Lewiston-Auburn Candidate Profiles 2015

7/17/2019 Lewiston-Auburn Candidate Profiles 2015

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able of ContentsUpcoming Events, Election 2015............................................3

Auburn voter information.......................................................4

Polling Places........................................................................4

Absentee Ballots...................................................................4

Open Seats............................................................................4

Auburn Candidate rofiles.....................................................5

Mayoral Candidates..............................................................5

Jonathan LaBonte............................................................5

Peter Letourneau.............................................................7

Cit! Council Candidates.........................................................."

City Council ard !............................................................."

Matthe# Leonard............................................................"

Ja$es Pross...................................................................!%

City Council ard &...........................................................!'

(obert ). Stone.............................................................!'

City Council ard '...........................................................!4

Andre# ). *itus............................................................!4

City Council ard 4...........................................................!5

+rnestine M. ,ilbert .....................................................!5

City Council ard 5...........................................................!-Leroy al er.................................................................!-

City Council At/large..........................................................!7

,rady Burns..................................................................!7

Belinda ,erry................................................................!"

(obert C. Mennealy......................................................&&

(obert A. Se0igny.........................................................&'

)a0id C. 1oung.............................................................&4

#c$ool Committee Candidates..............................................25School Co$$ittee ard !..................................................&5

School Co$$ittee ard &..................................................&5

Bonnie 2ayes................................................................&5

School Co$$ittee ard '..................................................&5

*ho$as M. 3endall.......................................................&5

School Co$$ittee ard 4..................................................&5

*a$$y L. eilson.........................................................&5

School Co$$ittee ard 5..................................................&-

)aniel . Poisson...........................................................&-

School Co$$ittee At/large................................................&7Brent M. Bilodeau.........................................................&7

John B. Carney..............................................................&7

aith A. ontaine...........................................................&"

La#rence B. Pelletier....................................................&6

%e&iston voter information...................................................31

Polling Places.....................................................................'!

Absentee Ballots.................................................................'!

Open Seats..........................................................................'!

%e&iston Candidate rofiles.................................................32

Mayoral Candidates............................................................'&

Ben a$in . Chin.........................................................'&

Lu e ). Jensen..............................................................''

(obert +. Macdonald....................................................'4

Stephen J. Morgan.........................................................'5

Charles Arthur Soule.....................................................'-

City Council ard !...........................................................'7

Leslie *. )ubois............................................................'7

Ja$es J. Lysen...............................................................'"

City Council ard &...........................................................4%

*i$othy J. La oie..........................................................4%

Marc (. (oy..................................................................4!

City Council ard '...........................................................4'

8sobel Calder#ood Moiles............................................4'

City Council ard 4...........................................................44

Shane Bouchard............................................................44City Council ard 5...........................................................44

3risten S. Cloutier.........................................................44

Blaine B. Linton............................................................4-

City Council ard -...........................................................47

Joline Landry Bea$......................................................47

Stephen . Miller...........................................................4"

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Brian )ale ood...........................................................46

City Council ard 7...........................................................5%

3ristine +lise 3ittridge.................................................5%

Michael (. Lachance.....................................................5!

#c$ool Committee Candidates..............................................52

School Co$$ittee At/large................................................5&

John *. Butler Jr............................................................5&

Megan ). Par s.............................................................5'

School Co$$ittee ard !..................................................54

Linda M. Scott...............................................................54

School Co$$ittee ard &..................................................54

Paul (. St. Pierre...........................................................54

School Co$$ittee ard '..................................................54

rancis ,agnon.............................................................54

School Co$$ittee ard 4..................................................5-

Ja$es (. 2andy.............................................................5-

Ben a$in J. Martin........................................................5"

School Co$$ittee ard 5..................................................56

Ja$a Aden Moha$ed....................................................56

(ichard L. hite...........................................................56

School Co$$ittee ard -..................................................-%

)a#n 2artill..................................................................-%

Matthe# Paul (oy.........................................................-!

School Co$$itte ard 7....................................................-&*ina 2utchinson............................................................-&

*ho$as P. Shannon.......................................................-4

Androscoggin Count!............................................................'5

(e9erendu$ o. !: County Charter A$end$ent...............-5

#tate (allot )uestions............................................................'5

;uestion !: Maine Clean +lections...................................-5

;uestion &: <!5 Million Bond= lo# inco$e senior housing

............................................................................................-5;uestion ': <"5 $illion bond= transportation..................-5

Upcoming events, Election 2015

Absentee ballots a0ailable:............................... riday= Oct. &= online= Le#iston City 2all > Auburn 2all

Sun Journal Mayoral oru$.................... - p.$.Monday= Oct. 5= Callahan 2all= Le#iston Public Library

Aub. Mayor Jonathan LaBonte 9oru$................................. - p.$. ednesday= Oct. 7= 2ilton ,arden 8nn1PLAA Auburn Candidate oru$..................................................................5 p.$. Oct. &%= Auburn 2all

1PLAA Le#iston Candidate oru$.....................................................5 p.$. Oct. &&= Le#iston City 2all

+arly ?oting 9or Le#iston residents..................................Oct. &-/&6= botto$ 9loor o9 Le#iston City 2all

Last day to re@uest Absentee ballots.................................................................................................Oct. &6

?oting day...........................................................................................................................*uesday= o0. '

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http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl

http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl



Auburn voter information

Polling Placesard !: ashburn School '5 La e Auburn A0e.ard &: Auburn Middle School '" alcon )r.ard ': Auburn 2all -% Court St.ard 4: air0ie# School '67 Minot A0e.ard 5: Sher#ood 2eights '& Sher#ood )r.

Absentee BallotsCall or 0isit the City Cler s o99ice in Auburn 2all to register 9or an absentee ballot or go the city s #ebsite=###.auburn$aine.go0. Ballots can be re@uested until Oct. &6= &%!5 and $ust be returned by " p.$. o0. '.Contact City Cler : Sue Cle$ents/)allaire= sdallaire auburn$aine .go0 or &%7 '''/--%!= 9or $orein9or$ation.

Open eats

Mayor Jonathan LaBontePeter Letourneau

City Council Ward 1 Matthew LeonardJames F. Pross

School Committee Ward 1 No Candidates

City Council Ward 2 Robert D. Stone School Committee Ward 2 Bonnie Hayes

City Council Ward 3 Andrew D. Titus School Committee Ward 3 Thomas M. enda!!City Council Ward 4 "rnestine M. #i!bert School Committee Ward 4 Tammy L. Nei!son

City Council Ward 5 Leroy $a!%er School Committee Ward 5 Danie! F. Poisson

City Council At large&two seats'

#rady R. BurnsBe!inda #erryRobert C. Mennea!yRobert A. Se(i)nyDa(id C. *oun)

School Committee At large&two seats'

Brent M. Bi!odeauJohn B. CarneyFaith A. FontaineLawren+e B. Pe!!etier

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mailto:[email protected]








Auburn Can!i!ate Profiles"a#oral Can!i!ates

Jonathan LaBonte and Peter Letourneau are running for Auburn mayor.

$onat%an &aBonte

Email address* labonte%" g$ail.co$

+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$

onathanplabonte

-t$er social media###. onathanlabonte.co$D *#itter: $ayorlabonte

-ccupation or primar! source of income*)irector= ,o0ernorEs O99ice o9 Policy andManage$ent

+ducation: 2igh School= St. )o$inic Acade$yDB.S. che$ical engineering= FMaineD ,raduateStudies in Public Ad$inistration= FMaine

+amil! information* 8 ha0e a girl9riend Jen #hoteaches at Le#iston 2igh School and t#o catsG(a#rie and So9iaH rescued 9ro$ the ,reaterAndroscoggin 2u$ane Society. My parents GPauland )arleneH and $y older sister icole and her9iance Joe all li0e in Auburn. My ana= Mary= alsoli0es in Auburn at Clo0er Manor= and she li ely has

the $ost acti0e social li9e o9 all o9 us.ublic offices soug$t or $eld* Androscoggin

County co$$issioner= &%%"/&%!!D $ayor o9 the cityo9 Auburn= &%!! to present.

/$! are !ou running for office /$! s$ouldvoters select !ou for t$is ob

2a0ing gro#n up in Auburn= the stories 8 heard9ro$ $y grandparents and $y o#n eIperiences helpto gi0e $e conteIt about #here our city has co$e9ro$. ithout that= you canEt help the co$$unity

shape its 9uture.or too long= 8E0e heard people say that one o9 the

bene9its o9 the local econo$y is that #e are slo#erto go into recession than other places in e#+ngland= it ust $eans #e co$e out o9 recessions$ore slo#ly too.

Or= #hen status @uo on an issue is @uestioned= theresponse is that things could ha0e been #orse. 8 say=#hy set the bar so lo# Auburn is already a greatcity #ith great people= great teachers= great sta99= a

strong business co$$unity= uni@ue naturalresources and in9rastructure.

e need to ele0ate the bar and $o0e 9or#ard. A9terspending the last 9our years building relationships#ith sta99= ey co$$unity partners= state and 9ederalo99icials and the business co$$unity= 8 can see thatAuburn is turning a corner and is poised 9or so$e0ery big things in the neIt t#o years. 8E$ preparedto help $a e those happen.

/$at do !ou li e about t$e cit! budget passedt$is !ear, and &$at don t !ou li e /as it too$ig$, too lo&, ust rig$t

hile itEs not a phrase appreciated by e0eryone= thecity o9 Auburn is a business and applying business

principles to our budgeting is an essential part o9turning the city around.

One #ay that this #as done in this budget that 8strongly support is 9ocusing on retiring $ore debtthan you ta e on the neIt year.

So$ething 8 did not li e about this budget= and ha0e9ought 9or and not succeeded on in each budgetsince 8E0e been $ayor= is the use o9 progra$/based

budgeting. Our city charter= or city constitution i9you #ill= states that the budget #ill include goalsand detailed eIpenses and re0enues 9or all city

progra$s and acti0ities. hile this type o9 budget#ould ta e $ore ti$e initially= not doing it lea0esdecisions about priorities outside o9 the CityCouncilEs hands and hides opportunities to cutspending by eli$inating speci9ic progra$s.

*he budget= gi0en $any considerations= #as adecent one that ept any city spending gro#th underthe rate o9 in9lation. *he bigger challenge though=that #e ha0e been stuc in 9or decades= is anecono$ic de0elop$ent en0iron$ent that has $anysouthern Maine co$$unities 9ar outpacing us ongro#th in real estate 0alue.

Since property taIes are our $a or source o9re0enue 9or critical ser0ices and to in0est in theclassroo$ 9or our neIt generation= not discussing#hy these decades/old approaches that arenEt#or ing are still in place is costing us.

/it$ a limited budget and no&ing &$at !ou

http://www.facebook.com/

http://www.facebook.com/jonathanplabonte







no& no&, &$at &ould be !our top spendingpriorit! among t$ese t$ree services* road repair,education or public safet! /$!

+ducation should be the top spending priority togro# our city= no#ing that e0erything 9ro$ pre/3access to #or 9orce de0elop$ent and adulteducation play a critical role in attracting 9a$ilies=sustaining businesses and i$pro0ing @uality o9 li9e.

*he reality is= there #ould ne0er be enough propertytaI $oney to 9ul9ill all that #e need in this area. *ospend in this priority area= #e should in0estigatecreati0e #ays to use eIisting city resources= and

build partnerships #ith businesses= the co$$unitycollege and Fni0ersity Syste$ Gand othersH= so thatour increased in0est$ent dra#s do#n non/propertytaI $oney.

8E0e engaged #ith leaders at all o9 our local collegesand #ith the business co$$unity= and a$ con9ident

that this can be achie0ed and= i9 planned properly=#ill bring $odern 9acilities to +d#ard Little 2ighSchool in the near ter$.

/$at s$ould t$e ma!or s role be in Auburn Cit!overnment and $o& &ill t$at determine !our

actions in and out of Cit! Council meetings

hile so$e $ay describe the $ayorEs role as purelycere$onial= 8 no# that by si$ply reading the CityCharter $uch $ore is eIpected o9 a $ayor and a$

proud to be 9ul9illing those duties.

Beyond chairing the o99icial business $eetings o9the City Council= the $ayor is called on tocoordinate actions o9 boards and co$$ittees toad0ance the cityEs interests. *his in0ol0esco$$unication #ith sta99 and city councilorsser0ing on co$$ittees to ensure accountability tothe cityEs interests.

