Candidates for district attorney, at-large councilor make cases at Portland forum

Portland Forum Brings District Attorney and City Council Candidates Into the Spotlight

Portland, ME – In a downtown studio that was brimming with residents, three Portland City Council at‑large hopefuls and the two candidates for Cumberland County district attorney faced off on the night before the county’s November election. The event, organized by the Bayside Neighborhood Association and Portland Downtown, was moderated by MaineBiz deputy editor Renee Cordes and recorded for future viewing.

The two sides of the conversation centered on how the city and county can tackle public safety, crime, and community services. The evening’s questions were tightly packed into 30‑minute segments, forcing each candidate to be concise while addressing the concerns of voters.

The District Attorney Race

Stephanie Anderson, who first served as district attorney in 1990 and stepped down in 2018, returned to the public eye after a brief retirement. She was 73, has police‑union backing, and has out‑raised incumbent Jacqueline Sartoris in contributions. Anderson said that “public safety has been shattered, morale destroyed” and that “people are getting away with too much.”

Sartoris, elected in 2023, counters by citing a decline in overall crime and a 44 % increase in cases prosecuted under her watch. She noted a “return to charging” after a pandemic‑era dip and highlighted a drop in the “return to jail rate.” Sartoris also said that her office has been working with law‑enforcement agencies to tighten policy on bicycle and pedestrian crashes.

The candidates disagreed sharply over the state of the prosecutor’s office. Anderson claimed that the office was in disarray under Sartoris and that “police are not bringing cases because they don’t think they’ll be prosecuted.” Sartoris said the opposite, arguing that the numbers demonstrate active case‑filing. The debate also touched on the candidates’ party affiliations. Anderson, who left the Republican Party after leaving office, said she “unenrolled” when she stepped down, not when she announced her candidacy. Sartoris pointed out Anderson’s ties to the GOP and said she was elected by partisan politics.

Both candidates agreed that Maine needs more prosecutors to keep up with a growing caseload.

City Council At‑Large Candidates

The three Portland City Council candidates—Atiim Boykin, Joey Brunelle, and Kate Snyder—presented distinct visions for the city.

Boykin is a social worker and artist who says he wants to keep “working‑class people in Portland” by streamlining services through collaboration among city nonprofits. He emphasized that he is part of the group most likely to be displaced by rising housing costs and urged the city to stay a safe place for them.

Brunelle positioned himself as a progressive organizer who can “expand democracy” and bring more people into decision‑making. He argued for a task force to study inclusionary zoning, permitting, and other policies that affect housing production, and called for “go back to a barn‑raising form of government.” Brunelle also criticized the current location of the Homeless Services Center on Riverside Street, saying it concentrates services in a single area and suggested smaller, more local centers.

Snyder, a former mayor, said the city’s inclusionary zoning policy should revert to the former standard of 10 % affordable units on large developments (the current law requires 25 %). She argued that the policy should “become dynamic,” rather than static. Snyder also said any new housing in the Midtown Bayside area should include greenspace and connectivity to Deering Oaks and other parks.

All three candidates spoke on public safety, the city’s role in mental‑health treatment, and how to better empower neighborhood associations. When asked about pedestrian safety, each offered a different angle, but all agreed that the city must support equitable access to green spaces.

Looking Ahead

With just over two weeks to go until Election Day, the forum served as a final chance for voters to see how the candidates plan to address the pressing concerns of crime, housing, and community services. While Anderson and Sartoris clashed over the district attorney’s performance, the city council hopefuls presented a range of solutions—from grassroots organization to policy reform—aimed at keeping Portland inclusive and safe. The night’s heated exchanges were recorded for later viewing, giving the electorate a clear snapshot of the options on the ballot.