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You know you've made it when ...

It's Election Day in Portland and The League office is humming with the sexy voices of ten volunteers making calls to Portland voters. It's a critical election for municipal seats, and The League proved its mettle this year.

PORTLAND IS CRACK'D AND THE LEAGUE IS
THE PUTTY TO FIX IT

So, here's the dope. The League hit a new zenith this year with its involvement in Election 2007. Hey, we know that in past years we may have been viewed as some radical punks, screaming into our megaphones and generally making noise, but not anymore.

Maybe the rubber really hit the road in 2006 when our endorsed candidates won THREE FOR THREE, changing the landscape of the Portland City Council. People took note.

Well, while some things got better in City Hall, other things went straight into the sh***er. For instance, in the past year, city councilors bungled an RFP process that would have led to the $100 million renovation of the Maine State Pier. It was a no-brainer - it should have cemented Portland's commitment to economic development and revitalized our waterfront. Duh - it's what we're known for.

Politics took over, though, and infighting, back room deals, and a general inability to compromise led to a complete stalemate in City Hall- what could have been a done deal months ago is now the victim of complete paralysis.

Meanwhile, just before school began this year for Portland kids, it was revealed that a budget shortfall in the MILLIONS OF DOLLARS would lead to enormous cuts - worse, it led to worry, confusion and anxiety for Portland's young people and parents. Real fuzzy math.

THE LEAGUE KNEW IT HAD TO DO SOMETHING, AND AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TO ELECT NEW LEADERS BEGAN

After our hyper democratic process for endorsing candidates was over, we kicked into high gear stumping for our endorsed City Council candidates John Anton, Jill Duson and Dan Skolnik, our School Committee endorsees Kate Snyder and Peter Eglinton, and our nod to Gary Libby for Water District.

A Voter Guide, posters, emails, canvassing and events were all a hit, and the attention we were getting started to make some people squirm, particularly supporters of an incumbent City Councilor who our support of John Anton just might unseat.

Hey - it's politics and sometimes it gets messy, but we NEVER thought that The League would be such a powerful player that opponents of Anton's candidacy would feel SO threatened that they'd call press conferences, post lawn signs and send out witch-hunt letters to almost every voter in Portland in defiance of the work of The League.

But that's just what they've done, creating a media blitz that we've stayed in front of, continually hammering back at powerful business people, community leaders and even a former mayor.

THROUGH IT ALL, WE'VE CONTINUED TO CHECK OUR HEADS

hero

And, we've kept our heads WAY above water as we've watched others sink. Yeah, there's stress in the office today, but it's a vibe we wouldn't change at all. This year, and particularly today, we know that we've come into our own.

It's a great day for Portland and a great day for the League.