Back to full profile

Bangor City Council · Conflict of Interest Transparency Report · May 2026

Joe Leonard

City Councilor · Term: June 2022 – November 2026

Conflict Level

CONFLICT — DISCLOSURE REQUIRED

Endorsed by Food AND Medicine, then voted to support BOTH of Food AND Medicine's ARPA applications totaling $336,342.

Last verified: May 16, 2026 · bangortransparency.com

Documented Organizational Ties

  • Food AND Medicine — Endorsed by; voted to support both their ARPA applications

    Organization received $336,342 in ARPA funds

  • Eastern Maine Labor Council — Endorsed by
  • City of Bangor Advisory Committee on Racial Equity — Former member
  • Downtown Parking Advisory Committee — Former member

2026 Roll-Call Vote Tally

7

Yes

3

No

0

Absent

0

Recused

10 recorded roll-call votes, Jan–May 2026. Only votes where a roll call was formally requested are shown.

Direct Conflicts Identified

  • Leonard was seated and voted to support Food AND Medicine ARPA applications (Gardens Program $75,000 on Aug. 14, 2023 and Workforce Navigator $261,342 on Sep. 25, 2023) while having received their endorsement.
  • Leonard was seated for the full period during which Food AND Medicine received $336,342 in ARPA funds from the city.

Full Vote Record — Key 2026 Roll-Call Votes

NO
Jan 28, 202626-050 (Motion to Postpone)FAILED 2–6

Authorizing City Manager to Negotiate with Sheridan Construction — Bangor Central Kitchen, 50 Cleveland St.

Motion to postpone failed. The item then passed on final vote 6-2 (Mallar and Hawes voting no). Walker was not yet seated — she was sworn in November 10, 2025, but this meeting was January 28, 2026. Deane was absent from the postponement vote.

YES
Jan 28, 202626-050 (Final Passage)PASSED 6–2

Authorizing City Manager to Negotiate with Sheridan Construction — Bangor Central Kitchen, 50 Cleveland St.

NO
Jan 28, 202626-058FAILED 0–8

Amending Land Development Code §165-13 — Remove Ohio Street and State Street from Minor Arterial; Add Ohio Street to Major Arterial Definition

Unanimous rejection. Multiple residents spoke in opposition.

YES
Mar 9, 202626-109PASSED 8–1

Authorizing Award of $641,297 in Opioid Settlement Funds

Walker sponsored this item and voted YES while employed by BARN. BARN did not receive opioid settlement funds in this round; the 16 recipients are listed in Attachment CO 26-109. However, Walker's employer operates in the same recovery services sector as the recipient organizations. No recusal or disclosure of her BARN employment is on record for this vote. Mallar was the sole dissenting vote.

YES
Mar 9, 202626-110PASSED 6–3

Directing Compliance with State Law 5 M.R.S. Ch. 337-E (Immigration) Effective Immediately

Government Operations Committee recommended passage 3-2. Directed City Manager to comply with state immigration law immediately, before the 90-day effective date.

YES
Mar 23, 202626-107PASSED 9–0

Amending Code of City of Bangor to Create a Standing Committee on Homelessness

NO
Apr 13, 202626-108FAILED 0–9

Authorizing Issuance of $75,000,000 General Obligation Bonds for Consolidated Parks and Recreation Facility (Subject to Voter Approval)

Unanimous rejection. Multiple residents spoke both for and against. The bond would have required voter approval.

YES
Apr 27, 202626-137REFERRED 6–3

Amending Chapter 257 (Sidewalks) §257-4 — Referral to Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights

Motion was to refer the ordinance to the Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights before final passage. The ordinance subsequently passed 9-0 on May 11, 2026.

YES
Apr 27, 202626-138PASSED 9–0

Moratorium Ordinance on Data Centers in the City of Bangor

YES
May 11, 202626-140PASSED 9–0

Amending Chapter 257 (Sidewalks) §257-4 — Final Passage of Sidewalk Storage/Obstruction Ordinance

Unanimous final passage after the ordinance was revised following referral to the Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights.

bangortransparency.com · Bangor City Council Conflict of Interest Transparency Report · May 2026

Sources: Official City of Bangor meeting minutes, ProPublica, WGME, BDN, WABI-TV

Required Action Under Bangor Code of Ethics

Should disclose Food AND Medicine endorsement whenever voting on Food AND Medicine funding; consider recusal.

This card summarizes publicly documented information. All claims are sourced from primary records. To submit a correction with supporting documentation, visit bangortransparency.com/corrections. Last verified: May 16, 2026.