" Hello! 👋 I'm Robert O'Brien and I'm running for City Council in District 2. I've watched our council struggle to keep up with the issues we face -- from climate impact to housing to policy leadership. We can do better and I'd like to help! I'm the only candidate with elected office experience, I deliver housing strategies to cities across America for work, and I have a master's degree in public policy. I would be grateful for your vote on November 5th. "
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The Issues
COMMERCIAL STREET IS GOING UNDER
COMMERCIAL STREET IS GOING UNDER
And we have no plan to address it.
Climate change is here. Portland is feeling the impacts already, and we know what we're facing over the next century. We need a 50-year plan and budget to protect Commercial Street, Bayside, and our local electric grid which we will increasingly rely on as we electrify everything.
As councilor, I will push for testing our infrastructure, articulating concrete interventions, and specifying a way to pay for it. Climate change won't wait; neither can we.
Photo credit: Ben McCanna / Portland Press Herald
STOP GOVERNING BY REFERENDUM
STOP GOVERNING BY REFERENDUM
When the Council leads, referendums fail.
In 2020, voters approved 5 of 6 referendums on rent control, inclusionary zoning, minimum wage, facial surveillance, and cannabis. Short-term rental limits just barely failed. Once enacted, laws by referendum are untouchable by the Council for 5 years. Referendum laws are blunt instruments and often crudely written. Since 2020, we've seen dueling referendums on the ballot at almost every election cycle.
In 2025, the City Council has a chance to refine these laws to be clearer, simpler, and easier to follow and enforce. Let's not miss this opportunity to end Portland's rule by referendum.
Photo credit: WMTW
HOUSING, HOUSING, AND MORE HOUSING
HOUSING, HOUSING, AND MORE HOUSING
No candidate is more equipped to tackle our housing crisis.
As the Press Herald expertly reported on August 11, housing has been undersupplied since the Great Recession and pent-up demand is at record levels. Local wages can't compete with out-of-state buying power or retirees with cash from a home sale.Â
My full-time job is summarizing data findings and writing housing strategies for cities across the country. I know what developers need to build more housing, what landlords need to supply more apartments, and what city planners need to encourage more housing production.
We are in a crisis. I can help. Let's tackle this!
Photo credit: Allied Cook Construction
YES TO RENT CONTROL - BUT WE CAN DO IT BETTER
YES TO RENT CONTROL - BUT WE CAN DO IT BETTER
It doesn't need to be this complicated.Â
By and large, rent control codifies best practices in rental housing: adequate communication (noticing), and predictable and reasonable rent increases. But the law is unnecessarily complicated, which makes it difficult for landlords to follow, staff to enforce, and tenants to understand. Let's set rent increases to a local index (HUD's Fair Market Rent index for Portland, Maine) that anyone can google, let's host an online calculator where both tenants and landlords can enter the original rent and see the maximum allowable rent that year, and let's get rid of "banked" rent which is complicated to track and can blindside tenants.Â
In short, let's make rent control simpler, fairer, and more transparent for everyone.
Want to talk about the issues? Message Robert at obrien.for.council2@gmail.com to start a conversation!
Your Candidate's Qualifications
PUBLIC SERVICE EXPERIENCE
PUBLIC SERVICE EXPERIENCE
Portland Charter Commission, Elected Member (2021-2022)
Portland Historic Preservation Board, Appointed Member (2016-Present),
Chair (2023, 2024)
Portland Charter Commission, Elected Member (2009-2010)
Portland School Board, Elected Member (2006-2009)
West End Neighborhood Association, President (2006)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Camoin Associates
A national economic-development consulting firm
Senior Housing Specialist (2023-present)
Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG)
Regional planning organization serving municipalities in Cumberland County
Senior Economic Development Manager with a focus on Housing (2022)
Maine Development Foundation
A statewide economic-development nonprofit
Program Director (2017-2022)
supported the Maine Downtown Center, and
coordinated community development efforts for seven Maine mill towns
Maine Preservation
A statewide nonprofit promoting historic preservation
Assistant Director (2008-2016)
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Born at Mercy Hospital on State Street (1979)
Graduated from Portland Public Schools
Renter for 8 years in Portland
Homeowner and property-tax payer for 15 years in Portland
Landlord of a long-term rental apartment in Portland
Married to Stephanie O'Brien, an ER nurse, for 17 years
Two children in the Portland Public Schools:
James (Reiche Elementary) and Caroline (Portland High School)
EDUCATION, TRAINING & HONORS
EDUCATION, TRAINING & HONORS
Institute for Civic Leadership
Mt. Abram Class (2019)
40 Under 40
Maine Sunday Telegram's first statewide class of honorees (2011)
Muskie School of Public Service at USM
Master's degree in Public Policy (2007)
Bates College
Bachelor of Arts (2002)
Senator George J. Mitchell Scholar
Competitive scholarship for Maine graduates (1998)
Deering High School
Diploma with Honors (1998)
I would be honored to have your vote on Tuesday, November 5th
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