8n the last '% years= the nu$ber o9 co$$ittees hasgro#n to o0er '% and that raises concerns 9or $eabout ho# to $aintain transparency andaccountability to taIpayers. *he $ayor is alsocharged #ith co$$unicating to the City Councilin9or$ation and reco$$endations that i$pact the

business and interests o9 Auburn.

One speci9ic eIa$ple #as $y push to re0ie# the

local econo$ic de0elop$ent agencies= including theLe#iston/Auburn +cono$ic ,ro#th Council= andho# $uch they #ere costing taIpayers. *his led tore9or$s at LA+,C.

O9 course= being the chie9 cheerleader goes #ithoutsaying= and 8 #ill continue to tra0el to Portland=Boston= Montreal= ashington= ).C.= or #here0erelse $ay be needed to sell our co$$unity and seeto attract in0est$ent here as 8 ha0e since 8 #as 9irstelected $ayor in &%!!.

Court #treet could be narro&ed from four travellanes to t&o in 201'. s t$at a good idea or not,and &$! do !ou feel t$at &a!

+Iperts in gro#ing property 0alues in cities the siKeo9 Auburn in e# +ngland ha0e o99ered concepts9or 9urther study to both Auburn and Le#iston.Court Street #as one eIa$ple that #arranted 9urtherassess$ent and thatEs the direction sta99 #as gi0en.

89 the data pro0ed out that tra99ic 9lo# #ould be balanced #ith a sa9er en0iron$ent 9or pedestriansand the addition o9 on/street par ing= then a su$$ertrial period #ould ta e place and a ne# assess$entdone a9ter the trial. 89 any changes are $ade tostreets in the do#nto#n area in &%!-= it #ill be

because they #ere sho#n to be good ideas #orthtesting= presented #ith all o9 the 9acts and #ithengage$ent o9 residents= property o#ners and

businesses.

8 say letEs gather all o9 the 9acts and $a e a decisionon a trial based on those and not ust e$otion.



Peter &etourneau

Email address* peterdletourneau g$ail.co$

+aceboo *

###.9aceboo .co$ peterletourneau9or$ayor -t$er social media *#itter: petey9ro$aubur4

-ccupation or primar! source of income* (etired

Education* Attended Bentley College

+amil! information*

8 a$ luc y to ha0e a 9abulous #i9e= Sandy yberg=t#o gro#n childrenD Peter Jr. and (ene= and t#oadult step/children= Jenni9er 3i$ble and the $uch/$issed *ho$as yberg #ho passed in a $otor

0ehicle accident. Also= the 9a$ily dog= )aisy= #ho isan i$portant part o9 our e$pty nest as other dog andcat lo0ers can attest.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld*

Currently the ard ! incu$bent on the AuburnSchool Co$$ittee. 8 a$ see ing the o99ice o9 $ayoro9 Auburn.


*he ob is #hat is properly called a so9t $ayor=that is a person #ho per the city charter has9our 9unctions= #ith the ey #or being to 9acilitateCity Council $eetings= to pro$ote this great city=and to pro0ide an o99icial presence at celebratorye0ents.

*he current $ayor regales in telling us o9 his ha0inginstructed sta99 and directed sta99 ad nausea$. 8t

is not the 9unction o9 the $ayor to boss around the9ine $anage$ent and sta99 #e ha0e in the city o9Auburn. 2e ust does not understand ho# to be$ayor in this 9or$ o9 go0ern$ent.

My election #ill go a long #ay to better go0ernancein Auburn as $y @uestion to our e$ployees #ill be

2o# can 8 i$pro0e your day .

89 our 0oters truly #ant a bully in the $ayorEs o99ice=then they should eep the one they ha0e no#.

hat do you li e about the city budget passed thisyear= and #hat donEt you li e as it too high= toolo#= ust right

*he budget is controlled by the Consu$er Price8ndeI unless the City Council 0otes to spend beyondthat rate. *his yearEs CP8 bench$ar #as !." percentso the budget is lined up #ith that rate. 8 thin #espend about the right a$ount o9 $oney= but it isclear that our spending on education per student is#ell belo# other cities in southern Maine= and thatis a signi9icant ad0antage to those other cities inattracting child/rearing age parents.

Nillo# rates Auburn schools 0ery lo# in ho# theyco$pare to other districts= and that is a site that ouryounger citiKens rely on 9or co$parisons. *hus= #eneed to loo at increasing the school budget=especially as regarding the condition o9 our9acilities.

+d#ard Little 2igh SchoolEs building is a disgrace=and #e should be $ore e99ecti0ely cha$pioning ane# +L at the state le0el= realiKing that !% percentor so o9 the costs #ill be borne by AuburntaIpayers. *he real sha$e here is the City Counciland the School Co$$ittee not #or ing on theeducation budget earlier and in a $ore har$onious#ay.

89 elected $ayor= 8 #ill be $y o#n representati0e onthe School Co$$ittee and report to each body$onthly so as to eep the ey parties in0ol0ed in the

process. *he current $ayor sends so$eone otherthan hi$sel9= so that gi0es us an idea o9 ho# little he0alues education.

Councilor Mary La ontaine has done 9ine #or inthis capacity= but it is not the sa$e as ha0ing the$ayor care enough to do it hi$sel9.

/it$ a limited budget and no&ing &$at !ouno& no&, &$at &ould be !our top spending

priorit! among t$ese t$ree services* road repair,education or public safet! /$!

+ducation. Per $y prior state$ent= the education budget is not su99icient to build and $aintain needed9acilities. 89 #e 9ail to pro0ide a good education to

our young people= #e #ill not be attracting couplesin their t#enties= thirties and 9orties to Auburn asthey #ill see to educate their children else#hereand 8 do not bla$e the$.

/$at s$ould t$e ma!or s role be in Auburn Cit!overnment and $o& &ill t$at determine !our

actions in and out of Cit! Council meetings

A so9t $ayor is the role= and re@uires a person #hois #illing to listen. *he $ayor should #or #ell#ith city councilors and recogniKe that his guidance



should only be gi0en #hen re@uested.

A $ayor #ho can shut up once in a #hile #ould bere9reshing.

8 #ill be a0ailable to 9acilitate City Council$eetings= to assist our e$ployees in pro$oting this#onder9ul city= and to attend e0ents. 8 #ill treatcitiKens= e$ployees and council $e$bers #ithrespect.

or certain= there #ill be 9ar 9e#er closed dooreIecuti0e sessions #here the public is shut out

9ro$ seeing #hat is going on #ith their city. oreIa$ple= discussion o9 potential land purchases 9orthe ne# high school are currently done behindclosed doors. *he argu$ent being that letting the

public no# #here #e $ay be thin ing o9 buying property #ill raise the price o9 that property. *hat isabsurd. 89 #e ha0e t#o or $ore properties underconsideration= it #ill set up a co$petition bet#een

current land o#ners to ha0e us select their property=thus dri0ing do#n total cost.

2o# du$b is it that #e ha0e gone through three city$anagers and three ice arena general $anagers in '! & years *his is #hat you get #hen the $ayor

insists on his o0erbearing approach to oure$ployees.


hen the a#ard is gi0en out 9or the du$best idea o9

&%!5= this one $ay not #in but it #ill surely be a9inalist.

urther= not bothering to discuss this #ith the city9athers in Le#iston is outrageous. *hisi$periousness needs to co$e to a halt= and #ith a

bully in the $ayorEs o99ice it #ill not.

Clearly= #hen Court Street in the do#nto#n sectoris disrupted by line painting or other e0ents= tra99ic

bac s up 9or bloc s and bloc s in both Auburn andin Le#iston.

Citing a &%!! tra99ic study as part o9 the usti9icatio9or t#o tra0el lanes si$ply sho#s that= in this case=our tra99ic 9ol s do not understand that it is the &!stcentury. our/year/old data #as used to co$e to areally bad decision= and it see$s to $e that #eshould ha0e last yearEs data at our 9ingertips.

Cit# Council Can!i!ates

Cit# Council 'ar! 1

Matthew Leonard and James Pross are running for the Ward 1 Council seat.

"att%e( &eonar!

Email address:[email protected]

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/mattjleonard

Other social media?

ebsite: ###.$att leonard.co$D *#itter:$att leonardD Lin ed8n:

https: ###.lin edin.co$ in $att leonard

Occupation or primary source ofincome: President and CEO, AndroscogginCount Chamber of Commerce

Education: !aster of "rofessional studies in

"olitical management, bachelor of science in business studies, associate of arts in "oliticalscience, associate of arts "s cholog

Family information: A #$% ear &a' 'eteran with multi"le combat tours( married to)ebekah *eonard

Public offices sought or held: )unning for +ard $ Cit Council

Why are you running for office? Whyshould voters select you for this job?

e ha0e an i$portant opportunity right no#= righthere in Auburn. 8tEs not ust about today= itEs aboutour 9uture and #e need to get it right. hat #e do inthe near 9uture #ill ha0e long/lasting conse@uence.

e need city councilors #ho not only no# theissues and no# ho# to chart a #ay ahead= but are



also in0ested in the decisions that are $ade.

ho #e elect to ser0e on our City Councildeter$ines so $uch o9 #hat a99ects our day/to/dayli0es. 2o# $uch #e pay in property taIes. 2o# #ein0est those taIes. 2o# $uch #e in0est in publiceducation. 2o# $uch #e in0est in our childrenEs9uture.

8 belie0e 8 ha0e the bac ground= eIperience=education and= $ost o9 all= the passion to ser0e ourco$$unity. 8E$ not ust in0ested= 8E$ all in.

What do you like about the city budgetpassed this year, and hat don!t youlike? Was it too high, too lo , just right?

8tEs not about spending $ore. 8tEs not about spendingless. 8tEs about spending correctly in0estingcorrectly.

e need to loo at #here #e are spending our$oney as #ell as #hy. Are #e getting a return onour in0est$ent Are #e in0esting in the rightinitiati0es 8 belie0e that instead o9 being 9ocusedon ho# $uch the budget increase is going to beyear/to/year= #e should be 9ocused on #hat 0alue#e are getting.

*o that end= 8 thin that #e should adopt a Kero/ based budgeting process. +ach year eIpenses should be usti9ied and analyKed 9or their needs and costs.

Auburn has uni@ue challenges. One o9 thosechallenges is the sheer siKe o9 AuburnEs land $ass.

or eIa$ple= #e ha0e 5'7 $iles o9 roads to$aintain. e need to understand #here #e are so#e can strategically plan 9or the 9uture. ith thene#9ound 9oreign in0est$ent in *he Barn= ho# can#e plan to use the increased property taI base toin0est in our 9uture

8 donEt ha0e all o9 the ans#ers= but 8 a$ eIcited toha0e the con0ersations about our 9uture.

With a limited budget and kno ing hat you kno no , hat ould be your top

spending priority among these threeservices: road repair, education orpublic safety? Why?

8tEs not about spending. 8tEs about in0esting. heredo #e get the return on our in0est$ent

e should 0ie# the school budget as an in0est$ent=not spending. Our goal should be to ha0e a #orld/class education syste$. 2o# can the City Council

support the Auburn School Syste$ &%&% ?ision2o# can #e in0est in the PAL Center at ashburnSchool *he education details are a SchoolCo$$ittee $ission= e.g. #hether ednesdays arehal9/days or rather #e elect to pay teachers 9or$andatory training a9ter school hours.

*he City Council needs to balance in0est$ent. eneed good roads and #e ha0e 5'7 $iles o9 the$.

e ha0e <&%% $illion #orth o9 roads= side#al s andcurbs as o0erhead. *his in9rastructure $ay not beeIciting= but it is essential. e also need to $aintain

public sa9ety as #ell as $unicipal ser0ices.

*his is #hy #e need strategic thin ers on the CityCouncil. 8 belie0e 8 ha0e pro0en eIperience as astrategic thin er and loo 9or#ard to the challengeo9 9inding #ays to in0est in our 9uture. 8tEs not aboutspending. 8tEs about in0esting.

"ourt #treet could be narro ed from

four travel lanes to t o in $%&'( )s that agood idea or not, and hy do you feelthat ay?

8 belie0e #e need to be $ore strategic in ourthin ing.

