Reason, not ideology, will move Portland forward | Letter

Read all of our coverage of Maine's 2026 election or stay up to date with the latest developments through the Maine Political Report in your inbox or text messages from politics editor Kirby Wilson.

I attended the Oct. 7 candidates night, sponsored by the Back Cove Neighborhood Association for District 4 and at-large candidates for the Portland City Council. It was well attended and all candidates attended.

The two candidates who stood out to me as worthy of election were Jake Viola and Kate Snyder. Both understood the need to creatively analyze existing problems facing Portland and figure out what works. Neither one is pushing a political agenda that supports ideological solutions that are ineffective. Having attended a Planning Board meeting two years ago, I was saddened that decisions were being made on wishful thinking and not reality in dealing with how to increase housing units. These two candidates will bring a refreshing approach that just might accomplish something worthwhile instead of pushing ideological, unworkable ideas.

Jacqueline Cohen
Portland

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Tagged: election 2026, letter to the editor