April Fournier was inaugurated on December 7 as Portland’s first indigenous city councilor. She is a member of the Dine’ (Navajo) Nation, and currently works in early childhood education, managing special education, mental health and behavior support services. She is a member of the Portland Police Citizen Review Subcommittee and is an Emerge Maine Alumna. Fournier will serve as as an at-large city councilor. Fournier is the mother of four children, three who currently attend Portland Public Schools, and one recent graduate.
In July, when she announced her candidacy, Fournier said, “I am excited for the opportunity to bring a new voice to the council. I am energized and inspired by the community action taking place, but frustrated at the pace of change. I am committed to listening to our community members, working to understand their concerns, and using that insight to work with the council for improvements. I want our city to work better for all of our residents.