Portland Forum Splits Candidates on Policing and Housing Rules

Candidates for Cumberland County district attorney and Portland's councilor at-large seat clashed over public safety and housing policy at a forum held October 14 at the Portland Media Center, the Portland Press Herald reported. The event was organized by the Bayside Neighborhood Association and Portland Downtown ahead of the November 3 election.

District attorney candidate Stephanie Anderson, who held the office from 1990 until stepping down in 2018, said the office has fallen into disarray and that "public safety has been shattered, morale destroyed." Incumbent Jacqueline Sartoris, elected in 2023, said the crime rate has dropped during her tenure, that cases are up 44% compared with when she took office and that the rate of people returning to jail within 30 days has fallen. Anderson has outraised Sartoris in contributions, according to the Press Herald.

The three council candidates — Atiim Boykin, Joey Brunelle and Kate Snyder — all said Portland's inclusionary zoning policy needs changes to spur housing production. Snyder, a former mayor, backed returning to the earlier requirement that large developments include 10% affordable units, down from the current 25%. Boykin suggested testing zones where the policy would not apply, while Brunelle proposed a task force covering zoning and permitting.

This story was first reported by The Portland Press Herald.