City Of Portland: City Updates Public Regarding School Board At-Large Race

Press release from the City of Portland:

October 28, 2021

The City Clerk informed Ms. Thompson on October 5, 2021 that under the City’s Charter, once a candidate for elected office consents to a nomination, they may not withdraw. The language of the Charter expressly states that all candidates for elected office must file both an acceptance of a nomination and an agreement not to withdraw. Once filed, neither the nomination nor the candidate’s consent/agreement can be withdrawn. (Portland Charter, Article IV, Section 6.) Although Maine State law generally permits withdrawal of candidates, because the City’s Charter is explicit on this point and is different from the usual state rules, the City’s Charter governs elections and campaigns in Portland. (30-A M.R.S. Section 2501.) 

As a result, any votes for any candidate on the ballot must be counted. This means that should candidate Thompson win, she would have to resign if she does not want to occupy the seat. 

Should she resign, this would mean the seat would remain empty until the next election. At this point, the City Clerk expects nomination papers will be available in January 2022 for the next election in June 2022. 

This press release was produced by the City of Portland. The views expressed here are the author’s own.