Currently= there tends to be a 9ocus on one issue andloo ing at only that one issue in a 0acuu$. 8 thin#e need an o0erarching strategic plan that ta es intoaccount $ultiple issues. 2o# #ould changes toCourt Street i$pact Auburn o0erall 8 #ould call 9ora )o#nto#n Co$prehensi0e *ransit Study and aCo$prehensi0e Par ing Plan 9or )o#nto#n. ot

ust studies but= rather= action plans to help us $a eour do#nto#n a 0ibrant econo$ic de0elop$entcenter 9or our co$$unity. 8 thin #e should partner#ith the city o9 Le#iston and speci9ically loo at allo9 the #ays people get to our do#nto#n 9ro$near and 9ar.

What is your opinion regarding ta*incentives to developers, such as +a*)ncrement Finance deals and state and

federal grants? #hould the city offerthem or not?

8n a strategic 9ashion= #e should loo 9or anythingthat #e could do to encourage econo$icde0elop$ent i9 it $a es sense. 8 #ould argue that*aI 8ncre$ent inance deals and state and 9ederalgrants ha0e #or ed here in Auburn= and that #eshould eep the$ in our econo$ic de0elop$enttoolboI.



$ames Pross

Email address* pross tarbellpa.co$

+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$ ?otePross

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* Attorney

Education* B.A.= political science: Fni0ersity o9Charleston= !666D Juris )octor: Fni0ersity o9 e#2a$pshire School o9 La#= &%%4

+amil! information* 8 li0e in Auburn #ith $y#i9e= Mia Poli@uin Pross= a Le#iston nati0e= andour daughter #ho attends +ast Auburn Co$$unitySchool. 8n &%%4= #e $o0ed bac to L A a9ter la#school at the Fni0ersity o9 e# 2a$pshire to benear MiaEs 9a$ily in Le#iston. e bought our 9irsthouse on La e Street in Auburn in &%%5= #here #eli0ed until $o0ing to 2ersey 2ill (oad in &%!'.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* See ing AuburnCity Council= ard !


8 a$ truly in0ested in this co$$unity and 8 #ant to$a e a di99erence. My 9a$ily and 8 ha0e li0ed=#or ed= and 0olunteered in Auburn 9or the last !%

years.Bet#een $y la# practice on Main Street= $y e99ortsas a 9ounding partner in a local real estatede0elop$ent business and $y 0olunteer #or #iththe Androscoggin Land *rust= 8 ha0e !% years o9 $yli9e in0ested in Auburn= its gro#th= taI base and9uture. 8 #ant to do e0erything 8 can to ensure thatAuburn continues to gro# into a co$$unity that $ydaughter can al#ays be proud to call ho$e.

My daughter is a student at +ast AuburnCo$$unity School= and 8 a$ in0ested in ourschools and her education. Last yearEs school budgetdebate $ade $e #ant to run 9or o99ice. +ACS is the

best school in the district= by all per9or$ance$easures. 8nstead o9 ser0ing as a $odel 9or otherschools in the district= the superintendent see$s toco$e bac to the City Council e0ery budget cyclethreatening to shut it do#n or cut its sta99.

8 belie0e that our city can do better= but it ta esleadership 9ro$ each #ard.

8 a$ in0ested in Auburn through $y career as a

la#yer. 8 didnEt $o0e to Auburn 9or a ob. 8n &%!&=$o0ed $y ob to Auburn. 8 con0inced the e#2a$pshire/based la# 9ir$ that 8 #or 9or to $o0e$y o99ice 9ro$ Augusta to Auburn because itEs $yho$e= 8 told the$. 8 #anted to ha0e the o99ice onMain Street neIt to ,rittyEs because it is a beauti9ulspot on the ri0er in a terri9ic do#nto#n= and in theonly place in Maine 8E0e e0er called ho$e.

8 i$$ediately enrolled the 9ir$ as a $e$ber o9 theAndroscoggin County Cha$ber o9 Co$$erce and 8ta e pride in our 9ir$ being a part o9 Main StreetEs0ibrant do#nto#n business co$$unity. 8 a$ alsoin0ested in the business co$$unity in Auburn as as$all business o#ner.

Leadership is $ore than calling yoursel9 a leader= or being a cheerleader 9or a cause. *he only$eaning9ul #ay to lead is by eIa$pleD throughaction.

8 a$ one o9 se0en proud o#ners o9 ,reat alls)e0elop$ent ,roup= #hich has been #or ing since&%%6 to set ne# standards o9 eIcellence in thedo#nto#n residential rental $ar et in L A. *hesein0est$ents contribute to our cityEs taI base= andrede0elop$ent e99orts in ey areas o9 ourco$$unity= li e in e# Auburn. Our real estateco$pany is enhancing the 0alue o9 its assets byhelping to raise the tide throughout the city. one o9the o#ners o9 the co$pany ha0e ta en a single di$ein co$pensation since the co$pany #as 9ounded=

despite countless late nights and #ee ends o9 #oro0er the last siI years.

8nstead #e ha0e rein0ested our pro9its into the buildings and co$$unity= $a ing the$ $oree99icient= $ore attracti0e= and better places 9or

people to li0e= regardless o9 inco$e. e are in it 9orthe long ter$. Our de0elop$ent philosophy isdri0en by a belie9 that our success depends on thesuccess o9 the co$$unity. Our rede0elop$ent o9 a

pre0iously 0acant building at -" ood St.GLe#istonH and our ongoing pro ect at !5 Broad St.

G e# AuburnH are both eIa$ples o9 #ays that pri0ate entrepreneurs can in0est their ti$e andenergy pro9itably and responsibly in the co$$unity.

My partners and 8 ha0e put our nec s on the line=and are #or ing to $a e the neighborhoods #e#or in better places. 8 a$ in0ested in Auburnthrough $y $any years o9 0olunteeris$ in localnonpro9its= including Literacy ?olunteers= Pottle2ill and *he Androscoggin Land *rust.

*he connection bet#een @uality o9 place= and



econo$ic de0elop$ent is real and= i9 elected= 8#ould see to encourage de0elop$ent patterns andinitiati0es that e$phasiKe this connection. 8 ha0eal#ays belie0ed that green space enhances the 0alueo9 surrounding properties= especially in urban areas.

My in0ol0e$ent as a 0olunteer board $e$ber o9 theAndroscoggin Land *rust since &%%6 has 9urthered$y belie9 in this regard. Our city has $any

#onder9ul natural resources that #e need tocontinue to le0erage to dra# attention= talented

people and business in0est$ent into our co$$unity.*hrough $y #or #ith AL*= 8E0e been helping toenhance the @uality o9 place in Auburn byconnecting people to our ri0er= increasingopportunities 9or outdoor recreation= and protecting

places 0alued by the public throughout ourco$$unity.

8 belie0e that the people o9 ard ! #ill elect a citycouncilor #ho is in0ested in AuburnD so$eone #hohas established roots and ties to the co$$unity. 8a$ that candidate. 8 a$ an ad0ocate and a listener. 8a$ not ust tal ing about leadership and local

business in0est$entD 8 a$ leading by eIa$ple=in0esting $y $oney= ti$e= energy and passion into$y Auburn/based la# practice= Auburn/based realestate business= and a #onder9ul Auburn/basedconser0ation organiKation.

/$at do !ou li e about t$e cit! budget passedt$is !ear, and &$at don t !ou li e /as it too

$ig$, too lo&, ust rig$t8 belie0e that the budget #as too lo#= especially theschool budget.

8 thin that Auburn= li e $any other $unicipalities=has struggled because o9 the go0ernorEs restrictionson re0enue sharing. *hose 9unds are taIpayerdollars that cities in Maine could once rely on and

put to good use. 89 #e had those 9unds= #e #ouldha0e $ore $oney to spend in0esting in our 9uture.

8 9ind it sad that the state #ill issue hundreds o9

$illions o9 dollars in bond $oney to $unicipalitiesto build e0er larger= shiny= ne# school buildings#ith state o9 the art athletics 9acilities= yet #e canEta99ord to pay enough teachers to eep class siKess$aller. e concern oursel0es #ith e99iciency=instead o9 @uality and outco$es= as i9 the 9uture o9our children is a bargaining chip in the budgetdebate. Bonding huge capital eIpenditures carries ahea0y burden in debt ser0ice costs 9or the state and$unicipalities ali e. A brand ne# school isso$ething a co$$unity can be proud o9= and it is

great 9or the ban s= contractors= and architects= butshouldnEt #e be $ore concerned about #hatEs good9or the children= our students

*he city o9 Auburn= li e $ost $unicipalities= spendsa huge su$ on debt ser0ice costs. hy arenEt #erepurposing old schools and eIisting public assetsthat donEt cost taIpayers enor$ous interest

pay$ents to huge ban s Maybe the up9ront costs

are a deterrent= but not borro#ing has itsad0antages= ust loo at the line ite$ 9or debtser0icing in the cityEs budget.

*he La e Street School #as once a proud$onu$ent o9 education 9or that co$$unity. o#the yard is o0ergro#n and the city has to rely onleaseholders to eep it 9ro$ being a blight. hat isthe i$pact to the La e Street neighborhood 2o#do #e account 9or the social costs o9 shutting do#na neighborhood school in a co$$unity

8 also 9ind it troubling that #e donEt spend a greater percentage o9 the budget on social and hu$anser0ices. Co$$unity ser0ices totaled <&.4 $illionin the budget= but only <!"'=%%% #ent to health andsocial ser0ices. O9 that <!"'=%%%= only <!%"=%%%#ent to actual assistance 9or 9a$ilies in need= #iththe balance going to ad$inistrati0e costs. e shoulde0aluate #hy #e are spending <75=%%% to ad$inister<!%"=%%% in assistance.

e should be spending $ore $oney to pro0ideassistance to those o9 our citiKens #ho are in theirdesperate hour. 89 #e do not= greater social costs#ill 9ollo# as a result. People ha0e to ha0e basicneeds $et 9irst 9ood= shelter= clothing and healthcare in order to hold do#n a ob= succeed inschool and contribute to the co$$unity.



*here is no greater opportunity 9or us to in0est in

the 9uture o9 our co$$unity= than to in0est in thechildren #ho li0e here.

8 belie0e that s$aller class siKes= s$aller schools=and $ore class ti$e= longer recess and lunch= and

better school nutrition are ulti$ately #hat ourschools need to change the direction o9 oureducation syste$= both locally and state#ide.

or ing #ith resol0e to#ard beco$ing the bestschool district in Maine #ould do $ore to enhanceecono$ic de0elop$ent than al$ost any other public



in0est$ent. a$ilies #ould #ant to $o0e and #orhere because o9 the schools= and co$panies #ould

be eager to in0est here i9 our schools #ere topnotch.

Speci9ically= it is ti$e to re/e0aluate AuburnEs hal9day ednesday policy. 2al9 day ednesdayscreate child care issues 9or our 9a$ilies and this isan unaccounted 9or drain on our local econo$y. ot

only are children losing class ti$e= but parents $ustta e ti$e 9ro$ #or to be ho$e 9or their children or

pay 9or eIpensi0e daycare ser0ices in order toacco$$odate the school districtEs absurd calendar.

*eachers need to be $ore supported 9inancially and pro9essionally. *here al#ays see$s to be bond$oney 9or shiny ne# consolidated school buildings=

but ne0er enough $oney 9or s$aller class siKes andteacher pay tied to increased class ti$e. e should9ocus on the best #ay to educate our children= notthe $ost e99icient #ay. +99iciency is 9ine in a9actory= but not in education. All o9 the researchsays that s$aller class siKes and ti$e spent in classare t#o o9 the biggest predictors o9 student success.

hy #ould #e continue to ignore that and do theopposite

8 ac no#ledge that so$e o9 these are state le0el policy decisions= but i9 elected to the council 8 hopeto be a tireless ad0ocate 9or the 9uture o9 education=

no#ing that this enor$ous ship #ill only turnslo#ly.

Public sa9ety is= o9 course= also i$portant but 8 belie0e that the Auburn Police )epart$ent is the9inest in the state and= although this #ill re@uirecontinued public in0est$ent= #e $ust be proacti0ein pursuing initiati0es that decrease cri$e rates. 8spent so$e ti$e representing cri$inal de9endants atthe beginning o9 $y legal careerD 6" percent o9 the

people 8 represented at arraign$ents as La#yer o9the )ay #ere either $entally ill or addicts. *hesesocial and health issues contribute $ore to cri$ethan anything else.

,reater econo$ic opportunity= less blight= $oregreen space= a99ordable housing= @uality do#nto#nresidential de0elop$ent= better schools= li0able#ages= and accessible $ental health and addictionser0ices are all areas #here the public should in0estto a0oid $any o9 the social costs associated #ithcri$e.


