The Portland Daily Sun

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a citizens initiative designed to protect Portland’s parks will be allowed to appear on the June ballot.
In the ongoing dispute between the city and the Friends of Congress Square Park and its Protect Portland Parks subcommittee over the validity of the petition, the state’s highest court decided the citizens initiative is within its rights despite the city’s argument that it dealt with administrative and not legislative matters. The case will now be remanded to the Superior Court and a judge will decide on whether the city will be liable for any of the Friends’ attorney fees.

Last fall, EqualityMaine and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, or GLAD, collected nearly 105,000 signatures ahead of a possible ballot initiative in November 2012. Although the groups say they will wait until early 2012 to decide whether to proceed with another campaign, but there are signs that the effort may move ahead.
 
For one, demographics are starting to favor gay marriage. It’s no secret that younger voters tend to favor allowing same-sex couples to marry while older voters are more often against the practice.

Read the full story at The Portland Daily Sun.