By Carol McCracken (Post # 1,014)

Former State Senator Michael F. Brennan (5,240 votes) took an early lead in Portland’s first mayoral race last night in many years and never relinquished that lead as a11 12 precints reported in to Room 209 at City Hall. Taking second place was Ethan K. Strimling (4,390 votes) and in third place was the current mayor Nicholas M. Mavodones, Jr., 2,938.

To win the mayoral race, the winning candidate must get 50% plus 1% of all ballots cast. Since that did not happen last night, the process of eliminating candidates will begin tomorrow morning at 8 am, city hall in the State of Maine Room room. It is hoped that the candidate with a majority will be announced by mid-afternoon. The process is open to the public. The results will not be official until the city clerk makes that determination.

The rest of the 15 candidates followed in this order: Councilor David A. Marshall, 1,516; Jed Rathband, 1,394; Jill C. Duson, 834; Markos S. Miller, 718 votes; Richard A. Dodge, 670; Christopher L. Vail 403; Peter G. Bryant, 367; Ralph C. Carmona, 317; John Eder, 271; Charles E. Bragdon, 213 votes; Hamza A. Haadoow, 185; and Jodie L. Lapchick, 127.

On the Cumberland County Civic Center rennovation question, voters supported the measure with 10,672 votes to 5,238 opposed to it. On the State Referendum Question No. 1, 12,544 people voted in favor of same day voter registration and only 4,083 in Portland opposed the measure. Question 2 to allow slot machines at harness racing track in Biddeford, 9,762 opposed it and 6,817 voted in favor of it.

Often a place where political candidates gather to watch the returns, only Hill resident Markos Miller and his campaign manager showed up for about 30 minutes before going to Mama’s Crow Bar to meet his supporters. East Bayside resident Jed Ratband stopped by briefly to watch the results coming in.