8 #ould rather see our scarce in9rastructureresources going to#ard i$pro0ing sa9ety on (oute4= in ard !.

My cousin #as nearly illed a 9e# years ago #henhe una0oidably rear/ended a landscaping trailer that#as $a ing a le9t turn o99 o9 (oute 4. *he turninglane 9or La e Shore )ri0e #as a 0ery good start= but#e should continue to do #hat #e can to $a e that

corridor sa9er 9or co$$uters and 0isitors ali e.8 #ould also li e to see the city do $ore to controlthru/truc tra99ic on local road#ays. 2ea0y loadstear up our road#ays= increasing taIpayersE bill 9orlocal road repairs. est Auburn and orth Auburnroads co$e to $ind= but the issue pertains to alldistricts.

*hat said= 8 dri0e on Court Street to get to $y o99iceon Main Street e0ery day and ha0e been 9rustrated

by tra99ic on $ore than one occasion.

8 do recogniKe= ho#e0er= that reducing tra99ic 9lo#has been tied to increased pri0ate in0est$ent inother do#nto#ns= and 8 thin it is #orth studyingthis idea $ore closely in Auburn. e do ha0e higher0olu$e= higher speed bridges connecting Le#istonand Auburn= and encouraging co$$uter and tructra99ic across those other public #ays see$s li e agood idea.

But= 8 #ould need to be con0inced that $a ing a public in0est$ent such as this #ould in 9act increasethe property taI base and dra# in0est$ent into that

part o9 our do#nto#n= as opposed to eeping peoplea#ay because o9 9rustrating tra99ic delays. 8 donEtthin that #e ha0e enough clarity on that yet. 8 a$not a9raid o9 big ideas or $a or changes= but 8 #ould

be 0ery cautious in $y approach to $o0ing 9or#ard by obtaining as $uch e0idence/based research intothe idea as possible. 89 itEs #orth doing= itEs #orthdoing right.

/$at is !our opinion regarding ta incentives todevelopers, suc$ as a ncrement +inance deals

and state and federal grants #$ould t$e cit!offer t$em or not

8 ha0e no proble$ #ith the responsible and udicious use o9 taI incenti0es to dra# in pri0atein0est$ent= but as #ith e0erything in li9e=$oderation is ey.

*aI 8ncre$ent inancing and other taI incenti0escan allo# us to be $ore co$petiti0e as a place 9orin0est$ent. But 8 thin that #e are better o99 $a ing

public in0est$ents that #ill $a e Auburn a better



place to in0est in= #ithout taI incenti0es. 8$pro0ingour education and transportation syste$s= andenhancing our eIisting co$petiti0e ad0antages #ill

pro0e $ore pro9itable in the long run.

hen taI incenti0es are used= the public needs to$a e sure that it is getting a return on itsin0est$ent. *he publicEs taI dollar should ne0er beused as a subsidy to pri0ate business. *aI incenti0es

$ust be tied to co$$it$ents 9ro$ co$panies toin0est on their o#n= and there $ust be de$onstrable

public bene9it beyond adding a 9e# obs. *hisre@uires partnership and cooperation bet#een the

public and pri0ate sectors= #ith $utual goals andob ecti0es 9or using *8 $oney to enhance the

public in9rastructure surrounding the business. *8 sthat ensure a bene9it only to the businessE botto$line are a #aste o9 taIpayer dollars and subsidiKe

pri0ate #ealth. e need to ensure that these taIdollars are going into in0est$ents that #ill bene9itthe city in the long ter$= not si$ply eeping the

business open 9or another year. *hereEs no suchthing as a 9ree lunch. 89 you gi0e= you get.

89 8E$ elected to the City Council= 8Ell 9ight to ensuno one ta es 9ro$ the public co99ers under the guiseo9 ob creation.

8Ell #or to encourage taI incenti0es in aresponsible $anner= and pro0ide a return on the

publicEs in0est$ent.

Cit# Council 'ar! 2

Robert . !tone is running uno""osed for the Ward # Council seat.

)obert *+ tone

Email address: bstone -#$ @gmail.com

Facebook:###.9aceboo .co$BobStone ard&Auburn

Occupation or primary source ofincome: )etired

Education: in economics, 0ni'ersit of!aine at Orono

Family information: !arried to usantone for -$ ears. 1hree grown children and

si2 grandchildren.

Public Offices #ought or held: oardmember, !aine 1urn"ike Authorit , finishing

fourth ear of 3% ear term Why are you running for office? Whyshould voters select you for this job?

45'e long had an interest in "olitics. 4 follow"olitics at the federal, state and munici"al le'el.

4 recentl retired from a long career in bankingand m final assignment was to create and build a go'ernment banking grou". Our team was 'er successful and the bank has scores ofgo'ernment entities, from state go'ernment to

the smaller towns of !aine as clients.

4 enjo ed working with and "ro'iding solutionsto man !aine citi6ens who staff thesego'ernment entities. +h not use some of thatknowledge and financial e2"erience to hel" mfellow citi6ens of Auburn?

What do you like about the city budgetpassed this year, and hat don!t youlike? Was it too high, too lo , just right?1here is alwa s room for im"ro'ement. 1hecurrent council ga'e it their best and 4 lookforward to im"ro'ing on their budget in thene2t c cle. 1here is much risk out there in thefinancial world toda and 4 will be constantllooking to safeguard the 7other "eo"le5smone 7 that the hard%working ta2"a ers sendinto the cit e'er ear.

With a limited budget and kno ing hat

you kno no , hat ould be your topspending priority among these threeservices: road repair, education orpublic safety? Why?

+hile a number of our streets are in de"lorablesha"e 89am"shire treet and Park A'enue aretwo e2am"les:, it is im"erati'e that the safetof our residents is su""orted b an e2cellent"olice de"artment, rescue/fire and treatedstreets and roads.


http://www.facebook.com/BobStoneWard2Auburn







+e ha'e also been infested b drug traffickingfrom the greater oston and &ew ;ork metroareas and we must locate and eradicate thisthreat to our ounger residents. 4 am a big fanof large jails with little in the wa of amenities.4f ou want to come to Auburn to deal, ouo"erate at considerable risk.

"ourt #treet could be narro ed from

four travel lanes to t o in $%&'( )s that agood idea or not, and hy do you feelthat ay?

4 am o""osed to narrowing Court treet to twolanes. 4 will 'ote against it if "ro'ided theo""ortunit .

Cutting a'erage s"eeds to < m"h will block u"not onl Court treet, but !ain treet in*ewiston as well. 4t will im"act all of theconnecting streets, such as 1urner, 0nion,!ain, "ring, etc. 1his is a bad idea.

What is your opinion regarding ta*

incentives to developers, such as +a*)ncrement Finance deals and state andfederal grants? #hould the city offerthem or not?

1a2 4ncrement =inance deals are com"le2 andmust be considered on a deal%b %deal basis.

>enerall , the reci"ient of a 14= benefits from ata2 break while all other ta2"a ers subsidi6ethe 14= reci"ient b "a ing higher ta2es.Citi6ens need to understand that fact.

Again, it comes down to a cost/benefit anal sisand risk. +hat is the cit of Auburn gaining boffering a 14=, or a grant? 4s the in'estmentgoing to generate economic benefits that faroffset the cost of the ta2"a ers5 contribution tothe "roject under consideration? 9ow certainare we of the abilit of the "roject to sustainitself? 9ow does the "ublic feel about the"roject? E'er "roject is different and re uiressolid anal sis.

Cit# Council 'ar!

Andrew . $itus is running uno""osed for the Ward % Council seat.

An!re( *+ itus

Email address:

atitus# $ @gmail.comOccupation orprimary source ofincome: +holesale tireterritor sales manager

Education: 9igh school and "aralegalcertificate

Family information: !arried and "roudfather of two grown children

Public offices sought or held: Androscoggin Count udget Committee, two ears


4 ha'e been a concerned citi6en for man ears.4 ha'e alwa s wanted to ser'e the cit of Auburn. 4 will take a common sense a""roachto the issues. ! goals include economicde'elo"ment, efficient budgets and a betterrelationshi" with our school de"artment.


4 like the fact that we did sta within 7cost ofli'ing7 guidelines. 4 would ha'e liked to seemore time s"ent on the details of eachde"artment budget. 1he o'erall budget was toohigh.

With a limited budget and kno ing hat you kno no , hat ould be your topspending priority among these threeservices: road repair, education orpublic safety? Why?

1o me, the are all "riorities. 4 think we need to"rioriti6e within each de"artment with the goalto "ro'ide a high le'el of ser'ice while kee"ing budgets in check.

"ourt #treet could be narro ed fromfour travel lanes to t o in $%&'( )s that agood idea or not, and hy do you feelthat ay?

&ot a good idea.

1he businesses in that area would not benefit



enough to warrant massi'e bottlenecks oftraffic on Court treet. +e should continuethinking about wa s to hel" the downtown.1his is just not one of them.

What is your opinion regarding ta*incentives to developers, such as +a*)ncrement Finance deals and state andfederal grants? #hould the city offer

them or not?

1he are a 'aluable tool to attract commerce toour cit . 0sed correctl , the bring jobs and ta2re'enue. 4t is time we focus on "rojects that will bring better "a ing jobs and solid economicde'elo"ment. And we should be able to ha'eassurances that this be the result before wecommit to an "roject.

Cit# Council 'ar! -

&rnestine M. 'ilbert is running uno""osed for the Ward ( Council seat.

Ernestine "+ .ilbert

Email address: [email protected]

Occupation or primary source ofincome: )etired social worker

Education: eha'ioral cience bachelorsdegree, >raduate of 0ni'ersit of outhern!aine as a non%traditional student who fullsu""orted a uni'ersit for *ewiston/Auburnarea. 4 belie'e in learning across the lifes"anand education as a source of "ersonal growthand u"ward mobilit .

Family information: Auburn has been mlifelong home as well as a communit in which4 raised m two adult children of whom 4 am 'er "roud, and where 4 worked as a front%linesocial worker with indi'iduals of 'arious agegrou"s in both *ewiston and Auburn.

4 consider it a "ri'ilege to li'e in Auburn and"lan to re"resent constituents with the res"ectand consideration deser'ed. 4 want Auburn to be on the list of one of the most desiredcommunities to li'e in !aine.

Public offices sought or held: 4 am seeking

the office of Council +ard - Why are you running for office? Whyshould voters select you for this job?

4 am running for office because 4 lo'e Auburnand want to be "art of a new and im"ro'edfuture for Auburn. 1he onl constant is changeand 4 es"eciall admire de'elo"ment with asocial conscience. A 'ote for me is a 'ote forgrowth with this in mind.


4 belie'e that the budget needs to consider theta2 base and work within that "erimeter.


1ough call, the roads are awful, e'er cit needssafe roads( 4 see better/safer roads in rural!aine.

Education is a "riorit , as is "ublic safet . At what "oint do "otholes become a safet issue?9ow man "ublic administrators do we need atthe to" while our children get educations? 9owman "ublic safet em"lo ees do we cut beforeit becomes a crisis?

4 belie'e that it is time to get real with ourneeds 'ersus our wants.

"ourt #treet could be narro ed fromfour travel lanes to t o in $%&'( )s that agood idea or not, and hy do you feelthat ay?Court treet should be left as it is.

1he four lanes were to take care of the bottleneck downtown and it still is a bottleneckat certain times of da . 4 can not see how onearth going back to two lanes would hel"an thing. &e2t scheme will be to build another bridge?

Again, real solutions for real "roblems is the wa to go.



What is your opinion regarding ta*incentives to developers, such as +a*)ncrement Finance deals and state andfederal grants? #hould the city offerthem or not?

14=s are fine if the are hel"ing with the ta2

base, creating jobs and not dislocating citi6ens.4 want to see sensible growth without citi6ensha'ing to mo'e to other states to make a decentli'ing. 4 am for a li'ing wage for workers and job creation. 4f this is not "art of the e uationthen 4 am not for it. As we all should be awareof all of the abo'e come out of ta2"a er dollars.

Cit# Council 'ar! 5

Leroy Wal)er is running uno""osed for the Ward * Council seat.

&ero# 'al/er

Email address:[email protected]'

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/lero .walker.<$#

Occupation or primary source ofincome: )etired

Education: 9igh school

Family information: ingle. =our children,man , man grandchildren and eight great%grandchildren

Public offices sought or held B 4 am seekingre%election to the +ard seat on the CitCouncil.


