Are You Running for Local Office?
Candidates for Ellsworth City Council, School Board, or the Library Board of Trustees are encouraged to contact Heart of Ellsworth to learn more about participating in the 2026 Meet the Candidates program.
New for 2026: Expanding the Conversation
Meet the Candidates is growing this year to create more opportunities for Ellsworth residents to connect with the people seeking local office.
The October 13th event at The Grand will remain focused on candidates for Ellsworth City Council, with a moderated forum designed to help voters learn more about the candidates and the issues shaping our city.
A second, informal community gathering will invite candidates for the Ellsworth School Board and the Ellsworth Public Library Board of Trustees to meet residents in a more conversational setting. The gathering is planned for Wednesday, October 21, at the Ellsworth Public Library. Additional details will be shared after the final candidate list is confirmed.
Meet the Candidates for Ellsworth City Council
Meet the Candidates is an annual, nonpartisan event that provides an educational platform for the voting residents of Ellsworth. All candidates running for a seat on the Ellsworth City Council are encouraged to participate. Events like this raise awareness of local issues and connect community members to participate in our local democracy. Meet the Candidates 2026 is brought to you by the City of Ellsworth and produced in partnership with The Ellsworth American and Heart of Ellsworth.
We’ll meet you and Ellsworth’s city council candidates at The Grand Theater on Tuesday, October 13th, 2026 at 6:30 PM ET!
Watch the live stream or recording
You can watch Meet the Candidates live or on your way to the polls! Head to the City of Ellsworth’s YouTube channel to watch the forum live or later.
Submit a question!
We encourage Ellsworth residents and community members to submit questions ahead of the event for possible inclusion in the forum. Submit your questions online (news@ellsworthamerican.com) or on an index card at the event.
“Thank you for sponsoring this. It helped me (and others) reach an informed decision!”
Meet the Candidates poster, designed by Rachel Yves, featuring “The Singing Flag” painting by Joy Halstead, part of the City of Ellsworth's permanent art collection.
Ellsworth City Council Chambers: Mural by artist Philip Frey, Photo by Nate Burckhard
The 2026 Ellsworth City Council Candidates
The October 13, 2026 conversation will include candidates running for two Ellsworth City Council seats set to expire in November 2029. The public forum will be moderated by Cyndi Wood, Managing Editor of The Ellsworth American. The candidates will be announced at a later date.
