Kate Snyder
89th Mayor of Portland
In office
December 2, 2019 – December 4, 2023
Preceded byEthan Strimling
Succeeded byMark Dion
Personal details
Born1970 (age 53–54)
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
EducationSkidmore College (BA)
University of Southern Maine (MPP)
WebsiteCampaign website

Katherine Merchant Snyder (born 1970) is an American politician who served as Mayor of Portland, Maine from 2019 until 2023. Prior to her election as mayor, she served as executive director of the Portland Education Foundation, a non-profit which raised funds for Portland Public Schools.[1]

Snyder also served on the Portland Board of Education from 2007-2013, including time as chair. From 2009 to 2011, Snyder served as an executive director of the Maine Department of Corrections.[2]

In the 2019 Portland, Maine mayoral election. Snyder defeated incumbent Ethan Strimling and two other challengers, winning each of the city's 12 districts and earning 62% of the overall vote.[3]

In September 2022, Snyder announced that she would not seek re-election to a second term in office in 2023.[4][5]

Campaign

During her campaign for mayor, Snyder emphasized her skills as a collaborative leader and consensus builder, someone focused on putting public service ahead of personal ambition.[6] On October 17, 2019, she received the endorsement of the Portland Press Herald, which pointed to what they described as her record of fiscal responsibility and strong communication while serving on the School Board during the Great Recession and underscored the need for change in Portland city leadership, which had been characterized by ongoing tension between the sitting mayor, city councilors, and the City Manager.[3][7] She was viewed as an ally of city manager Jon Jennings, "whose vocal opposition to Strimling's re-election all but functioned as an endorsement of his most competitive challengers."[8] Among her policies, she opposed a $15 municipal minimum wage, supported the elimination of fares "for the city's METRO bus system for middle-and high school students," and sought to give long-term leases of city property to housing developers committed to building affordable housing.[8][9]

Mayor

When former New York City mayor and billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg campaigned in Portland in January 2020 during the 2020 Democratic primary, Snyder was among those he spoke with during a campaign stop at Becky's Diner. It was unclear whether this meeting was an official endorsement.[10] In June 2020 Portland Black Lives Matter activists released demands after days of protesting including the dismissal of city manager Jon Jennings, to which Snyder responded by declaring "The city manager has my full support."[11][12] In June 2020 Snyder sought permission from the city council to allow private citizens to paint a Black Lives Matter mural in front of Portland City Hall.[13] In September, Snyder appointed 13 members to a Racial Equity Steering Committee.[14] In January 2021, after many Portland residents received threatening, homophobic letters, Snyder joined the city council in urging residents to fly the Pride flag.[15] In response to a growing homeless population, Snyder set up a listening session with the public to discuss the crisis.[16]

Personal life

Snyder earned her B.A. from Skidmore College in New York and a M.A. in public policy and management from the Muskie School at the University of Southern Maine as well as a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Applied Research and Evaluation Methods. She is married, lives in the city's Oakdale neighborhood, and has 3 children who were educated in the Portland Public Schools system.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Kate Snyder - Portland Education Foundation". The Maine Mag. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  2. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-snyder-49807b44/
  3. 1 2 Billings, Randy (6 November 2019). "Kate Snyder wins heated race for Portland mayor, unseating incumbent Ethan Strimling". Press Herald. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  4. ↑ Ohm, Rachel (12 September 2022). "Portland Mayor Kate Snyder won't seek reelection in 2023". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  5. ↑ Hirschkorn, Phil (13 September 2022). "Portland mayor opts out of second term, will campaign to preserve current system of government". WMTW. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  6. ↑ Randy BillingsStaff Writer (2019-10-09). "Kate Snyder says she wants to put service ahead of ambition as Portland mayor". Press Herald. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  7. ↑ The Editorial Board (2019-10-17). "Our Endorsement: Kate Snyder is our choice for Portland mayor". Press Herald. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  8. 1 2 Schroeder, Nick (5 November 2019). "Kate Snyder unseats Ethan Strimling in Portland mayoral race". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  9. ↑ Zeli, Anthony (10 June 2019). "Kate Snyder: Mayor as Steward". The West End News.
  10. ↑ Miller, Kevin (27 January 2020). "Mike Bloomberg campaigns in Maine with eye toward Super Tuesday primaries". Press Herald. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  11. ↑ "Black Lives Matter calls for the dismissal of Portland city manager". Beacon. 6 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "Portland city council members back city manager after BLM organizers call for his removal". newscentermaine.com.
  13. ↑ Hoey, Dennis (30 June 2020). "Portland mayor supports painting Black Lives Matter mural on Congress Street". Press Herald.
  14. ↑ "Portland Mayor appoints working group for 13 member Racial Equity Steering Committee". 10 September 2020.
  15. ↑ Murphy, Edward D. (9 January 2021). "Portland council urges residents to fly pride flags in response to threatening letters". Press Herald.
  16. ↑ https://www.pressherald.com/2023/06/05/portland-city-council-postpones-budget-vote-in-hopes-of-getting-general-assistance-relief/
  17. ↑ Billings, Randy (26 March 2019). "Former school board chair announces run for Portland mayor". Press Herald. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
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