At-Large: James Cohen

Your Top Three Priorities

1. Consideration of an elected mayor
2. Consider reorganizing the School/City relationship
3. Consider a handful of election and public notice provisions

Please list prior applicable experience:

-- Portland City Council and Mayor. Chaired Council's Finance Committee; Redistricting Committee; and Metro Regional Coalition.
-- US Conference of Mayors, vice-chair, Community and Faith-Based Initiatives Task Force.
-- Portland Trails, President. North Deering Neighborhood Association, founding President.
-- Portland Chamber of Commerce, board member and chair of Regional Economic Development Committee.
-- Verrill Dana, LLP. Attorney specializing in government relations and mediation.

What do you hope to accomplish as part of the commission?

Evaluating the issue of an elected mayor is my priority. We need to gather details from other comparable cities and engage the public in a positive dialogue on this subject. As a former Mayor and City Councilor, as well as an active community volunteer, I can bring many personal experiences to bear on this issue.  Likewise, having served as chair of the Council's Finance Committee during a period of particular challenge with regard to school finances, the Commission needs to spend time considering whether our current division between City and School functions continues to make sense.

What do you see as issues within the current structure of city government?

We currently have a system of government that is stable but resistant to change. This may have worked well in the past, but it does not work as well in a dynamic, global world. Our city government has professional, competent managers, but by definition, they are not elected and therefore a step removed from direct public accountability. Our city has strong leaders, but our government does not provide authority to act except through study commissions.

What are you thoughts on the 1986 charter report? What prior issues would be the most helpful for the current Commission to consider?

This was an A-Z report that did not recommend an elected mayor. In my view, this charter commission should not repeat the A-Z approach of the 1984 commission, and it should stay focused on two issues: an elected mayor and the school/city relationship. These are the key issues of our time and this City. Depending on time, the commission can consider a small handful of election and public notice.

What other city charters have you examined? How would it inform your approach to analyzing our city’s charter?

I have interviewed many members of the public, city staffers, and elected officials in Portland. Through my service with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, I have spoken with mayors from around the county about their forms of government and Portland's current system, and I have spoken with mayors and elected officials in other communities in Maine. There are pluses and minuses to changing our mayoral system or city/school organization, but these other systems provide valuable insights into how Portland should organize its government.

Would you support an elected mayor? If no, why not?

For years, I did not support an elected mayor. I felt it was "not broke, so don't fix it." However, after 6 years on the City Council, tenure as mayor, and many conversations with business and community leaders, I believe our system is broke and needs to be fixed. I will of course continue to keep an open mind, but I have been hearing stronger arguments in favor of directly electing our Mayor. Such a step would better engage the public in the City's direction, create more accountability, allow for a sustained vision, and better allow our City to respond to changing times.

What parts of the current city charter do you feel are antiquated?

My focus is on the issue of an elected mayor and the city/school relationship. I know from speaking with officials in the city clerk's office and corporation council's office that there are several outdated provisions regarding election dates, public notice, financing, and the like, and if there is time, I am open to looking at these issues. However, I would prefer that we spend our time on the two key issues.

Would you consider re-districting the City of Portland? Why and how?

We redistrict the city with every census, and I chaired the committee that undertook the last redistricting. We have changed our city's polling places regularly, and I helped spearhead the formation of a committee this fall that considered further changes. I support the current mix of district and at-large councilors because it provides a balance between city-wide and neighborhood interests, and I would not favor any other than modest changes to this basic framework.

Would you modify the current relationship between the school committee and city council?

As former chair of the Council's Finance Committee, I authored a Plan for Sustainable Educational Quality. This plan would have created efficiencies between the city and schools, but institutional barriers prevented its implementation. If we want quality schools we can afford, this needs to change.

What role do you think the charter commission should play to educate the public on changes made to the city charter?

Portland people care deeply about their government and their schools, but we are all pulled in many different directions that prevent many citizens from being actively engaged. For this Commission to succeed, public input is critical. As Mayor, my theme was "partnerships" because I believed that, only by coming together, could we develop effective policy. As a mediator, I continue to believe that good process will help achieve good results.

What role is the charter commission for public engagement during the process of re-examining the charter?

In addition to the points above, Commission meetings need to be well-advertised, periodically meet in different neighborhoods, and allow for public comment. At the point where the Commission may have specific recommendations, those recommendations need to be fully disseminated to the public, other stakeholder groups, and allow for full public comment.

What else would you like to add?

Our form of government has worked for the majority of the prior century, but times are changing and we need to step back and consider wiether our government should change as well. I am excited about the opportunity to be part of this Charter review process in the city where I grew up and am raising a family.