JAMES COHEN
ADDRESS: 62 Deepwood Drive
AGE: 43.
PERSONAL: Married with two children
OCCUPATION: Attorney
EDUCATION: Received a bachelor's degree from Princeton University in New Jersey and a law degree from Columbia University in New York
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Served two terms on the Portland City Council, including one year as mayor. Founding president of North Deering Neighborhood Association.
ED SUSLOVIC
ADDRESS: 46 Kenwood St.
AGE: 49
PERSONAL: Married with three children
OCCUPATION: Consultant
EDUCATION: Received a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Served one term as a representative in the Maine Legislature and one term on the Portland City Council, including a year as mayor
THOMAS ELLIMAN
ADDRESS: 36 St. Lawrence St.
AGE: 66
PERSONAL: Married with two adult children
OCCUPATION: Freelance marketing consultant
EDUCATION: Received a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None
ANNA TREVORROW
ADDRESS: 612 Congress St., Apt. 3.
AGE: 27
PERSONAL: Committed partner for seven years
OCCUPATION: Customer service representative at a bank
EDUCATION: Received a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Maine.
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Currently chair of the Maine Green Independent Party. Last year ran unsuccessfully for the Portland School Committee.
MADELEINE SEGAL
ADDRESS: 39 Fall Lane
AGE: 54.
PERSONAL: Separated with two children
OCCUPATION: Legal assistant and entertainment promoter
EDUCATION: Received a bachelor's degree and a master's in education administration from the University of Southern Maine
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Currently serving on the Portland Police Crime Review Board
JAMES GOOCH
ADDRESS: 79 Vaughan St.
AGE: 35
PERSONAL: Single
OCCUPATION: Staff member at Trust for Public Lands
EDUCATION: Earned a bachelor's degree from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania and a law degree from Yale University
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None
PAUL FARRELL
ADDRESS: 62 Monument St. #2
AGE: 44
PERSONAL: Single
OCCUPATION: Staff member of Southern Maine Labor Council
EDUCATION: Studied two years at the Landing School of Boatbuilding in Arundel and received an associate degree from Southern Maine Community College
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None
NATHAN SMITH
AGE: 60
ADDRESS: 212 Capisic St.
PERSONAL: Married with two children
OCCUPATION: Attorney
EDUCATION: Received a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, a master's degree from McMaster University in Ontario and a law degree from Washington and Lee University in Virginia.
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Served two terms on the Portland City Council, including one year as mayor
PORTLAND – Eight candidates are vying for the four at-large seats on the charter commission, including three former mayors – Ed Suslovic, Nathan Smith and James Cohen.
The field also includes Anna Trevorrow, who chairs the Maine Independent Green Party, Thomas Elliman, who used to write a column on motor sports for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, and Madeleine Segal, whose father, Edward Bernstein, served on the City Council for 21 years.
Also running are political newcomers James Gooch and Paul Farrell. Gooch works at the Trust for Public Lands, and Farrell works at the Southern Maine Labor Council.
Suslovic, Cohen, Anna Trevorrow, and Paul Farrell all favor an elected mayor to some degree.
Gooch said he is "definitely open but not convinced."
Segal said the issue needs to be thoroughly before she takes a position. "I feel cautious about it," she said. "I have to be really convinced."
Smith said the issue is "ripe for re-examination" and adds that he has a "healthy skepticism of the current system."
Elliman said he is "leaning in favor" of an elected mayor. Although most residents seem to support the idea, he said, the commission needs to think the issue through.
"We all need to listen to what the people have to say and think about it carefully and not fall into the trap of unintended consequences," he said.
Each of the candidates is trying to stand out in a crowded field.
Suslovic and Farrell are the most outspoken about the need for an elected mayor.
Farrell said the current system consolidates too much power in the hands of officials who lack accountability with voters.
Suslovic said his communication skills will be useful on the commission.
"I've shown I'm very open with the media and the public," he said. "I speak what's on my mind and listen to what's on people's minds."
Cohen, a Deering High School graduate who served two terms on the City Council, said he has many years of experience, both as a city official and as a volunteer for nonprofit groups .
"I think we need that broad perspective and experience as part of the charter commission," he said.
Trevorrow said she supports eliminating the four at-large positions on the council and replacing them with district seats. She said that at-large races favor candidates with the most money, while district candidates can campaign door-to-door.
She also wants non-citizens to able to vote in Portland elections.
Staff Writer Tom Bell can be contacted at 791-6369 or at
tbell@pressherald.com
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