City Councilor
Daniel Carson
Board Director of Food AND Medicine — self-disclosed in his official City of Bangor bio, which states he 'is a member of the Board of Directors at Food AND Medicine.' That organization received $336,342 in ARPA funds from the City Council. Also confirmed Political Director of the Communist Party of Maine (CPUSA) — documented by the Bangor Daily News, Peoples World (CPUSA's own publication), Communist Party of Maine's official Instagram, KeyWiki, and the NRCC.
How to read this profile
Red items are supported by primary-source documentation — city records, official bios, meeting minutes, or news reporting — showing a direct conflict between this councilor's vote and a personal, financial, or organizational interest. These are the strongest basis for a recusal requirement under Maine law and the Bangor Code of Ethics.
Amber items document network connections, endorsement relationships, and transparency concerns that are relevant public-interest context. They do not constitute confirmed direct conflicts but may warrant disclosure or further public scrutiny.
No conclusions regarding intent or wrongdoing are drawn by this report. All claims are linked to primary sources. Readers are encouraged to review those sources directly.
Council Term
Seated
November 2025
Term Expires
November 2028
Conflict Classification
2
Direct Conflicts
(voted while seated)
3
Indirect Conflicts
(org benefited before/after term)
Organizational Ties
Food AND Medicine
Board of Directors member (self-disclosed in official City of Bangor bio as of May 2026: 'is a member of the Board of Directors at Food AND Medicine')
Organization received $336,342 in ARPA funds from the City Council. Carson also describes himself as a 'labor and community organizer across the State of Maine' in his official city bio.
Communist Party of Maine (CPUSA)
Political Director
Confirmed by 5 independent sources: (1) Bangor Daily News, Oct. 1, 2025 — "A registered Democrat, Carson has also served in leadership roles for the Communist Party of Maine"; (2) Peoples World (CPUSA's own publication), Nov. 6, 2025 — explicitly identifies Carson as a CPUSA member elected to the Bangor City Council; (3) Communist Party of Maine Instagram (@communistpartyofmaine), May 8, 2023 — video of "Communist Party of Maine Political Director — Daniel Carson giving a speech"; (4) KeyWiki — lists Carson under CPUSA members who won elected office in November 2025; (5) NRCC press release, Nov. 7, 2025 — describes Carson as "a leader within the Communist Party of Maine."
Eastern Maine Labor Council (AFL-CIO)
Endorsed by; affiliated via Food AND Medicine board
United Auto Workers Region 9A
Endorsed by
American Postal Workers Union Local 536
Endorsed by
Documented Conflict Details
Carson sits on the Board of Directors of Food AND Medicine — self-disclosed in his official City of Bangor bio (bangormaine.gov, accessed May 2026), which states he 'is a member of the Board of Directors at Food AND Medicine, a Brewer based non-profit organization.' His official city bio also describes him as a 'labor and community organizer across the State of Maine.'
Food AND Medicine received $336,342 in ARPA funds from the City Council.
Food AND Medicine knocked on 3,000+ doors to get Carson elected.
Carson supported the Food and Medicine Workforce Navigator ARPA application.
Carson did NOT recuse himself from deliberations or votes on Food AND Medicine funding.
Carson sits on the Finance Committee, which allocated $34,000 in opioid settlement funds to Needlepoint Sanctuary — an organization he has documented ties to.
Carson has ties to 700 Mount Hope Ave community nonprofit hub, where Heart of Maine United Way and other progressive organizations are co-located.
Carson is the confirmed Political Director of the Communist Party of Maine (CPUSA). He ran on the Democratic ballot line but holds a formal leadership role in the CPUSA. Sources: Bangor Daily News (Oct. 1, 2025); Peoples World — CPUSA's own publication (Nov. 6, 2025); Communist Party of Maine Instagram (May 8, 2023); KeyWiki; NRCC (Nov. 7, 2025).
Documented Direct Conflicts
These items are supported by primary-source documentation showing a direct conflict between a councilor's vote and a personal, financial, or organizational interest. They constitute the strongest basis for a recusal requirement under Maine 30-A §2605 and Bangor Code of Ethics §33-11.
Finance Committee allocated $34,000 in opioid settlement funds to Needlepoint Sanctuary (March 2026) — Carson was seated and participated as a Finance Committee member.
Carson participated in council deliberations on Food AND Medicine matters after being seated in November 2025 — he was a sitting Board Director of the organization at the time.
Transparency Concerns
These items raise transparency questions or involve network connections that are relevant context. They do not constitute confirmed direct conflicts but may warrant disclosure or further public scrutiny.
Food AND Medicine received $75,000 in ARPA (Aug. 14, 2023) and $261,342 in ARPA (Sep. 25, 2023) — Carson was NOT yet on the council (seated Nov. 10, 2025); however, he was already a Board Director of the organization receiving those funds at the time those grants were awarded.
Food AND Medicine subsequently conducted a documented campaign operation — including 3,000+ door-knocks — supporting Carson's 2025 election. No public accounting separates the organization's ARPA-funded activities from its political activities during this period. Because money is fungible, public funds received by an organization can free up other resources for other purposes, including political activity. Whether this occurred is not established by this report; it is noted as a transparency concern warranting further scrutiny.
Carson was then seated in November 2025 and has participated in council deliberations and votes on matters where Food AND Medicine may be a recipient of future funding.
Required Action
Must recuse from all votes involving Food AND Medicine funding, contracts, or programming; must recuse from Finance Committee votes involving Needlepoint Sanctuary.
Conflict Level
How Carson Voted — Key 2026 Roll-Call Votes
The following are recorded roll-call votes from official Bangor City Council meeting minutes (January–May 2026). Only votes where the motion was formally doubted — triggering a recorded roll call — are shown. Routine items passed by unanimous consent without a roll call are not included.
7
Yes
3
No
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.
Authorizing City Manager to Negotiate with Sheridan Construction — Bangor Central Kitchen, 50 Cleveland St.
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.
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.
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.
Amending Code of City of Bangor to Create a Standing Committee on Homelessness
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.
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.
Moratorium Ordinance on Data Centers in the City of Bangor
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.
Source: Official Bangor City Council meeting minutes, January–May 2026 (bangormaine.gov/AgendaCenter). Full vote details on the Voting Records page.
Sources & Verification
All claims in this profile are drawn from the primary sources listed below. Where a source is marked as confirming current employment or role status, that status was verified as of the date shown above. Sources marked with a URL are publicly accessible. Sources without a URL are print or broadcast records on file.
Self-discloses Board Director role at Food AND Medicine
Bangor Daily News, Oct. 1, 2025
Confirms Carson served in leadership roles for the Communist Party of Maine
Peoples World (CPUSA publication), Nov. 6, 2025
Identifies Carson as a CPUSA member elected to Bangor City Council
Video of Carson speaking as Political Director
Confirms Food AND Medicine ARPA vote dates (Aug. 14 and Sep. 25, 2023) — before Carson was seated
Reports Food AND Medicine ARPA grants and campaign operation
WABI-TV, Nov. 10, 2025
Confirms Carson sworn in November 10, 2025