,” he said. “I really want to expand how people can participate meaningfully.”
Brunelle’s platform addresses a wide range of issues, from pedestrian safety and property taxes to environmental protection, such as a proposed “scrubber wash” ban for cruise ships. He argues that property tax increases are unsustainable and that the council must better advocate for state and federal support. On homelessness, he suggests looking to other cities for proven solutions, such as increasing police foot patrols, rather than relying on extreme policies.
As the only candidate in the race participating in the Clean Elections system, Brunelle highlights his ability to run a campaign with small-dollar contributions, with a maximum donation of $5. He has received endorsements from councilors Pious Ali and April Fournier. “People are hungry for action,” he said, summarizing his appeal.
With Maria Maffucci having dropped out of the race in early September, these three candidates are now competing for the at-large seat, each offering a different vision for Portland’s future.
