The League of Young Voters works to keep Portland’s anti-fun agenda at bay

By Avery Yale Kamila

2007-10-30

Hemp milk is probably not the top drink that comes to mind when you think campaign party. Maybe a glass of brandy, a straight martini or, better yet, a good old gin and tonic. But hemp milk was the drink of choice at a recent meet-and-greet hosted by the League of Young Voters at Green Tree Clothing (a hemp fashion boutique, which explains the milk) to introduce youthful voters in Portland to the local candidates endorsed by the organization.

Sure, Gritty’s beer and a few bottles of wine were consumed by the crowd of 20- and 30-somethings too. But the presence of the hemp milk (in chocolate, vanilla and original varieties) is a prime example of how the League sets itself apart from politics as usual.

“We have to go to where people are and talk to them,” says Justin Alfond, 32, director of the League’s Maine chapter. “We’re tabling at SPACE all the time, we’re at Bubba’s, we’re doing pub crawls. Young people have so many options to do, whether it’s our jobs, our social lives, going to music events or sitting at our computers. It’s hard to get our attention.”

By going to the places young people hang out, coupled with a mission of making local politics “relevant, positive and fun,” the League has gotten people’s attention — and had a noticeable impact on the political make-up of the city in the process. People in the under 40 crowd now sit on the council, school committee and various boards – which is a new occurrence, even though Portland is dominated by renters and 45% of its population is between the ages of 20 and 44, according to the most recent census.

“Young people are so frustrated,” Alfond says. “It started with what we call the anti-fun agenda the city council was pushing with the barstool tax.”

This conversation (about hiking bar fees in an effort to reduce their number in the Old Port) began to change after the League helped activists Kevin Donoghue and David Marshall (who were 27 and 28 at the time) get elected to the Portland City Council last fall. The League is hoping for a repeat performance this Nov. 6.

Politics, League style

The organization arrived in Portland in 2004 and since then has amassed 6,700 names on its email list. In a given year, roughly 700 people will volunteer for the League, doing things like staffing phone banks, knocking on doors and creating the yearly voter guide. As a national group, the League also maintains offices in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New Mexico.

Portland doesn’t track voter trends by age, but according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement, the youth voter turnout in Maine in 2006 was up 8% over 2000. Alfond says 1,100 new voters showed up at Portland’s polling places.

“It’s so easy for people in my generation to think the one vote, one voice is too small,” says Carlin Whitehouse, 28, who has been volunteering with the League for the past year. “But when you’re focusing on local politics, the League has shown it does matter. We’re so used to seeing white-haired, heavy-jowled politicos on TV, and the League’s really changing that atmosphere.”

Melanie Horton, 25, says her attraction to the League of Young Voters is equal parts self improvement and city improvement.

“I feel like for me they worked with me to figure out what my talents are,” Horton says. “I’d started going to other organizations, but I didn’t feel engaged. They’d asked me to go table. But they didn’t seem concerned about me getting something out of it.”

Both Whitehouse and Horton said the welcoming, nonpartisan atmosphere at the League helped to encourage their involvement.

“Once I got to one of the meetings it wasn’t a group of anarchists sitting around bitching about things,” Whitehouse says. “They’re really solid in their information and their education.”

What youthful Portland wants

People in their 20s and 30s flock to Portland because of the nightlife and culture, but these same folks often feel the city’s old guard leaders don’t do enough to support this vibrant scene. Horton says when canvassing or working the phone, she hears young people talk about the lack of affordable housing, the absence of bike and pedestrian-friendly transportation policies and the stagnant job market for college grads. All are issues the League’s endorsed candidates will champion, if elected.

“People don’t feel like they’re heard,” Whitehouse says. “And I’m talking all ages and all walks of life.”

The League, however, is being heard. It scored big points when the Opportunity Maine bill passed the Legislature earlier this year. The legislation gives a tax credit to help Maine students pay back their loans. League volunteers were a critical part of the effort to get it passed.

This fall more than 300 people showed up for a League fundraiser honoring Portland’s social entrepreneurs. The League’s website describes the attendees as everyone from the Portland Regional Chamber to the Dyke March organizers.

When asked about how the organization has been able to get so many time-strapped young people involved and energized, Alfond says it’s because the organization is doing something few other groups are doing: Reaching out to young people.

“The biggest reason why a young person doesn’t get involved in politics is because they haven’t been asked,” he says. “It’s so simple.”

So considered yourself asked. (Even though you didn’t get any hemp milk.)