CUMBERLAND COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CANDIDATE FORUM
Monday, May 7, 2018
5:30- 9pm First Parish Church 425 Congress St. Portland
Before the June 2018 primary elections, Cumberland County voters will meet and hear from the candidates in the District Attorney race. Chief local, elected prosecutor, Stephanie Anderson, will step down after the November 2018.election. Rally4Justice and the Portland Center for Restorative Justice are hosting a Candidate Forum on Monday, May 7th at First Parish 425 Congress Street, Portland.
The Forum
Starting at 5:30 pm, meet the candidates and enjoy light refreshments. At 6:30 pm the candidates will introduce themselves and answer a fast-paced series of questions on a wide range of criminal justice topics. The evening will end with questions from the audience and the media.
The Candidates
The following candidates for Cumberland County District Attorney have all agreed to participate in the May 7th Forum in the historic First Parish U.U. Meeting Hall.
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Randall Bates (Republican) |
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Jon Gale (Democrat) |
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Seth Levy (Democrat) |
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Jonathan Sahrbeck (Independent) |
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Frayla Tarpinian (Democrat) |
Questions and Answers
Each of the candidates above has completed a written questionnaire, disclosing their views and planned policies on important criminal justice issues: for example, mass incarceration, diversionary programs for defendants with mental illness and substance abuse problems, racial disparities in the criminal justice system, bail reform, transparency and accountability, the plight of immigrants as crime victims or defendants, juvenile justice and prosecutors or police withholding evidence as alleged in the recent Anthony Sanborn case. Click on links above to view each of the candidate’s answers to the questionnaire.
The D.A.’s Job
The Cumberland County District Attorney supervises a staff of almost 20 prosecutors and over 20 support staff, who handle over 10,000 cases referred by law enforcement officers from Scarborough to Brunswick and Cape Elizabeth, Westbrook and Portland to Bridgton and New Gloucester. The elected District Attorney and her staff make important decisions about the administration and priorities of criminal justice in Maine’s most populous County. But on election day, District Attorney candidates appear “down-ballot” with far less media coverage and information available to voters than in State and Congressional elections.
Be an Informed Voter!
Monday May 7 Cumberland County voters will have a unique opportunity to personally meet the District Attorney candidates, learn their positions and policies on crucial law enforcement issues and question the candidates in a lively public forum at First Parish at 425 Congress St. in Portland (between Monument Square and City Hall at the intersection of Temple Street) – from 5:30 to 9 pm. Contact: Angus Ferguson attorney@angusferguson.com 749-6618.