Council Chair
Susan Hawes
Chaired the Bangor Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Committee, which recommended $641,000+ in funding to 16 organizations, then voted as a City Councilor to approve those very recommendations.
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 2019
Term Expires
November 2027
Conflict Classification
1
Direct Conflicts
(voted while seated)
0
Indirect Conflicts
(org benefited before/after term)
Organizational Ties
Bangor Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Committee
Chaired the committee (appointed April 2025)
Committee recommended $641,000+ in funding; Hawes then voted to approve it as a councilor
Beal University
Dean of Education and Allied Health Program Director (confirmed current per official City of Bangor bio, which states she 'is employed by Beal University as Dean of Education and Allied Health Program Director')
Maine School Board Association
Past president
American Association of Medical Assistants
Past president
Documented Conflict Details
Hawes chaired the Bangor Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Committee.
That committee recommended $641,000+ in funding to 16 organizations (March 2026).
Hawes then voted as a City Councilor to approve those very recommendations.
The committee included Jayson Hunt of Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, which received $115,976 in opioid funds.
A councilor should not vote to approve recommendations they personally authored and chaired.
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.
Hawes was re-elected in November 2024 and has served continuously since at least 2019. She chaired the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Committee (appointed April 2025) and then voted as a City Councilor to approve its own recommendations (March 2026) — both actions occurred while she was seated.
Required Action
Should have recused from the council vote approving opioid settlement fund recommendations; must ensure future committee/council dual roles are disclosed.
Conflict Level
How Hawes 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.
4
Yes
6
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.
Censure & Ethics Record
The following records document formal censures, ethics board findings, and ethics referrals involving this councilor. Censures are formal statements of disapproval voted by the full council. Ethics violations are findings by the independent Board of Ethics. Ethics referrals are council votes to send a matter to the board for review; outcome is noted where available.
Proposed ethics referral rejected — Hawes claimed she could unilaterally disband DEI advisory committee
Ethics board member Marc Eastman submitted a referral after Hawes stated during a Feb. 2, 2026 Government Operations Committee meeting that, as council chair, she had the power to disband the Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights without a council vote. The city's code does not grant the council chair this authority. The council voted unanimously to reject the referral, accepting Hawes's explanation that she 'misspoke.' Hawes later clarified: 'We didn't want to do that. I didn't want to repeal it.'
Bangor Daily News, March 31, 2026Sources & 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.
Confirms Hawes is employed by Beal University as Dean of Education and Allied Health Program Director (present tense, confirmed current)
Reports Hawes chairing the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Committee
Spectrum News Maine, March 2026
Reports $641,000+ in opioid settlement funds approved by council; Hawes voted to approve
Reports council rejected ethics referral against Hawes over DEI committee claim