April Fournier (Portland City Council, At-Large, Maine, candidate 2023)

April Fournier (Democratic Party) ran for election to Portland City Council, At-Large in Maine on November 7, 2023.^[1]

Elections

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

April Fournier completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fournier's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Diné, a citizen of the Navajo Nation. I use she/her pronouns and am a mom, an educator, an advocate and a voice for my community.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Housing is a Human Right, we have to ensure that we are building more housing for our community that is accessible and affordable. We are in the middle of a national housing crisis. We must create stability for homeowners and renters, and urgently explore all options to create more housing units.
Everyone Deserves Dignity and a Home, we have to ensure to that everyone in our community can find housing, wellness and stability. The housing crisis and COVID-19 have pushed a record number of people into homelessness, and it is straining our city’s resources. We must expand our ability to move our neighbors out of tents and temporary shelters and into transitional and permanent housing. We must also increase participation from surrounding communities, and urgently strengthen collaboration between our city, state and federal governments. It’s nearly impossible for people who live in constant poverty, who don’t have stable access to food or housing or healthcare, to get out of that situation.
Climate Change is Real, we need to ensure that stability and climate impact are part of every conversation. We are living through a climate emergency and we must act. Portland should be a leader in climate action. We must make climate work accessible to all and part of every policy decision we make as a city.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As the current chair of Health, Human Services and Public Safety I am focused on trying to improve our shelter system to remove barriers for individuals experiencing homelessness to access them. As a member of the Legislative Committee I have been focused on building relationships with our State Delegation to ensure that state policy aligns with our values on the council. As a parent and educator I am dedicated to ensuring that our public schools are funded adequately and have the support they need to serve all families in our city.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Advance Native Political Leadership, Run for Something

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was a child care attendant at a local gym. My dad worked out at that gym and told the owner that I had a lot of babysitting experience and was very responsible. I was able to then care for the children of the members as they worked out. I worked there for about a year before moving on to work at a local coffee house.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember when the space shuttle Challenger exploded. I was in first grade and I remember all day at school we learned about the history of space travel and that a teacher was going to be on the shuttle for the first time. I remember that was a big deal because she was from New England and everyone was so proud. I remember the adults being very sad and not really understanding what happened. When I got to my after care that day and we watched the news, I couldn't believe what I saw. I was six years old.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My mom is my biggest inspiration and influence. She has demonstrated love, patience, resilience, kindness and generosity all of her life. She was taken from the Navajo Reservation when she was four and given to White parents and grew up in a community that was not her own. Though she endured many challenges she continued to find the best in people, situations and outcomes. She showed me how we treat people and how we also stand up for ourselves.

How important is it to involve residents in the government’s decision-making process? What plans do you have regarding resident involvement in this process?

Shared governance is the key to creating a truly reflective democracy. Encouraging residents to participate in public comment, board and committee service, and public surveys is key to understanding the larger community experience. It's not enough to just say "you're invited", we need to be directive and inclusive in our asks. Inviting individuals with lived experience into specific spaces is one way to create those connections. Ensuring that public spaces are safe for everyone is another way to create more connections. Keeping access to our meetings and ourselves as public officials is very important to me.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.