Where do the candidates running to be governor of Maine stand when it comes to public education in our state? The public is invited to find out by attending a nonpartisan gubernatorial candidate forum on Monday, May 4, at Rowe Elementary School, to learn the candidates' positions on this important issue. This event, to be moderated by Deering High School students, is an opportunity to hear the candidates’ priorities and better understand how their plans could impact students, families, and schools.

A meet-and-greet starts at 5:30 p.m., and the candidate forum will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Students in Deering’s Model UN Club will moderate the proceedings. The students will lead the dialogue, asking tough questions and providing vital context from Portland’s perspective. Learn more about the students’ involvement on the Deering website.

A total of 10 candidates have committed to participating in this Parent University forum, hosted by the Portland Public Schools. The confirmed participants are: Shenna Bellows, Ed Crockett, John Glowa, Derek Levasseur, Troy Jackson, David Jones, Angus King III, Hannah Pingree, Nirav Shah and Robert Wessels. The group includes five candidates running as Democrats in the June 9 primary election—Bellows, Jackson, King, Pingree and Shah—and two candidates running as Republicans in the primary on June 9—Jones and Wessels. The other three candidates, Crockett, Glowa and Levasseur, are running as Independents and will be on the ballot for the general election Nov. 3.

The Portland Public Schools’ Parent University regularly holds workshops and events to help empower parents to be more knowledgeable, confident, and active advocates for students. This candidate forum is a natural extension of the advocacy work PPS families have already begun through the Parent University Advocacy Series. Over the past several weeks, parents have been learning how public policy shapes our schools—from understanding school funding to building effective advocacy skills. This forum creates an opportunity for families not only to hear directly from gubernatorial candidates about their vision for public education, but also to continue strengthening parent voice in the decisions that impact students not just in Portland but across our state.

To ensure this event is accessible to all families, child care, interpretation services, and refreshments will be provided.