A closer look at the candidates for the Portland City Council District 4 race

Portland City Council’s District 4 race pits incumbent Anna Bullett against challenger Jacob Viola

The city’s November 3 election will decide who holds Portland’s District 4 council seat, which covers East Deering and portions of Back Cove, Deering Center and North Deering. The race features incumbent councilor Anna Bullett, who has served since her 2023 election, and challenger Jacob Viola, who ran unsuccessfully for an at‑large seat in 2024.

A district in the middle of the city

District 4 is a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial strips that stretch along the harbor. Residents have long cited traffic safety, affordable housing and the city’s public‑health approach to drug use as pressing concerns. Both candidates have made those issues central to their campaigns.

Anna Bullett: a focus on evidence‑based public safety

Bullett, 42, is a senior director of health and nutrition at The Opportunity Alliance, the county agency that administers WIC and SNAP. “The number one issue at doors is safe streets,” she told the Press Herald. “It’s been great to hear that people want more and they want it urgently, which lights a fire under me.”

As chair of the council’s public safety and health and human services committee, Bullett has overseen discussions on mental health and substance use. City staff are drafting a comprehensive public‑safety plan that she hopes will “provide a clearer direction for officials,” though she says she will oppose elements that she views as “not informed by science, evidence and personnel out in the field.”

Bullett also takes aim at the mayor’s stance on downtown drug use. “You can’t arrest yourself out of a problem unless there are the right systems in place after the fact, which we don’t have,” she said. She has called for stronger collaboration between city, county and state agencies to address the substance‑use crisis.

Beyond street safety, Bullett is pushing for a citywide lighting analysis and a facilities assessment to inform decisions about community buildings. She also wants to weave climate resilience and public transit into future housing plans, citing the 2024 ReCode zoning ordinance that updated the city’s zoning framework.

“I don’t want regressive policies,” she said. “I want to find ways to honor what Portland was but ensure we’re prepared for where it’s going.” When asked whether constituents have complained about her responsiveness, Bullett replied that people who interact with her typically do not raise issues, and that she often delays a reply while she seeks accurate information from staff. “City Council is a job I take seriously, as much as being a mom and a good boss and a good neighbor,” she added. “I feel like I’ve gotten a graduate degree the last three years, and now I need to put it to use.”

Jacob Viola: a push for faster decision‑making and transparency

Viola, 35, comes from a family of commercial fishermen and Italian immigrants. He is a Yale and Harvard alumnus who previously worked in the Massachusetts governor’s office. After a 2024 bid for an at‑large seat that fell short, he is now campaigning for District 4. “I think residents see a lot of good intentions that have led to bad outcomes,” he said. He cited Portland’s needle exchange program and the inclusionary zoning policy—requiring at least 25 % affordable units in large projects—as examples where intent has not translated into effect.

The former police chief’s announcement that opioid overdoses are “on track for a 10‑year‑high” has prompted Viola to question whether the city’s public‑safety and public‑health strategies are effective. He highlighted that the needle‑exchange program now distributes and collects over one million syringes a year, raising concerns about the volume of needles on streets.

Viola has called for an “all‑hands‑on‑deck” response that involves city, county and state agencies. He also criticized recent council decisions that he believes have stymied new businesses, mentioning the retroactive zoning that blocked the Portland Music Hall project and removed funding that could reduce property‑tax burdens. He wants to streamline the permitting process to make it easier to build housing and accessory dwelling units.

“I’ve been campaigning on a 24‑hour promise to respond to questions or concerns from constituents within a day,” he said. “Being accessible is the most important thing a councilor should do. It became clear while campaigning that that doesn’t exist right now.” Viola’s campaign videos feature local businesses that he says struggle to operate in Portland and find it difficult to reach City Hall. He says he hopes constituents will understand his perspective and feel respected in the process. “I think that’s missing right now,” he said.

Election logistics

Early voting for the state of Maine opens on October 5, and polling places and absentee‑ballot requests can be found at portlandmaine.gov/elections‑voting. City Hall and the Portland Public Library are among the designated locations for in‑person voting on election day.

A broader picture

The District 4 contest is part of a wider set of City Council elections that include three at‑large seats and two other district races. The council will again decide on policies such as the city’s Vision Zero pedestrian‑safety plan, the ReCode zoning ordinance, and the expanding public‑health programs that address opioid overdoses and homelessness. Whether voters lean toward Bullett’s experience in health‑nutrition administration and evidence‑based public safety, or Viola’s push for faster decision‑making and transparency, the outcome will shape how Portland tackles the challenges of a growing city with a storied heritage.