Community

• Mark, as a new person to Portage and the local political seen, managed to come in fifth in the November 7th, 2023 election, with less than 300 votes behind the fourth vote getter (2-year term). Given his campaign only started in mid-August after his 10th wedding anniversary, he managed to get his entire campaign together and place behind two incumbents, a life long Portage resident, and a candidate who was backed by those same two incumbents as well as the mayor (Link). The results of the election are telling of the strength behind his candidacy for those who learned about him and he thanks the 2,584 voters that supported him.

• City Council is non-partisan, which is why Mark who leans center-Left, had a Treasurer who leans center-Right.

• Mark tried to do as much door to door and word of mouth outreach as possible.

• In the 2021 City election, over 10,000 people voted absentee and over 6,000 in person.

  • This means that absentee voters essentially will determine elections. If you identify with this candidate, please spread the word about this candidate throughout your Portage network!

• Visit the About page to look at the City Council meetings which Mark has brought community issues and concerns to City Council.

Issues

• Housing:

  • Balance high density/affordability with land use optimization, evaluating under utilized commercial areas and revising building ordinances

    • Mark knows that it may be cheaper for developers to clearcut a forest rather than deal with old buildings/land use, however, this does not mean that this is the right thing to do. Especially when we have old buildings and land sitting underutilized and derelict, not contributing optimally to our local economy.

• Education:

  • Relieving Haverhill community burdens due to school renovations through engaging the Haverhill community, Portage Board of Education, Portage Public Schools, and the communities around the other elementary schools set to be renovated

  • Job training/Apprenticeships for HS students with partnership with local businesses

    • Help youth see a future career path for themselves.

    • Help youth build a resume with experience while still in school.

    • Help our talented you envision a future for themselves here.

• Transportation:

  • Bus routes enabling West-East transportation so people can get to work easier and commerce can flow better

  • Partner with businesses, Metro, surrounding municipalities, schools, local organizations for pooling resources so people can reliably get to-from work, kids can get to-from school and jobs, senior citizens can freely travel the area without having to worry about driver shortages or routes

• Business:

  • As a result of the prior three issues, relieve worker shortages across sectors and increase local commerce flow to small businesses

• Environment:

  • Keep Portage a “Natural Place to Move” by stabilizing our natural areas with adjustments to areas cleared for development, to protect our natural resources and community appeal

• Good Governance:

  • Improved transparency and partnerships with the community, businesses, and public sector entities

    • Candidate Campaign Finance Reports - Link