Portland Mayor, City Council Leaders Endorse Troy Jackson for Governor

PHOTO: Troy Jackson with Portland City Councilor April Fournier & Mayor Mark Dion.

Last week, Portland Mayor Mark Dion endorsed Troy Jackson’s candidacy for Maine Governor at a press conference in Portland. Mayor Dion was joined by Portland City Councilors Anna Bullett, April Fournier, Wes Pelletier and Kate Sykes in his support for the fifth-generation logger and former Senate President. 
 

“I believe in labor, and I believe in small business. When it works for workers, it means success for small businesses. They're not opposites, but the same coin flipped over,” said Mayor Dion.“I want a governor that recognizes that. So with that, I endorse Troy Jackson for Governor for the state of Maine.”

In addition to representing the people of Portland at the local level, Dion has served as Cumberland County Sheriff and held roles in both the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate.

"I am thrilled to support Troy Jackson to be our next Governor here in Maine. I believe that we need a leader in the Blaine House who understands and can work with all Mainers, especially working class Mainers who are often overlooked and left behind,” said Fournier. “What I know about Troy is that he shows up, he listens and he is a problem solver. This is who we need as our next Governor."

Fournier is a leader with extensive experience in community organizing, community leadership and development, coalition building, and training. She currently serves as an at-large councilor and is the first Native woman to serve in that office.

Bullett is a non-profit leader, public school parent, proud Mainer, and the District 4 City Councilor in Portland, Maine. She also serves as Chair of the Health, Human Services & Public Safety Committee, is a member of the Sustainability & Transportation Committee and represents the City on the Greater Portland Metro board of directors. Pelletier is a tenant and community organizer representing Portland’s proud working class in District 2. He serves on the City’s Finance Committee and Health & Human Services and Public Safety Committee.

Jackson’s campaign has also been endorsed by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna, U.S. Senate Candidate Dan Osborn, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and more than 70 current and former local elected officials. His campaign is also backed by 40 local labor unions, including the Maine AFL-CIO, which endorsed in a gubernatorial primary for the first time in the organization's history.

Jackson Rejects Independent Dark Money Spending on Race

Last month, Jackson announced he had signed the “People’s Pledge,” vowing to reject independent expenditures (IE) that come from corporate and dark money. He challenged his gubernatorial primary opponents to join him in denouncing dark money and calling for campaign finance reform. Jackson is the ONLY candidate in this race who has taken the pledge.

Jackson said:  “Folks are tired of the influx of dark money into our politics from both parties. They are tired of empty promises made by politicians that go unfulfilled once elected. If Democrats are serious about winning back the working-class and rebuilding trust in candidates, elected officials and government, then we need to band together and reject outside dark money in our primaries. That starts with the People’s Pledge. I’m challenging all my primary opponents to join me in taking the People’s Pledge. With this pledge, Maine candidates have a chance to put their money where their mouth is.”