District 3: Laurie J. Davis

Your Top Three Priorities

    A charter that encourages & supports a community vision of Portland’s future focused on the common good, effective leadership for the future, & collaboration between City Council & School Committee.

Please list prior applicable experience:

Executive Director, Upward Bound at USM; Instructor, EPA 512, Homelessness, Foster Care, Hospitalization and Learning, USM; CASA Volunteer guardian ad litem; No Child Left Behind Coordinator, Portland Public Schools; Initiated creation of Peaks Island Neighborhood Assoc., Chair Bylaws Com., Vice President; Assistant to the Dean of the Faculty, Bates College; Sr. Evaluator, Evaluator of Housing & Community Development programs, Youth Employment Project Coordinator, City of Portland; B.S. Cornell University; M.S.Ed. Univ. of Southern Maine

What do you hope to accomplish as part of the commission?

    As a member of the Charter Commission I will continue to listen to, and communicate with, residents of District 3 in order to represent their concerns and issues regarding Portland’s governance structure and City Charter. Working collaboratively with district and Portland residents and fellow commission members, I will work to insure a transparent and inclusive process to propose a charter that will effectively govern Portland for the future.

What do you see as issues within the current structure of city government?

    Listening to residents, the structural issues I have heard mentioned most often include:
    • How to increase collaboration between individuals, neighborhoods, stakeholder groups, staff and elected officials in order to develop a shared community vision of Portland’s future focused on the common good of Portland as a whole,
    • How to encourage effective leadership for the community’s vision for Portland’s future and to sustain progress towards its realization,
    • How to structure cooperative responsibility between City Council and School Committee for our schools in recognition of the critical role they play in both sustainable economic growth and vibrant community life.

What are you thoughts on the 1986 charter report? What prior issues would be the most helpful for the current Commission to consider?

    The 1986 Charter Commission report raised concerns about increasing voter engagement and participation, balancing district representation with at-large representation, and financial responsibility and accountability. These remain important issues that must be considered by the current Charter Commission.

What other city charters have you examined? How would it inform your approach to analyzing our city’s charter?

    The discussion and analysis of other city charters will be an important part of the commission’s work especially when viewed in terms of Portland’s unique history, geography, population, needs and vision for the future. Many variations of effective, democratic city governance exist, and careful study and discussion of the best practices used by other cities will be important information for the public and the commission to consider in crafting a charter that will work most effectively for Portland.

Would you support an elected mayor? If no, why not?

    After listening to input from a broad spectrum of Portland residents to develop a considered and thoughtful understanding of their concerns and issues with the current form of governance, I expect that an elected mayor is one of many options that the Commission will consider. The Commission will have to determine whether this change would best meet the Portland community’s needs for sustained vision and leadership for the future. If after listening to residents and examining a variety of effective governance structures and their applicability to Portland’s unique needs, I believe that an elected mayor would hold the most promise for Portland’s future; I would support recommending an elected mayor to Portland voters.

What parts of the current city charter do you feel are antiquated?

    Reviewing the City Charter for provisions that have been rendered obsolete is a necessary part of the Charter Commission’s process in order to assure that Portland’s Charter remains in compliance with Maine’s Constitution and laws. The commission should also review the charter to allow for ways that technology could be used to support and extend citizen participation and engagement in the democratic process of city governance. In a rapidly changing world, consideration of how the charter will encourage effective governance in a more global, diverse and information focused society will be important in creating a structure that continues to support a democratic, representative city government capable of effectively meeting residents’ needs.

Would you consider re-districting the City of Portland? Why and how?

    The current Charter requires dividing the city into five “compact and contiguous districts of approximately equal population.” In view of Portland’s continual development and the resulting population shifts, the Commission should review whether the current five district division meets the intent of the Charter and provides reasonable and effective district representation. Portland’s governance structure should be responsive to current needs yet deliberate and considered in view of the long-term vision and impact of governance decisions. A balance must be sought between responding to individual resident and neighborhood issues and concerns and the issues and concerns of the Portland community as a whole.

Would you modify the current relationship between the school committee and city council?

    As a former employee of the city and the school dept., a parent of two children who graduated from Portland Schools and a tax payer, I have viewed this relationship from several perspectives. The Commission must assess the strengths and limitations inherent in the current structure and determine how to craft a more effective future relationship.

What role do you think the charter commission should play to educate the public on changes made to the city charter?

    For many Portland residents the City Charter is a document that operates quietly in the background of their lives and even though the Charter Commission was approved by the voters, most are still developing an understanding of what the Charter Commission is and does. Public education about the current charter, the concerns and issues that led to its creation and the advantages and impact of proposed changes is critical to engaging the public in a community conversation about how Portland should govern itself most effectively for the future.

What role is the charter commission for public engagement during the process of re-examining the charter?

    Public engagement should be a cornerstone of the collective work of the Commission and the individual work of each member. The Commission must listen to a wide spectrum of Portland residents to discern where our current charter works well and where improvements should be considered in order to better serve Portland residents and the city as a whole. Broadly based, vigorous community engagement with the commission process will yield responsive and effective charter proposals that are rooted in Portland’s unique needs and vision for the future.

What else would you like to add?

    Working in public service for many years, I am an effective advocate, bringing perspective & intellect to the discussion of issues. I have successfully helped decision makers to understand complex issues & their impact. I enjoy working collaboratively & believe better decisions result from bringing all stakeholders into the deliberative process.