Portland Downtown’s Board Election Is Now Open

PORTLAND, ME. – Portland Downtown, a 501c4 nonprofit downtown improvement district, is pleased to announce voting is live for seven seats on its volunteer board of directors, including: 

• At-Large Property Owner (Two (2) 3-year terms; One (1) 1-year term)
• Cultural/Non-profit/Education Representative (1 seat; 3-year term)
• Restaurant Representative (1 seat; 3-year term)
• Retail Representative (1 seat; 3-year term)

Seat nominations were accepted through April 15, 2022 and are now closed. Brief information about each candidate is featured below.

Please Note: You must be a qualified voter to cast a ballot in Portland Downtown elections. Voting is performed via a platform called Election Runner. If you are a qualified voter and did not receive information on how to vote, please email us here.

PROPERTY OWNER

Dawn Homa, Manager, Cooper Properties

Dawn represents Cooper Properties, a local property development company with several properties in the downtown district.
She joined Portland Downtown in 2018, and has contributed to the Board by assisting with their 5-year Strategic Plan, and working on the current mural program. Dawn held the Treasurer position for two years and has recently been elected to serve as Vice-Chair. She enjoys Governance and any ad-hoc committees she can be a part of. Dawn is passionate about creating a vibrant, thriving, and sustainable community in our downtown.

 

Gillian West, Director of Operations, JB Brown & Sons

Gillian joined J.B. Brown & Sons as a Property Manager in 2015 and was promoted to Director of Operations in 2020. In addition to overseeing the company’s operations, she assists with the design & planning of spaces in our portfolio. Prior to joining J.B.B. she worked for Katina’s Bruck wick Architecture in Washington DC. She’s in love with Maine and with Portland and is excited to be contributing to the changing fabric of the Downtown.

 

Maggie Roudsari, Chief Development Officer, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Maggie represents the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, a nonprofit in Portland seeking solutions to ocean challenges that impact the Gulf of Maine’s ecosystem and regional economy. Maggie is committed to improving Portland for those who live and work here across all neighborhoods and sectors. She has a cultural arts background and values Portland’s unique character and history. She previously led an arts council, revitalizing part of a rural downtown community in coastal South Carolina and worked for an aquarium that served as a gathering place, anchored in a growing neighborhood in Charleston, SC.

 

CULTURAL/EDUCATIONAL/NON-PROFIT

Maria Wolff

A connector, mover & shaker, Maria is passionate about the Portland arts community.

 

RESTAURANT

Krista Cole

Krista Cole is a current board member, chair of the Downtown Experience Committee, and serves on the Advocacy Committee, and several other subcommittees. She is the owner of Sur Lie on Free Street and Gather in Yarmouth where she focuses on operations, events and is responsible for marketing and branding. Krista also sits on the board of the Portland Development Corporation for the city of Portland.

 

RETAIL

Tom Mourmouras, Managing Partner, Fire on Fore

Tom owns and operates Fire on Fore, in the heart of the Old Port. His business & tax consulting office is also located at 1 Dana Street. He’s born & raised in Maine, attended Cheverus High School in Portland. He’s been around the Old Port for over 12 years and had at least 1 business there for 5 of them. He loves Downtown Portland and would be honored to serve on a board guiding its future.

 

Please Note: You must be a qualified voter to cast a ballot in Portland Downtown elections. Voting is performed via a platform called Election Runner. If you are a qualified voter and did not receive information on how to vote, please email us here.