Randy Billings

Portland Press Herald

Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been covering Portland City Hall for the Press Herald since 2012. His beat touches on a wide range of topics, including immigration, homelessness, education, tourism, real estate development and the economy in Maine’s largest city. He has been a Portland-based journalist since 2005. A life-long Mainer who loves the outdoors, Randy is also a bassist who brews his own beer at his North Yarmouth home, where he lives with his wife and two children.

Latest

Published
October 22, 2018

Homeless shelter an issue for District 1 councilor and challenger

The city has proposed building a 200-bed facility at the city-owned Barron Center.
Published
October 21, 2018

Portlanders will vote on requiring more campaign finance transparency

The sponsor of the change wants to make it easier to see who is funding campaigns and how the money is spent in early autumn ‘when it really matters.’
Published
October 19, 2018

Portland’s growth spurs city to take new look at building convention center

A dramatic increase in hotel space has created demand for a center that could handle as many as 3,000 people, City Manager Jon Jennings says.
Published
October 19, 2018

Candidates decry national Realtors group’s unusual bid to sway Portland election

The National Association of Realtors Fund has spent $7,300 to support a city councilor facing a challenger who previously has advocated for rent control.
Published
October 17, 2018

Some balk at Portland’s move to tighten limits on short-term rentals

New requests are put on hold as Portland confronts fast growth and hits ‘the pause button on new non-owner-occupied’ units.
Published
October 10, 2018

Portland councilors to hold public hearing on ideas to tighten rules for short-term rentals

The city is considering a host of proposed changes designed to restrict the number of Airbnb-style rentals, which have gained popularity through home-sharing websites.
Published
October 9, 2018

House District 39: Opponent mounts no campaign against Michael Sylvester

Republican Peter Doyle’s name will appear on the ballot but he has not raised or spent money to challenge the incumbent.
Published
October 9, 2018

House District 36: Former Portland mayor seeks return to Legislature as foe keeps low profile

Michael Brennan lays out an ambitious and detailed legislative agenda, and challenger Samuel Ledue says he’s been too busy to campaign.
Published
October 7, 2018

Crystal Canney looks to unseat Benjamin Chipman for state Senate seat

District 27 covers part of Portland and the Casco Bay islands.
Published
October 3, 2018

Portland mayor wants voters to approve $7 million housing bond

The money could be leveraged to create more than 600 affordable units, Ethan Stimlng says, but some city councilors wonder if borrowing is the best approach.