Join Our Volunteer Board of Directors!

Do you seek a meaningful volunteer opportunity? Do you want to create a positive change in your community? Are you enthusiastic about enhancing Portland’s downtown area for yourself and your neighbors?

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Open Seats & Nominating/Voting Criteria

Note: For all categories the property owned, apartment rented, or business represented must be in the downtown district. View a map of the district here to see what’s included.

At-Large Property Owner (3 seats available; 3-year terms for two of the seats; 2-year term for one seat)

Only Property Owners in the downtown district may nominate, vote for, and elect candidates in this category. Candidates nominated in this category must own multi-unit (4+) residential or non-residential property in the district (or be an authorized representative of such an owner).

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Accommodations Representative (1 seat available; 3-year term)

Only Accommodations Stakeholders in the downtown district may nominate, vote for, and elect candidates in this category. Candidates nominated in this category must represent an Accommodations establishment in the district such as a hotel or inn. 

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Cultural/Nonprofit/Education Representative (1 seat available; 1-year term)

Only Cultural/Nonprofit and/or Educational institutions in the downtown district may nominate, vote for, and elect candidates in this category. This is defined as: “educational, tax-exempt/non-profit” in our bylaws. Candidates must represent a downtown improvement district located educational, tax-exempt non-profit organization.

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Professional Services Representative (3 seats available; 3-year term for two of the seats; 2-year term for one seat)

Representatives from the Legal/ Accounting/Financial/Insurance/Marketing/Technology/Business Consulting/Architects/Engineers/Medical/Counseling are eligible to run for this seat.

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Entertainment Representative (1 seat available; 3-year term)

Representatives from the Class A Lounge, Class XI Rest/Lounge, Auditorium, Brewery/Winery/Distillery, Class X-Lounge; Class IV-Tavern.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who gets to nominate and vote in the election? While some of our Board candidates are elected by Property Owners, others are elected by Industry Stakeholders. Review the “2024 Open Seats” section below to learn how the nomination & election process works for each category. If you still have questions – we know it’s a lot! – contact us at elections@portlandmaine.com.

Can you nominate yourself? Yes!

How long is a Board term? Most of our elected candidates will serve a three-year term but some unexpired terms being filled may be shorter. Please see the below descriptions for details for each seat. 

When does the Board term begin? July 1, 2024.

How often are Board meetings? Monthly. Third Thursday of the month at 9 am. Zoom options are available but there is an in-person attendance requirement. 

What is expected of Board members? All candidates must:

• Be current on Downtown Improvement District assessment as applicable;
• Attend monthly Board meetings, currently held on the third Thursday of each month;
• Co-chair or actively participate in Portland Downtown committees such as Experience, Governance, Marketing & Events, Downtown Business, and Multimodal Transportation.

What else is expected of Board members? Please read our Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest documents to learn more.

What are the benefits of being a Board member? First and foremost, the greatest benefit is knowing that your volunteer service directly contributes to making our downtown clean, safe, and vibrant year-round. Our organization advocates for a wide range of issues that are important to downtown property owners, residents, and businesses. As such, you’ll be able to weigh in on those topics and be part of creating impactful solutions. We also have a lot of fun and being a member of the Portland Downtown Board is a great way to build professional and social connections.

What happens after I complete the online nomination form? A member of the Portland Downtown Elections Committee will make a personal phone call to the candidate to confirm his or her nomination. Once the nomination is confirmed, the nomination slate will go to the Board of Directors for final approval.

What is the voting / elections process?
Our Board Elections will take place online via a platform called Election Runner. Property Owners & Industry Stakeholders within the district will receive unique voting credentials and instructions by mail in June – and then you’ll cast your votes through the online portal.

How are election results communicated? After the online ballots are tabulated through Election Runner, all candidates will be notified via a personal phone call as to whether or not they were elected to the Board. Portland Downtown will also publicly announce the newly elected Board members via a press release. Candidates who are not elected to the Board are welcome to participate in our committees or volunteer.

Questions? Contact us at elections@portlandmaine.com

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About Us

Portland Downtown is a 501c4 nonprofit Downtown Improvement District dedicated to stimulating a thriving, vibrant, and sustainable downtown community. It is led by a volunteer Board of Directors and four full-time staff.

Portland Downtown is funded through a supplemental tax paid by property owners within the downtown district. To learn more about Portland Downtown’s work and impact, please review our 5-Year Strategic Plan and our most recent Annual Report.

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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.

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