4 am seeking re%election to the office that 4currentl hold. 4 feel it is 'itall im"ortant thatthere is continuit on the council to assure thatthings that ha'e begun are seen through to theend.

1he "eo"le of &ew Auburn know me and knowthat 4 ha'e a histor of getting things done forthe greater good of the citi6ens of thecommunit .


4 like the budget that was "assed this ear.!an hours of work were "ut into its"re"aration. 4 feel that it was "ared down to

where it needed to be for the new fiscal ear,and 4 'oted to "ass it because 4 belie'e it isaffordable and a""ro"riate.


)oad re"air needs to be a "riorit in this cit .

1here are so man roads that are in seriousdisre"air that we can5t ignore them an longer.4 feel that the education budget was ade uateto fill the immediate needs for the new fiscal ear. 4t is re'isited each ear. 1he roads can5t be allowed to continue to deteriorate.


Court treet is a connector to *ewiston. 1hereare alread bottlenecks with the four lanes. +e won5t know what the results will be until trafficstudies are done. 1hen the Court treet issuecan be addressed.

+ithout a stud to determine feasibilit , and

im"acts, 4 would onl be e2"ressing an o"inion.4 want to wait to see the facts before makingthat decision. One5s knee%jerk reaction is notnecessaril the correct one, so 4 won5t commentat this time.


1a2 incenti'es are what draws big businesses to


http://www.facebook.com/leroy.walker.712








our cit . +ithout them, our economicde'elo"ment would suffer.

4t is 'itall im"ortant that ta2 incenti'es beoffered so that Auburn can continue to growand thri'e, bringing more jobs and betterlifest les to those who ha'e a difficult timefinding work. 1he more "eo"le who are

working, the more the are s"ending. 4t is acircle that creates a successful communit .

Again, if grants are a'ailable to de'elo"ers who want to de'elo" an area of Auburn, it onlmakes sense that the cit should offer them, if we are going to sur'i'e in these economictimes.

Cit# Council At large

+i,e candidates are see)ing the two o"en at-large seats /ncumbents Belinda 'erry anda,id C. 0oung and 'rady R. Burns Robert C. Mennealy and Robert A. !e,igny.

.ra!# Burns


Facebook:

www.facebook.com/>rad %urns%for%Auburn%Cit %

Council% #-3# <3 -

Other social media? 1witterB @>rad urns

Occupation or primary source ofincome: *egal assistant at Paradie, herman, +alker D +orden

Education: 0ni'ersit of !aine at=armington, Class of # $ . A histor and

secondar education( Edward *ittle 9ighchool, Class of # .

Public offices sought or held: 1his is mfirst time running for office.


As a fourth%generation Auburn resident 4 ha'e witnessed first%hand the struggles that Auburnhas faced these "ast decades.

As a oung "rofessional working to build acareer and a famil in this communit , 4 know 'er well how difficult it continues to be for m"eers to sta here and "ros"er. 4 am runningfor Cit Council because 4 belie'e that Auburnneeds a strong 'oice ad'ocating for a long%term 'ision needed to continue to broaden our ta2 base and grow our communit .

4n the last census, Auburn was the onl cit in!aine5s to" fi'e that was actuall losing"o"ulation( we need councilors who will workinno'ati'el to change that trend.


4 think it is clear that "ro"ert ta2"a ers arestruggling to sta afloat in a time of rising"rices and economic uncertaint , but 4 do not belie'e that better outcomes from our budgetare necessaril tied to higher s"ending.

Auburn must meet its basic commitments to itsciti6ensB the roads must be "a'ed, the watermust flow through our "i"es, our children must be educated, and our residents must be ke"tsecure b a well%maintained "olice force andfire de"artment. 9owe'er, gi'en that our cit iscurrentl s"ending hundreds of thousands ofdollars in heating, fuel and energ costs tomaintain its o"erations, 4 belie'e that long%term sa'ings can be found to cut the o'erheadcost of ser'ices without cutting staff or raisingta2es.

0ltimatel , if Auburn wants to broaden its ta2 base and become a trul thri'ing communit , itmust focus on long%term in'estment and creategrowth o""ortunities. 4ncenti'i6ing growth inour downtown, di'ersif ing our housing stockto attract oung "rofessionals, creating a

com"etiti'e ad'antage b in'esting ininfrastructure such as broadband 4nternet or"assenger rail F or finall sol'ing theseemingl intractable "roblem of building ahigh school that belongs in the #$st centur F would take us in the right direction.



1he ke is finding creati'e wa s to cut costs andle'eraging those funds to find the best and leaste2"ensi'e wa s to grow. im"l following thecurrent status uo of incrementall raisingta2es each ear without finding real solutionsto our "roblems is not working.

With a limited budget and kno ing hat you kno no , hat ould be your top

spending priority among these threeservices: road repair, education orpublic safety? Why?

im"l "ut, Auburn is facing multi"le crises inits basic ser'ices. *i'ing off of *ake treet, the worn struts in m car are a testament to theunacce"tabl "oor condition of major roadssuch as *ake treet, Park treet and 9otel)oad.

*ikewise, our middle and es"eciall high schoolare in des"erate need of major re"air orre"lacement. ig ticket "roblems such as these,howe'er, will not be sol'ed without acollaboration between local, state and e'enfederal go'ernment.

=irst and foremost, we need councilors who willeffecti'el ad'ocate for our needs to a statego'ernment that has continuall left ourcommunit behind in terms of de'elo"mentdollars and o'erall "riorit to increase ouraccess to ca"ital for these major issues.

econd, we need to set "riorit between ourshort%, medium% and long%term needs. Auburnhas some of the best teachers, "olice officersand firefighters in the state and we mustcontinue to treat them with the res"ect thatthe deser'e, or we will lose our com"etiti'ead'antage within the region.

Once we ha'e met our commitments to our workers and addressed the most serious cracksin our infrastructure, we must assess how to"romote growth and bring down long%term

costs.


+hile increasing the walkabilit and growth ofour downtown will be one of m highest"riorities, 4 ha'e serious reser'ations aboutnarrowing that corridor on Court treet. +hile the data has been mi2ed as to how muchthe "roject might slow traffic, as a currentcommuter on that route, 4 know how choked u"traffic alread gets in the area and howim"ractical finding an alternate route intodowntown *ewiston can be.

0ltimatel , downtown will grow because "eo"lesee it as a destination. Our first "riorit must be attracting those small businesses and

de'elo"ers that will grow the area, notalienating residents and clogging u" traffic.


=inding o""ortunities for state and federalgrants for communit de'elo"ment should beour highest "riorit . 4t is the current lack of

those t "es of "artnershi"s in Auburn that areholding back our long%term growth.

14=s can also be a "owerful tool to attracttargeted growth to struggling communities, andare one of our best tools for attracting thede'elo"ers and small business owners that weneed for our communit to grow. 1his must be balanced, though, with the loss of ta2 re'enueincurred through their use. 4 belie'e that the best solution would be one that integratedthese local, state and federal o""ortunities.

Belin!a .err#


Facebook: &one acti'e at"resent. 4 "refer meeting Auburn residents when 4 amout and about and talking with them in "erson about issues the think are

im"ortant and what the Cit Council is workingcurrentl on as well as the emails 4 recei'e,"hone calls 4 get and messages left on manswering machine.

Occupation or primary source ofincome:

Currentl , 4 am an Auburn cit councilor as well as a notar "ublic.



Education:

Educated in Auburn "ublic schools, dro""edout of school in ninth grade to hel" su""ort mfamil , then took night school classes, studiedand recei'ed m >EG 8high school e ui'alencdi"loma: when 4 was $ . 1hrough the ears 4ha'e also taken a cou"le non%credit courses.

Family information: 4 came from a single"arent famil of three. At $ 4 married a man who was a uadri"legic( then we di'orcedabout $< ears later. ! brother had fi'echildren and, because 4 was an acti'e "art oftheir li'es, this "artiall filled the 'oid of mnot being able to ha'e children. 4 went to all oftheir school and s"orts functions when"ossible.

&ow m constant com"anion is Pe" E, a beagleand hound mi2 4 got from the shelter.

Public offices sought or held: After 'olunteering for se'eral "oliticalcam"aigns 4 ran in $ - and was "ri'ileged to be elected as one of Auburn5s three !aine statere"resentati'es. Auburn 'oters then re%electedme to ser'e them in $ 3 and $ .

4n # , 4 ran for the Auburn Cit Council forthe +ard seat and was "ri'ileged to ser'e Auburn residents for three terms F # ,# - to # 3. 4 took a break and returned to

run for an at%large council seat in # and was "ri'ileged to get elected to ser'e Auburn# to "resent.


Auburn is a great "lace. ! roots from birth arehere and 4 ha'e ne'er li'ed an where else, nordo 4 e'er want to.

4 am running for office because 4 want tocontinue making a difference in the ualit of

life of all Auburn residents b being their at%large cit councilor, to be "art of the team of Auburn cit councilors/ma or that willcontinue what was set in to motion b thecurrent council to bring forward the 'ision thathas been de'elo"ed through "ublic in"ut and"artici"ation for the re'itali6ation of Auburn.

Plans include u"grading our tired housingstock and the wanted walkabilit of ourneighborhoods through hel"ing "ro"ertowners to find the funding resources to

transition their homes into a"artments that willfit the needs of all Auburn residentsB families,seniors, em"t %nesters and oung "rofessionals who are just starting out or still in college.

4 also want to encourage and hel" ourdowntown "ro"ert owners who ha'e 'acants"ace at street le'el and un%rented office s"aceu"stairs to transform it in to sho"s or t "e of

stores with "ossible studio a"artments forsome of the oung "rofessionals and singleadults who want to li'e and work in thedowntown.

4 feel that this will hel" with our goal to attractmore "eo"le to that area as well, hel" e2isting businesses flourish and grow our ta2 base.

econd, 4 want to see the needs of our current businesses and mom and "o" stores "ut first asthe e2ist, grow and get access to the sameo"tions or incenti'es and beneficial funding weoffer those we tr to get to relocate here whenthe can met the same re uirements. 4 feel weowe it to our businesses that ha'e stuck with usthrough our cit 5s tough times and not just thegood one.

1hird, 4 am running to make sure that Auburn5sta2"a er 'oices are at least heard and that thereis more accountabilit and thought when weare 'oting to use/s"end our ta2 dollars andthe other monies we get to fund our cit 5s

budget and to "ro'ide cit ser'ices, e'er"ro"osed "roject and both new or e2istingordinance changes.

E'er budget 4 tr to make sure our 'oicethrough me is heard b our cit manager and asman fellow councilors 4 can reach. +hen we"ass the cit 5s budget to not increase our milrate an more than necessar , and to stick tothat $. "ercent CP4 increase or lower.

4 reali6e the struggle some ha'e, whether on afi2ed income or a oung famil just startingout, and a new businesses in toda 5s economto make ends meet. And, 4 know our actionscould be the straw that broke the camel5s backand that is alwa s "resent in m mind.

+h should 'oters select ou for this job? Ofthe fi'e candidates running, 4 ha'e the mosta'ailable time to de'ote to being of ser'ice tom constituents, as well as the knowledge ore2"erience that 4 ha'e gained to date to be ableto assist them when the contact me with the



issues the face when the ha'e a concern oruestions and need hel". !an great ideas that

4 ha'e gi'en to our cit manager to im"ro'e ourcit ser'ices and sa'e mone ha'e come fromm interaction with Auburn residents.

ome of the issues that are of a cit wideconcern that 4 need to tr to get in front of theCit Council for us to address and resol'e ha'e

come from them, as well as others 4 ha'e foundthrough m time of ser'ice of ser'ing Auburnresidents.

4 ha'e built a strong re"utation for fulfilling allm obligations, ne'er missing a councilmeeting/worksho", coming to Auburn 9allearl and sta ing until m meetings werecom"letel o'er, onl missing a handful of 'arious cit committee assignment meetingsthrough the ears, of being res"ectful,de"endable, consistent, of being well "re"ared,for kee"ing m word and doing what 4 feel isright based on information 4 am gi'en, throughresearch 4 ha'e done and b resident "honecalls and their emails.

! brother sa s the one "roblem 4 ha'e is that4 care too much and ha'e great "assion for what 4 do.


+hat 4 liked about the cit budget was the budget "rocess that 9oward, our cit manager,"ut before us.

