Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Saco Mayor & City Council Election 2026
4 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
Last day of in-person absentee voting (Oct 29): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
City Council Ward 2
1 seatCity Council Ward 3
1 seat- Sandra L. GuayIncumbentSandra Guay is a land use attorney who was appointed Saco's Ward 3 city councilor in August 2026. She has been a land use attorney since 2002 and served on the Saco Planning Board for over a decade.2sourced
- John W. Shannon IIIJohn Shannon is the Youth Services Supervisor at McArthur Library in Biddeford and a Saco resident.2sourced
Voters choose a mayor citywide for a three-year term and one councilor each in Wards 2, 3 and 7. Ward 2 and Ward 7 terms are three years; the Ward 3 term is the one remaining year.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- Governor
- Rick Bennett · Independent
- Robert B. Charles · Republican
- Hannah M. Pingree · Democratic
- U.S. Senate
- Susan M. Collins · Republican
- Troy D. Jackson · Democratic
- U.S. HouseDistrict 1
- State SenateDistrict 31
- House of RepresentativesDistrict 129 (43% of Saco residents) · District 130 (43%) · District 126 (14%)
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
- Douglas EdwardsCity Councilor, Ward 12sourced
- William GayleCity Councilor, Ward 5; term ends December 20282sourced
Tricia HuotCity Councilor, Ward 62sourced
- Jeffrey OnnenCity Councilor, Ward 4; term ends December 20281sourced
Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.
What the next council decides
01Mobile home park rents and housing4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council enacted a mobile home park lot rent ordinance on Sept. 14, 2026, and approved a Housing Action Plan the same night.
What's on the tableHow the new rent rules are applied and changed, and what the next council funds and builds under the Housing Action Plan.
- The council enacted the Mobile Home Park Lot Rent Stabilization Ordinance on final reading by a 7-0 vote on Sept. 14, 2026. City of Saco · Sep 14, 2026
- The ordinance limits lot rent increases to no more than the most recent annual Consumer Price Index change plus 1%, or no more than 5%, and bars raises more than once a year. Spectrum News · Sep 15, 2026
- The council approved the Saco Housing Action Plan 7-0 on Sept. 14, 2026. City of Saco · Sep 14, 2026
- In May 2026 the council moved $300,000 of unassigned fund balance to a committed fund for affordable housing. City of Saco · May 11, 2026
02Smith-Stockman Connector2 sourced facts
Where it standsOn Aug. 3, 2026 the council approved Option C, a roadway and drainage build, and directed staff to take the next steps.
What's on the tableWhether and how the city funds and builds the connector between Smith Lane and Stockman Avenue.
- Staff presented three options: do nothing at no cost, drainage only at about $600,000, or roadway and drainage at about $1,100,000. City of Saco · Aug 3, 2026
- The council approved Option C by a 4-1 vote on Aug. 3, 2026. City of Saco · Aug 3, 2026
03Data centers2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council enacted a 61-day emergency prohibition on data centers on Aug. 3, 2026, to give the city time to update its code.
What's on the tableWhat permanent zoning and permitting rules, if any, Saco adopts for data centers.
- The council approved the emergency ordinance 5-0 on Aug. 3, 2026. City of Saco · Aug 3, 2026
- Staff described the purpose as providing time to update City Code relative to data centers. City of Saco · Aug 3, 2026
04Pepperell Park redesign2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council held a workshop on Sept. 14, 2026 on master plan options for Pepperell Park, with investment levels from $3.5 million to $9 million.
What's on the tableWhich Pepperell Park design the city adopts and how much it invests.
- The landscape architect presented three master plan options with levels of investment ranging from $3.5 million to $9 million. City of Saco · Sep 14, 2026
- The city's Parks and Recreation Director said the park was donated to the city in the early 1800s with restrictions on its uses. City of Saco · Sep 14, 2026
05City budget and surplus3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council adopted the FY27 municipal budget of $43,982,264 on May 11, 2026, and school budget validation passed at the June 9 referendum.
What's on the tableThe FY28 municipal budget and how surplus funds are used.
- The adopted FY27 municipal budget is a 10.1% increase from FY26, driven by personnel costs. City of Saco · May 15, 2026
- The school budget validation referendum passed on June 9, 2026, with 3,700 yes votes and 1,046 no votes. City of Saco · Jun 10, 2026
- In May 2026 the council also moved $200,000 of unassigned fund balance to a committed fund for active transport projects. City of Saco · May 11, 2026
1 note on these statements
Jodi L. MacPhail is unopposed for mayor and Nathan D. Johnston is unopposed in Ward 7 on the city's list of qualified candidates. City of Saco · Sep 17, 2026
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. How should Saco handle rent increases at mobile home parks?
2. How should Saco use surplus fund balance?
Key dates
- In-person absentee voting begins, City HallCity of Saco · Sep 17, 2026Oct 5, 2026
- Last day of in-person absentee votingCity of SacoOct 29, 2026
- Election Day, polls open 7 AM to 8 PM at Thornton Academy's Linnell GymnasiumCity of SacoNov 3, 2026
The seat math
4 stay (not up this year): Douglas Edwards, William Gayle, Tricia Huot, Jeffrey Onnen4 on this ballot
7 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.
- The City of Saco has a mayor and seven city councilors, one representing each of the seven wards. City of Saco
- Saco has a mayor-council-manager form of government, and the mayor and council appoint the City Administrator. City of Saco
- The council rules say the mayor votes to break a tie vote. City of Saco
- The mayoral term on this ballot runs from Dec. 7, 2026 to Dec. 3, 2029. City of Saco · Aug 25, 2026
- The Ward 3 seat is on the ballot for the remainder of a term ending Dec. 6, 2027. City of Saco · Aug 12, 2026
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