Every year at the Annual Meeting, one-half of the board is elected for a two-year term. Last year the board voted to add two seats, so in order to keep balance between odd and even year members, two new seats are added this spring, bringing the total number of individual board members to ten. The nominating committee is charged with recruiting a slate of candidates for election to be announced 30 days ahead of the annual meeting.
Here are the 2026 Candidates:
Susan McCloskey
Susan is a longtime resident of Bayside and charter member of the BNA board, first elected in 1999. She is board liaison to the Community Garden Team and the Trees & Greens Team, contributor to The Baysider which she previously served as editor, and dependable volunteer for the Citizens’ Trash Brigade, Events Team, and Monday Community Lunches. Susan lives on Parris Street in Bayside.
Rayyaan Hakizimana
Rayyaan is Operations Manager at Food For All Services, a family food pantry located on Parris Street in Bayside. He was appointed to the board of the BNA in 2026 to a non-resident seat vacated by Alex Landry last year. Now leading the BNA Welcome Team, Rayyaan has laid out a plan to help with Bayside branding and social media outreach. Rayyaan lives in Gorham, Maine.
Sarah Gauvin
Sarah lives on Hanover Street in Bayside and works as a program manager at Hope Acts, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving asylum seekers throughout Southern Maine. She was appointed to the BNA board in 2026 to fill the seat left by Deb Van Hoewyk’s passing last year. Sarah has been active in the city’s ESOL Collaborative group, and has 10+ years working for non-profits in administrative, program management, outreach, and volunteer roles.
Michael Hayes
Michael lives at the corner of Cumberland and Forest Avenue in Bayside and has been a neighborhood resident for over six years. He has been attending BNA board meetings in recent months and currently serves on the BNA Safe Streets Team, participating in last year’s Pedestrian Safety Focus Group, and the recently organized Portland Safe Streets Coalition. He also regularly attends and assists the Wayside Food Programs community lunches in the apartment complex where he resides.
Patrick Beacham
Patrick lives in Westbrook and works in Bayside as the property manager for Avesta Housing’s Pearl Place Apartments. He brings experience in communication, budgeting, financial analysis, political advocacy, and both journalistic and academic writing. Patrick is committed to serving the community, drawing on years of close ties and a deep investment in Bayside’s wellbeing and future.
Elections Process Summary:
- January 6 – Submissions for consideration by the nominating committee opened
- April 1 – Last day for submissions to the Nominating Committee
- April 2 – Nominating Committee announces the final slate of nominated candidates
- April 25 – Deadline to announce write-in candidacy
- May 2 – Annual Meeting – General Members who sign a membership form vote on board candidates
- May 5 – Regular monthly board meeting – Board selects its 4 officers and organizational seats
Per BNA bylaws, the ratio of individual board members not residing in Bayside shall not exceed 1/3. A full description of the nominating process can be found here: Nominating & Election Procedures and Policies.
Current Board of Directors
- Tom Blackburn – President
- Rob Sylvain – Vice President
- Colette Bouchard – Secretary
- Peter Markoe – Treasurer
- Susan McCloskey
- Jim Hall
- Rayyaan Hakizimana
- Sarah Gauvin
- Betsy Boyd – representing Portland Downtown