9e reall worked with our cit 5s de"artments toget them to come in front of us with no%frillsfunding re uests for their indi'idual budgets.Our cit em"lo ees worked 'er hard toaccom"lish this and should be commended for what the "resented us. +e were told that mostde"artments found a few better wa s to maketheir de"artments run more efficientl while"ro'iding the ser'ices our Auburn residentsre uire and e2"ect.

+hen it came to our bonding for the 'ariousde"artment/school de"artment re uests, ourcit manager ke"t bonding in check there as well. &othing was allowed that should be in thede"artments5 o"erational budgets, and the goal was that whate'er was bonded for had a usefullife of at least $ ears or more. 4t was ca""edat a le'el below the debt amount allowed in

"re'ious ears, "utting us in a better "lace toretire more debt.

1he long%range "lan of our cit manager willalso hel" "osition oursel'es for when, or if, theneed comes to take on more debt when anemergenc ha""ens or "ossible e2tra funding isneeded for a new high school if the state refusesto "a the total cost. 1he cit side came in

under the $. "ercent, and that included theadditional "ortion of the not%"lanned e2"enseof the )Os when the school de"artment chosenot to fund its "ortion, and it also being a bito'er the $. "ercent. 84 su""ort )Os and the work the do. and their im"ortance.:

1he "art of the budget "rocess 4 didn5t like wasthis last minute switch of the school5s )O s"ortion that the were to "a on to our side,and we had to find a wa to co'er this as well asto make u" their not sta ing within the budgetca". 1he biggest disa""ointment for me wasthat, with all the budget tightening, we still hadto raise the mil rate. An time we raise the milrate 4 am not ha"" with our budget s"ending.


Public works/road re"air. 1his would be m

to" "riorit toda in the cit 5s current budget.4f 4 was the head of "ublic works 4 would lookat the list of roads that are currentl on the listfor this ear and ne2t to be reclaimed andrebuilt, and get as man sho'el%read "rojects"ecs lined u" in the "i"eline as "ossible. 1hen4 would ha'e m assistant or grant%finder startfilling out as man new grant re uesta""lications that we can find out there for bothstate and federal funds, when a'ailable, to addto what was ho"efull alread re uested and

granted to take as much ad'antage of thefalling oil and gas "rices as "ossible. 4f "rojectsare sho'el%read we ma be able jum" ahead ofother a""licants5 re uests or get a grant because of another5s default because the werenot read .

+h ? 4 chose this as m to" "riorit because when times are tough and the "rice of oil ise2"ensi'e, the "rice to do our roads H materialsand stuff F out"aces the cit 5s budget, so weget less roads fi2ed for higher costs. +hen



mone starts getting short we start switchingroad "rojects to accommodate the dollars weha'e and not do our roads that are in need ofre"air the most. ometimes a "roject is "ut onhold or done in "hases. tock "rices of oil andgas are down from where the were a ear agoand 4 feel we must take as much ad'antage ofthis as "ossible.

Pa'ement 8as"halt: is a "etroleum%based"roduct, so as the "rices of fuel and oilfluctuate this can "otentiall affect the cost of"a'ement materials. 9istoricall the trend was when the oil "rices went down the cost of these"roducts did too, or if it went u" our "rices didas well. 1he "rices we see now ma not bea'ailable ne2t ear, so it would be "rudent todo what we can now to catch u" a little bit on what we ha'e not been able to do and "ut off.

+e also need to "ut out there re uests for"ro"osals to get a'ailable contractors to dothese "rojects. 1he more we can bundletogether, the "ossibilit of getting a better "riceto com"lete our road "rojects.

Education is a 'er im"ortant "riorit too, but 4think we F the council and school committeeF can meet our funding challenges once westart working our budget and start knowing what we are going to get from the state. 1heschool de"artment should be OI the rest of this budget ear and ha'e some mone from thisround of state funding, and their fund balance,to start their ne2t ear5s budget "rocess.

4 know that the ha'e, as alwa s, budget dri'ersand some increased funding ma be necessarto co'er them to meet the EP re uirements inthe ne2t budget, which is 'er im"ortant inorder to gi'e our students the t "e of educationthat will hel" them succeed after high schooland "otentiall college, and to earn a degree in whate'er field "eaks their interest.

Public safet to me means "olice and fire and isanother ke "riorit , but 4 think the are all setuntil our ne2t cit budget. 4 think that the are"rett much self%monitored( b this 4 meanthe watch their budgets closel if the FPolice Chief Crowell and =ire Chief )oma Fstart to go o'er budget in one line item oranother. 1he consistentl re'am" their budgets and bring this to the attention of thecit manager and he to us.

1he should be good until we start working on

their ne2t budget. 1here should be some sa'ingon fuel due to the falling market "rices for both"olice and fire and our use of ambulancesinstead of firetrucks for emergenc res"onses.

!onies sa'ed through their 'arious line itemsnot s"ent go back into our >eneral =und andcould be used toward our ne2t cit budget. 4fthere is an indication about &o'ember that

their indi'idual de"artment5s budget for thecit 5s remaining fiscal ear will be e'en a littleoff, or there is an likelihood that the ne2t budget ear our re'enues are going to fall below what the need, the will start now to"re"are for what the ha'e to ha'e to ensurethe safet of the "ublic/Auburn residents.


4 can honestl sa 4 don5t know if this is a goodidea or not without at least tr ing it.

4 would rather tr this with "aint now insteadof later some council just shelling out mone toreall dig u" the road and do it. 4f this isdeemed a bad idea, it can5t be as bad as being acar dri'en down *isbon treet acting sort oflike a "inball made to dri'e on this side thenthat side and back again.

4 do feel that something, whether it is this"ro"osal or not, traffic flow needs to be moreconsistent and encouraged to at least obe thes"eed limit and not allow cars to use Court

treet as a racewa . omething also needs to bedone to correct the cars stacking u" at the lightin front of Auburn 9all that want to turn on to!echanic5s )ow.

Cars on 1urner treet need to take a fewseconds to wait until the can safel turn ontoCourt treet without them, too, blocking theintersection. 1raffic backs u" into *ewistonnow throughout the da and is bottlenecked worse than what "eo"le think could "ossiblha""en with the trial "ro"osal. Our "edestriansalso ha'e rights that are being infringed on.

According to state law the ha'e the right tocross streets at cit intersections. E'en whenthe ha'e the walk light, dri'ers still don5t wantto ield to them.

ackground informationB 1he narrowing ofCourt treet and the "utting in "erha"s a



center turning lane, a bike "ath and "arking atleast on the Engine 9ouse, came about fromthat 7 uild !aine7 conference that was held in!a of # $ 8and 4 think also from the ikePed Committee as well as "art of the Com"lete

treets new "olic : as "art of their tacticalurbanism demonstration "roject.

4t was to be set u" and "ut in "lace for a short

time "eriod, but the "roject couldn5t ha'e been"ut in "lace in time for the conference. 1hecouncil then thought or suggested it could bedone at another time, for at least three months,for just "rett much the cost of "aint. 1o date 4ha'e recei'ed two emails and two "honemessages against this, read a cou"le of newsstories on this and ha'e seen one letter to theeditor, and fi'e "eo"le in "erson ha'e said thatthis was a dumb idea.


1a2 incenti'es sometimes hel" balance the"la ing field between the new businesses that want to come to !aine to relocate or start theirnew business fresh, and the cities or towns thatthe are courting and tr ing to make the bestchoice.

4t is also a wa to see or gauge the "ublicsu""ort in that communit b what is "ut onthe table. And also how reall willing the business is to make concessions to make thedeal work.

Ge"ending on the si6e of the business, and t "eof state and federal grants that could hel" the business with their earl cash flow andfinancing of their build, and also for bringing inthe e ui"ment necessar to o"erate their business. 1hese grants also hel", sometimes, totrain workers not totall trained to meet theneeds of the business, and also hel" "eo"le whoare willing to learn a new trade get theeducation and on%the%job e2"erience.

4 am usuall in fa'or of most of the 14=s 81a24ncrement =inance: deals that ha'e come infront of the council when 4 ha'e felt, based onthe information "resented, that the were doneright and would be of a benefit to the cit and Auburn ta2"a ers.

Auburn has two t "es of 14= agreements( onefor infrastructure and the other is a CreditEnhancement Agreement 8CEA:. oth ha'ecertain re uirements and conditions orrestrictions that ha'e to be met, like for jobcreation for one.

Auburn has set u" 14=s in areas that the wantto attract new businesses or ha'e businessesrelocate. 1he more businesses that come to Auburn, the better our ta2 base and the more jobs we ha'e to kee" our oung "eo"le andthose with families here and e'entuall lessenthe burden on our ta2"a ers. 4 feel that our citshould offer them as long as these "ros"ecti'e businesses meet all the re uirements,conditions and restrictions and the cit , too,has done its 7homework,7 and if it is in the bestinterest of Auburn residents.

)obert C+ "enneal#

Email address: gim"[email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bmenneal

Occupation or primarysource of income: )etired

Education: in education 0!O, $ <$B !PAat 0!O, $ < %ish

Family information: 4 am married to ahard%working wife and ha'e two adult children.

Public offices sought or held: =ormer

three%term Auburn cit councilor, and Auburnewer Gistrict trustee.


4 ha'e alwa s been interested/in'ol'ed ingo'ernment, ser'ing as an intern to en.!uskie5s enate ubcommittee on4ntergo'ernmental )elations in $ < , attendingthe first Earth Ga , and am a former three%term Auburn cit councilor.


4 think the budget "assed last ear was a good



one.


4 think education, road re"air, "ublic safet areall e uall deser'ing, though a new high schoolis a big "riorit ."ourt #treet could be narro ed fromfour travel lanes to t o in $%&'( )s that agood idea or not, and hy do you feel

that ay?

&o, 4 do not think that is a good idea.


4 think each case must be re'iewed carefull , but broadening our ta2 base is 'er im"ortantto kee" our ta2 rate affordable to all of ourciti6ens.

)obert A+ evign#

Email address: rse'ign @roadrunner.com

Occupation or primary source of

income: Emergenc 'ehicle mechanicEducation: 9igh school grad and a 'eteran.

Family information: Gaughter and twograndsons.

Public offices sought or held: )unning for Auburn Cit Council at%large


4 am running because 4 feel that there is

nobod on the council that is looking out forthe "ro"ert owners of this cit . 4 can no longerafford to sit on the sidelines while, ear after ear, "ro"ert ta2es continue to rise while 'aluations continue to decline. 4 am also 'erfrustrated with the amount of the "eo"le5s business that is being conducted behind closeddoors in e2ecuti'e session.


1he budget was hard to follow this ear withthe constant funding, de%funding, and re%funding. 4t was like watching the carni'althree%shell game. Iee" our e es on the "ea. +here is the "ea?

4 think some things were funded high, whileother things were funded low. 4 would not besur"rised if some cit de"artments comelooking for more mone in =ebruar .

With a limited budget and kno ing hat

you kno no , hat ould be your topspending priority among these threeservices: road repair, education orpublic safety? Why?

All three are e uall im"ortant. 1he roads andsidewalks are atrocious, our schools are in astate of disre"air, and "ublic safet needs alittle attention. 4t is going to take some serious"eo"le with common sense to straighten outthe shi" and get it back on course.


4 think it is a bad idea to choke Court treetdown to two lanes. 4t will create backu"s on both sides of the bridge, raise tem"ers, andcreate road rage. 4 sus"ect the accident countma also rise. As someone who dri'es a lot, 4alwa s thought that it was a good idea to kee"traffic flowing smoothl .


4n communities that use ta2 incrementfinancing as freel as Auburn does, "ro"ertta2es are at least $ "ercent higher than theneed to be. +hen the cit returns < "ercent to$ "ercent of ta2es back to de'elo"ers, theadded burden of the "roject is then shifted toe2isting "ro"ert owners.

Our schools greatl suffer from 14=s. All newde'elo"ment should be ta2ed at the same rateas e'er one else, with that new income being



used to maintain our infrastructure and tolower the ta2 burden on e2isting "ro"ert

owners. +ouldn5t it be nice if we could get ourta2 bills and actuall see a decrease?

