Portland City Council candidate opens up about criminal past

PORTLAND (WGME) -- One of the candidates for Portland City Council is opening up about her criminal past.

Layla Kargar is a small business owner, magazine publisher, and a community leader. She's also a convicted felon.

Voters will have to decide for themselves if that disqualifies her from serving on the city council.

“I had an addiction problem that led to criminal behavior,” Karger said,

Eight years ago she pleaded guilty to burglary and theft charges.

She says her past battles with addiction helped make her into the success she is now.

“Through my years of addiction that's where my grit and resilience came from. And I channeled that to business. And I know any other addict can do it,” she said.

Now focused on the future, Kargar is running for city council in district three.

“If City Hall needs anybody right now it's someone on the council that represents the disenfranchised, someone that represents the lowest of the low, the poverty, the addicts, the immigrants, the peoples that are not looked at when we talk about a work force crisis,” Kargar said.

Karger owns Portland Payments serves hundreds of local companies.

She also supports the immigrant community through low-income housing and her magazine, Incomer.

Affordable housing, a rewards program to feed children at schools, and support for immigrants are a few of points she hopes to highlight through her campaign.

“If they’re looking for a champion, for a fighter, for someone to speak up at every city hall meeting about District Three's problem, I’m the only candidate that will do it and will do it with conviction,” Kargar said.