Let's own this movement, Portland

PORTLAND – The state chapter of the League of Young Voters is looking to its members and other young, politically minded Mainers to help make up a $30,000 funding shortfall.Considered a political force in Portland with growing respect on the state level, the Maine League took a hit in the wallet this budget season as a result of a funding shortage at the national level.“For whatever reason, pledges were made and then withdrawn,” Maine League Director Justin Alfond said.The local league hopes to raise funds through its regular series of events, which have typically attracted strong crowds of young voters. The national league has set up a program on its Web site, indyvoter.org, where interested people can create their own fundraising page. Participants can send the link to friends and family, asking for donations. The site tracks donations.Brian Hiatt, the Maine League’s director of communications, said although young people are not known for forking over cash to political causes, league leaders are looking for support from the people they serve.“If we are this movement,” he said, “then we need to fund this movement.”Alfond said the league had a successful 2006 election season and hopes to keep the momentum going into the summer, when it plans to be active in the local library referendum and state bond questions. The league was influential in the elections of 20-somethings David Marshall and Kevin Donoghue to the Portland City Council last November. It also worked hard on the statewide Opportunity Maine campaign, a measure to allow education tax credits for Maine students who stay here after college.This year, league organizers wanted to focus on some new elements, including upping its outreach through technology, Hiatt said. Without its expected budget for this year, training for and implementing better online outreach may have to wait, he said.The same goes for a periodically published ‘zine some league members have been advocating.Most of the 300 league members in Maine live in Portland, and so a bulk of league-sponsored events are held in the city. Warm weather signals time for the league’s Spring ReEmergence event, held at Portland Yacht Services on Fore Street. The event is scheduled for May 31. The league also plans to host “Taste for Change” again this year, along with a number of smaller events. For more information go to portlandme.indyvoter.org.As they look forward to organizing for the June primaries and local elections, Hiatt and Alfond said they hope Portland’s younger residents will donate to the league. Hiatt suggested giving up beer money one night.“We go to White Heart for a night and spend $40 bucks,” he said. “Maybe some of that money can be spent on the league instead.”Kate Bucklin can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 106 or kbucklin@theforecaster.net.