*avi! C+ oung

Email address:da'idcolb [email protected]

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/ AuburnCit Councilor;oung

Other social media? !ostof m other social media accounts relate toeither running or histor . ee Androscoggin2istorical Society , on =acebook, the Androscoggin 2istorical Society and###.$ainerunningphotos.co$ if ou want to seeanother 'iew of Ga'id Colb ;oung

Occupation or primary source ofincome: !achine o"erator

Education: education from 0!=

Family information: +ifeB Eli6abeth Ieene ;oung, E*9 Class of $ < . GaughtersB Am ;oung of Auburn E*9 Class of # , and andCaroline ;oung Coffin of Auburn E*9 Class of# , and a son%in%law, Gana Coffin of Auburn, who attended O2ford 9ills 9igh

chool. ! wife and 4 ha'e two granddaughtersand one grandson.

Public offices sought or held:

Auburn chool Committee $ < %$ , +ard -( Auburn chool Committee # %# $ , ma orala""ointments b !a ors >leason and *a onte( +ard - cit councilor, Januar # %Gecember# $ ( cit councilor at%large, Gecember # $ %"resent.


4f ou need a "erson who can kee" his cool, is willing to hear both sides of an issue, take ideasand get them into action "lease send me backto finish the work we started. 4 would like toalso be "art of additional "rojects ad'ancingthe cit for the better.


>reatK +e had "ring Clean%u" back in the budget. 4t is not to sa it will be held e'er ear, but it is a ser'ice that man 'oters su""ort. +eha'e been tr ing to dro" down our debt limitthe "ast few ears. 1he Auburn Cit Council, inits "lanning, knows that future cit councils will ha'e needs for bonding, "erha"s for afuture new high school? )aising someone5sta2es for ears is not the road we want to godown.


Past cit councilors sa'ed mone in the short%run, and now we will ha'e to "a more to getour roads back in order. +e are behind onman of our road "rojects, but 4 feel that we aregoing in a better direction now. ;es, this is a"roblem. +e do ha'e a "lan.

Education and roads are im"ortant, but it is notright to com"are them to "ublic safet 8fire and"olice: because education and some roads ha'eother "ools of mone . +e ha'e taken o'er theambulance ser'ice from 0nited. +e will ha'e to wait to see it this will be an im"ro'ement to ourcash flow


1his is not a good idea. 4 understand some ofthe thinking on this, but it is not the directionthat will turn Court treet into a sho""ing

district. Please, if ou disagree with me, call so we can talk.


14=s are a great tool, but 4 like the ones withshort terms and do not think the should beused when the are not needed.


http://www.facebook.com/AuburnCityCouncilorYoung

https://www.facebook.com/Androscoggin-Historical-Society-108962565819250/timeline/?ref=hl%20


http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~meandrhs/


http://www.mainerunningphotos.com/













c%ool Committee Can!i!ates

c%ool Committee 'ar! 1

2o candidates registered to run for the o"en seat in Ward 1.


Bonnie a#es

Email address:jha es$<#@gmail.com

Occupation orprimary source ofincome: )etired businessde'elo"ment manager

Education: Education%0ni'ersit of!aine, Orono

Family information: !arried to )obert9a es, # children, grandchildren

Public offices sought or held: Auburnchool Committee

Why are you running for office?

4 belie'e in "ublic education and that childrenshould be "re"ared to be acti'e "artici"ants inthe communities that the li'e in.

4 want to "ro'ide the E 1 education for thechildren of Auburn with the most reasonablecost to the citi6ens of Auburn.

What do you like about the school budget passed this year, and hat don!t you like? Was it too high, too lo , justright?

1he budget "ro'ided the o""ortunit for an7ade uate7 education for our students, but doesnot "ro'ide for inno'ati'e initiati'es.

4f elected, would ou su""ort a budget that boosts "rogram s"ending, maintains it or cutsit ?

All "rograms need to be re'iewed annuall .

Who should pay for Officer Friendlyprogram, hich puts uburn police inthe schools, the city or the #chool-epartment?

1he Auburn Police Ge"artment.

c%ool Committee 'ar!

%omas "+ 3en!all

Candidate *ho$as 3endall= the incu$bent school co$$ittee candidate= declined to sub$it responses to theSun JournalEs @uestions. 3endall has no challengers 9or this seat.

c%ool Committee 'ar! -

amm# &+ 4eilson

-ccupation or primar! source ofincome* O99ice coordinator at John

. Murphy 2o$es

/$! are !ou running for office

8E$ running 9or this position because 8 9eel 8 can

$a e a positi0e contribution to the SchoolCo$$ittee.

89 elected= $y 9ore$ost concern #ould besupporting our teachers and students= beco$ing anad0ocate 9or their needs. As the parent o9 a studentin the public school syste$= 8 ha0e a direct



connection #ith our schools and ha0e a strongdesire to see that our educators are pro0ided #iththe tools they need in order to guide our children toreach their 9ull potential.

/$at do !ou li e about t$e sc$ool budget passedt$is !ear, and &$at don t !ou li e /as it too$ig$, too lo&, ust rig$t

8 thin itEs great that #e #ere able to get the budget passed this ti$e= ho#e0er 8 belie0e it lea0esso$ething to be desired. *his budget #asnEt e0ensu99icient to $aintain the ser0ices and progra$salready in place let alone allo# any roo$ 9ori$pro0e$ent or eIpansion.

8 thin it sends a pretty disappointing $essage aboutho# $uch priority is placed on our schools. *hishas to change i9 #e hope to encourage our city to

prosper.

,reat schools are the 9oundation o9 a prosperousco$$unity.

f elected, &ould !ou support a budget t$atboosts program spending, maintains it or cuts it

Cutting the budget 9urther is counter/intuiti0e as thecost o9 educating our children certainly isnEt

decreasing. 1ou #ouldnEt eIpect to run a businesssuccess9ully #ith a less than ade@uate budget. hydoes this continue to be an acceptable scenario 9oreducating our children

8 donEt loo 9or#ard to that taI bill arri0ing any$ore than any other citiKen in this city but 8 can tellyou 8 #ould $uch rather see that nu$ber get largerthan to see our schools cut 0ital positions and

progra$s.Our children are the 9uture o9 our co$$unities= o9our city and this state. e do the$ and oursel0es agra0e disser0ice by not $a ing their education a

priority.

/$o s$ould pa! for -fficer +riendl! program,&$ic$ puts Auburn police in t$e sc$ools, t$e cit!or t$e #c$ool 6epartment

8 donEt thin #e can realistically eIpect to as theschool depart$ent to incur the cost o9 the O99icer

riendly progra$ #hen they arenEt gi0en su99icient9unding to $aintain positions and progra$s theyalready ha0e in place. 8 belie0e the city shouldeither 9und it or pro0ide a signi9icant portion o9 the9unding 9or the progra$.


*aniel + Poisson

Email address* d9poisson aol.co$

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* Auto $echanic

Education* ?ocational school

+amil! information : Married to#i9e 2eidiD t#o sons= Chris and)anny and daughter 3aseyDthree grandchildren= Braden=2aley and Maddison.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld*Currently ser0e on (ecreation Board and hope toser0e on School Co$$ittee as ard 5 $e$ber.


*rying to $a e a di99erence in Auburn schoolsyste$ and continue to $a e Auburn the best placeto li0e= #or and get a great education.

/$at do !ou li e about t$e sc$ool budget passed

t$is !ear, and &$at don t !ou li e /as it too$ig$, too lo&, ust rig$t

8 thin it #as an O3 budget= but see$s to ta e tolong to reach a budget that is acceptable. 8 thinsta99 needs to present a budget that is going to beacceptable to the taIpayers. e need to #or on$oney sa0ing #ays to stay on budget= but also

pro0ide the best education #e can a99ord #ithoutraising taIes higher.

f elected, &ould !ou support a budget t$atboosts program spending, maintains it or cuts it

8 #ould li e to $aintain the budget and thin aboutconsolidating schools together to sa0e operationcost and $aintenance costs 9or the 9uture.

/$o s$ould pa! for -fficer +riendl! program,&$ic$ puts Auburn police in t$e sc$ools, t$e cit!or t$e #c$ool 6epartment

8 thin the school and police depart$ent shouldshare the costs.



c%ool Committee At large

+our candidates are see)ing the two o"en at-large seats Brent M. Bilodeau +aith A.+ontaine John B. Carney Lawrence B. Pelletier

Brent "+ Bilo!eau

Email address: [email protected]

Other social media?

www.linkedin.com/in/bilodeaubrent

Occupation or primary source ofincome: oftware technical su""ort

Education: . . ates College

Family information: ! wife 1amm and 4ha'e two children, a son who is a se'enth%grader at Auburn !iddle chool, and adaughter who is a fourth%grader at herwood9eights chool.Public offices sought or held: Current at%large chool Committee member.

Why are you running for office?

4 am running for re%election, ha'ing just beenelected in June5s s"ecial election.

4 ha'e enjo ed the o""ortunit and ha'elearned a great deal with res"ect to how theschool de"artment functions. 4 want to be more

in'ol'ed in decisions regarding our schools stem and its future direction. 4 am "racticaland will ask uestions of the administrationand e2"ect accountabilit .

4t is m goal to bring more communicationfrom the school administration to "arents andfamilies. Parents and communit membersshould feel welcome to attend school functions,

chool Committee meetings, and to ask anand all uestions the ha'e. 4f we do not ha'etrans"arenc , how can initiati'es and goals be

trul understood and su""orted? O"en andhonest communication will be a ke to thesuccess of the Auburn chool Ge"artment.

What do you like about the school budget passed this year, and hat don!t you like? Was it too high, too lo , justright?

4 belie'e the budget "assed this ear was a goodcom"romise between the chool Committeeand Cit Council, a ste" in the right direction. 4understand the budget restraints we ha'e and want to make sure we s"end our mone as wisel as "ossible. 4 do belie'e we need to focus

our budget more on su""orting staff and"ro'iding an e ual education to all children.

)f elected, ould you support a budgetthat boosts program spending,maintains it or cuts it ?

4 would su""ort a slightl higher school budget with funds focused on maintaining ourfacilities, in'esting in our staff and su""orting"ositions that work directl with our students. All are essential to the success of our students.

Who should pay for Officer Friendlyprogram, hich puts uburn Police inthe schools, the city or the #chool-epartment?

"litting the cost of the Officer =riendl"rogram between the schools and the cit is agood balance. 1he "rogram benefits both theschools and our Auburn communit as a whole.4t is m belief that it allows the students tode'elo" a "ositi'e relationshi" with our "olicede"artment that the otherwise wouldn5t ha'e.

$o%n B+ Carne#

Email address* ac bencarney aol.co$

-ccupation or primar!source of income**eacher

Education* MasterEs degree 9ro$ FSM

+amil! information* Married 9or &- years #ith t#ogro#n daughters.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* one


Li e $any Auburn residents= 8 ha0e been perpleIed

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bilodeaubrent

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bilodeaubrent



by the rancor and di99iculties around thede0elop$ent o9 the annual school budget and long/ter$ issues such as the replace$ent or repair o9+d#ard Little 2igh School.

*he best #ay to 9igure out ho# to sol0e proble$s isto beco$e in0ol0ed in the process and beco$e parto9 the solutions= so 8 decided to run 9or an at/largeseat on the School Co$$ittee.


hat pleased $e the $ost about the school budgetthis year #as that $ultiple 0otes #ere not necessaryto pass the budget. *here are al#ays opportunities9or co$pro$ise in any process= especially one thatta es place o0er se0eral $onths.

2o#e0er= this yearEs 9inal school budget did notnecessarily re9lect a city go0ern$ent that has $adeeducation the priority. or this reason= the budget#as too lo#.

f elected, &ould !ou support a budget t$atboosts program spending, maintains it or cutsit

8 #ould #or to reach a budget that $eets the needso9 the students and the resources o9 the taIpayers.*o li$it $y ans#er to boosting= $aintaining= orcutting the budget #ould not recogniKe theco$pleIity o9 the budget process. *he budget

should re9lect the i$portance that the city places onthe education o9 its students.

/$o s$ould pa! for -fficer +riendl! program,&$ic$ puts Auburn olice in t$e sc$ools, t$e cit!or t$e #c$ool 6epartment

*he city o9 Auburn. 8 cannot thin o9 a $orei$portant 9unction o9 the city than eeping its $ost0ulnerable and youngest citiKens sa9e. Perhaps thisissue best illustrates the un9ortunate di0ision

bet#een the City Council and the School

)epart$ent.

ait% A+ ontaine

Email address*9aith.9ontaine

g$ail.co$

+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$

9aithg9ontaine-t$er social media 8nstagra$: 9aith9ontaine!

