Portland, ME: More than 200 people from Maine's real estate and development community gathered at USM's Hannaford Hall on September 16 for the Maine Real Estate & Development Association's 2026 Fall Conference. The program featured individual, moderated conversations with Maine's three gubernatorial candidates: Republican nominee Bobby Charles, Independent candidate Rick Bennett, and Democratic nominee Hannah Pingree.
MEREDA Public Policy Committee Chair Jason Howe moderated each conversation. The candidates outlined their broader priorities and answered questions about housing affordability, property taxes, regulation, development, infrastructure, manufactured housing, and other policies affecting Maine's commercial and residential real estate industry.
Charles emphasized reducing regulatory barriers and lowering taxes and energy costs. Bennett focused on speeding project approvals and removing duplicative reviews. Pingree discussed building on existing housing programs and shortening state permitting timelines.
“Today's conversation was an important opportunity for Maine's real estate community to hear directly from all three gubernatorial candidates about the issues that will shape our state's future. Housing, affordability, property taxes, economic development, infrastructure and the ability to responsibly develop our communities are not partisan issues—they are Maine issues. Bringing all three candidates to the same room allowed our members to listen and better understand how each candidate approaches these challenges. As an organization representing the people who build, finance, develop and manage Maine's communities, MEREDA believes it is critical that our industry be part of these conversations. We appreciate all three candidates for participating and for engaging directly with the people who are working every day to move Maine forward.”
— Jennifer Small, President, MEREDA
The morning began with an economic forecast from Kenneth J. Entenmann, Chief Economist and Chief Investment Officer at NBT Bank. His presentation provided economic context for the candidate discussions that followed.
Event sponsors included NBT Bank, Preti Flaherty, Albin Randall & Bennett, Pierce Atwood, Evernorth, Efficiency Maine, Recovery Insurance Adjusters, Norway Savings Bank, Mainebiz, and News Radio WGAN.
Event photos can be accessed here.