-ccupation or primar! source of income* 8E$currently a ho$e$a er and in0esting in the 9utureo9 $y children and our 9a$ily. 8 0olunteer regularly#ithin the Auburn schools as #ell as 9or $y churchand local youth athletic progra$s.

Education* BS nursing

+amil! information* My husband Brendanontaine and 8 ha0e three children that are currently

enrolled in the Auburn public school syste$. ,raceG!4H is a 9resh$an at +L2S= 2ope G-H is in the 9irstgrade at air0ie# and MaIi$us G4H is in pre/3 at

air0ie#.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* See ing at/largeSchool Co$$ittee position.


8 a$ running 9or o99ice because 8 no# that the eyto the 9uture= and the 9uture o9 Auburn= is ourchildren.

8 belie0e our schools ha0e the greatest ability toshape and $old the 9uture o9 our children and ourco$$unity= second only to 9a$ily. 8 belie0e ourchildren not only deser0e but need a public schoolsyste$ that ensures that e0ery child recei0es aco$prehensi0e education #here they ac@uire the9unda$ental no#ledge and s ills they #ill need to

be success9ul.

A co$prehensi0e education is one that incorporatesthe $ost $odern and pro0en teaching techni@uesthroughout the country= including the use o9 cutting/edge technology. +ach student deser0es a learningen0iron$ent that can be custo$iKed to ensure eachchildEs success.

Our children deser0e the best educators possible.Our teachers $ust be inno0ati0e= 9leIible= 9ully/in0ested and open/$inded to ne# technology that#ill i$pro0e the classroo$ learning en0iron$ent.+0ery child should be gi0en the chance to thri0e inour schools and be gi0en opportunities to besuccess9ul and not ust get by.

inally= 8 belie0e in the saying 8t *a es a ?illage to(aise a Child. Our childrenEs learning doesnEt stop#ithin the classroo$ #alls. Our entire co$$unity$ust accept a certain degree o9 accountability #henit co$es to the 9uture o9 our children. 8 #ant to be a0oice 9or our children and taIpayers in ourco$$unity to $a e the best decisions possible toensure #e are success9ul as a co$$unity.


https://www.facebook.com/faithgfontaine








8 #as happy to see that this yearEs increased budget#as passed to support necessary special education

progra$s and ne# technologies needed 9or ourclassroo$s.

*he physical age o9 our 9acilities= such as +d#ardLittle 2igh School= is concerning to $e. 8 a$concerned about the reduction in the building$aintenance budget.

8 #ould also li e to see the return o9 the technologyintegrator position that #as eli$inated this year.*echnology and @uali9ied technological educatorsare essential 9or our children and their learning.

My hope is that the School Co$$ittee and the cityo9 Auburn can create ne# #ays o9 9unding theschool budget so that it does not co$e at theeIpense o9 increased property taIes 9or Auburnho$eo#ners.


8 belie0e the school budget $ust be balanced and9air= but #illing and able to 9leI and boost #hene0ernecessary. *he budget needs to ensure that oureducators and our 9acilities are at the highest and

best le0el that our co$$unity and children deser0e.


8 a$ in 9a0or #ith city o9 Auburn 9unding theO99icer riendly Progra$. Our co$$unity should9eel a certain le0el o9 accountability 9or the 9uture o9our children and 8 belie0e the city and the AuburnPolice )epart$ent are co$$itted to the sa9ety o9our children #hile they are #ithin our schools= as#ell as #hen they are #ithin the co$$unity. *he

9inancial cost should not 9all under the AuburnSchool )epart$ent budget.

&a(rence B+ Pelletier

Email address*concernedcitiKen!&6 g$ail.co$

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* (etired presently#or ing at BonnieEs Preschool

and )ay CareEducation* ,raduate o9 +d#ardLittle 2igh School= Class o9 !6-5

+amil! information* Married 9or o0er 47 years to a#onder9ul #o$an #ho 8 $et in 3o o$o= 8ndiana=#hile ser0ing in the F.S. Air orce. e ha0e t#ochildrenD ,reg= #ho li0es in a local co$$unity= andChris= #ho has recently $o0ed to ?irginia.

e ha0e se0en grandchildren and one great/grandson.

e ha0e li0ed in e# Auburn since !6"& and lo0ethis co$$unity 0ery $uch.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* 8 ha0e ser0ed on theSchool Co$$ittee 9or & ! & years and chose toresign a9ter incurring in uries 9ro$ a 9all.

/$! are !ou running for office My dad once told$e= 89 you choose to start so$ething= $a e sureyou also choose to 9inish.

/$at do !ou li e about t$e sc$ool budget passedt$is !ear, and &$at don t !ou li e /as it too

$ig$, too lo&, ust rig$t

8 li e the 9act that it passed at the 9irst re9erendu$.

8 donEt li e the 9act that e0ery year #e ha0e tostruggle and argue about #hat that budget shouldcontain. Also that state and 9eds are al#aysinstru$ental on #hat #e can and canEt do. A9ter the

budget is passed= then #e are told that there areeItra 9unds that #e can no# decide #here to put

bac into progra$s that #e ha0e cut in order 9or the budget to pass.

8 #ould ha0e li ed to= one year= ha0e oursuperintendent propose a budget that he or she 9eelsis needed= one that the sta99 agrees on and also theSchool Co$$ittee thin s is 9air 9or all= especiallythe co$$unity. 2a0ing said that= 8 thin the school

budget has been too lo# 9or se0eral years no# and ithas ta en its toll.


Special education is an area #here #e need to be0igilant in 9inding #ays to 9und #ithout brea ingthe bac s o9 the a0erage citiKen in this co$$unity.Our special ed progra$ is one o9 the best in thenation= but because o9 the #ay it is paid 9or it ta esa#ay 9ro$ other also i$portant progra$s.




8 a$ o ay #ith a 5% 5% split 9or this progra$. Ourchie9 o9 police has said that this is a oint e99ort= anthere9ore 8 thin it should be paid 9or by bothgo0ern$ent bodies.



&e(iston voter informationPolling Places

ard !: Le#iston Ar$ory -5 Central A0e.ard &: Montello School 4%7 +ast A0e.ard ': Le#iston Ar$ory -5 Central A0e.

ard 4: Longley +le$entary School !45 Birch St.ard 5: Longley +le$entary School !45 Birch St.ard -: *he ,reen Ladle L(*C !5- +ast A0e.ard 7: Longley +le$entary School !45 Birch St.

Absentee Ballots Call or 0isit the City Cler s o99ice in Le#iston City 2all to register 9or an absentee ballot or go the city s#ebsite= ###.le#iston$aine.go0. Ballots can be re@uested until Oct. &6= &%!5 and $ust be returned by "

p.$. o0. '. Contact City Cler : 3athy Monte o= $onte o le#iston$aine.go0 or &%7 5!'/'!&4= 9or $orein9or$ation.

Open eats

Mayor Ben,amin $. ChinLu%e D. JensenRobert ". Ma+dona!dSte-hen J. Mor)anChar!es Arthur Sou!e

School Committee At large John T. But!er Jr.Me)an D. Par%s

City Council Ward 1 Les!ie T. DuboisJames J. Lysen

School Committee Ward 1 Linda M. S+ott

City Council Ward 2 Timothy J. La,oieMar+ R. Roy

School Committee Ward 2 Pau! R. St. Pierre

City Council Ward 3 sobe! Ca!derwood Moi!es School Committee Ward 3 Fran+is #a)non

City Council Ward 4 Shane Bou+hard School Committee Ward 4 James R. HandyBen,amin J. Martin

City Council Ward 5 risten S. C!outier B!aine B. Linton

School Committee Ward 5 Jama Aden MohamedRi+hard L. $hite

City Council Ward 6 Jo!ine Landry BeamSte-hen F. Mi!!er Brian Da!e $ood

School Committee Ward 6 Dawn M. Harti!!Matthew Pau! Roy

City Council Ward 7 ristine "!ise ittrid)eMi+hae! R. La+han+e

School Committee Ward 7 Tina Hut+hinsonThomas P. Shannon



&e(iston Can!i!ate Profiles"a#oral Can!i!ates

+i,e candidates are see)ing the mayor3s chair Ben4amin Chin Lu)e Jensen incumbentRobert Macdonald !te"hen Morgan and Charles !oule.

Ben6amin '+ C%in

Email address*

benchin9or$ayor g$ail.co$

+aceboo * ###.9aceboo .co$ benchin9or$ayor

-t$er social media

ebsite: http: benchin9or$ayor.co$

*#itter: bchin$e

8nstagra$: benchin9or$ayor

-ccupation or primar! source of income* MainePeopleEs Alliance political director

Education* Bates College

+amil! information* My #i9e icola and 8 areeIpecting our 9irst child on Oct. '% e li0e on3ensington *errace= a @uiet street o99 Montello= nearthe *horncrag Bird Sanctuary.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* Candidate 9or $ayoro9 Le#iston


My #i9e and 8 are eIcited about raising a young9a$ily in Le#istonD our city has so $uch potential.

At the sa$e ti$e= #e ha0e 9ar too $any corporateslu$lords li e Joe )unne= *ed est and (icLoc #ood #ho ta e ad0antage o9 people= gi0eus a bad reputation= and bloc legiti$ate econo$icde0elop$ent.

8tEs ti$e to raise our standards. e need ne# ideasand ne# energy in city hall.

O0er the last !% years= 8E0e sho#n 8 no# ho# toget big things done. 8n &%%5= 8 helped lead the e99ortto stand up to our 9or$er city ad$inistrator= Ji$Bennett= around the so/called 2eritage 8nitiati0e.8n &%!!= 8 led the e99ort to protect sa$e/day 0oterregistration in Maine= gathering o0er 7%=%%%signatures in &' days to bloc its repeal through aPeopleEs ?eto. 8n &%!&= 8 helped lead the ca$paignto pre0ent o0er 5%=%%% seniors and people #ith

disabilities 9ro$ losing prescription drug assistance

to pay 9or the go0ernorEs taI brea s 9or the rich. 8n&%!'= 8 negotiated an additional <&& $illion in

property taI assistance through the Property *aIairness Credit.

Just this year #hen the go0ernor #anted to ta e$illions a#ay 9ro$ Le#iston in his budget 8helped lead the e99ort to pass a budget that actuallyincreased education 9unding 9or Le#istonEs schools.8E$ currently leading the state#ide 0olunteer e99ortto gather signatures to raise MaineEs $ini$u$#age. 8tEs ti$e Le#iston had a leader #ith that indo9 a record.



*he $ayorEs ob isnEt to pic 9a0orites a$ong citydepart$ents. *he $ayorEs ob is to le0erageresources 9or the city so that e0ery depart$ent has#hat it needs to be success9ul.

8 $entioned earlier that ,o0. LePage continues touse $unicipal re0enue sharing as his piggy ban to

pay 9or taI brea s 9or the rich. +0eryone loo ing outtheir #indo# at a pot hole= or #ondering #hy acertain progra$ isnEt o99ered at school= or #orryingabout police and 9ire protection= needs to no# onething: 89 Le#iston continues to roll o0er e0ery ti$ethe go0ernor uses us to pay 9or taI brea s 9or therich= #e are ne0er going to ha0e the roads= schools=and public sa9ety #e deser0e.

*he hospitals got their $oney bac . *he teachers

are beginning to $a e progress on education9unding. *hereEs no eIcuse 9or Le#iston and e0eryother $unicipality in Maine to accept this bullying.

e need a leader #ho can actually stand up 9or ourcity.


*he biggest proble$ #ith Le#istonEs budget is that#e li e e0ery other $unicipality in the state


http://www.facebook.com/benchinformayor






are o#ed tens o9 $illions o9 dollars 9ro$ the state.Le#iston si$ply canEt do right by its propertytaIpayers i9 the state doesnEt do right by us.

*he good ne#s is that itEs co$pletely possible. Lastyear= 8 #or ed in a coalition #ith teachers #hoorganiKed a state#ide e99ort that success9ully and#ith bi/partisan support increased 9unding 9orschools. Le#istonEs schools sa# $ore 9unding as a

result.*#o years ago= ,o0. LePage 9ound <5%% $illion to

pay bac the hospitals. 8tEs ti$e that the $ayors o9MaineEs largest cities 9ollo#ed the eIa$ple o9teachers and hospitals in de$anding that Augustastop using $unicipal re0enue sharing as a piggy

ban 9or taI brea s 9or the rich.

ealthy Mainers ha0e had their taIes lo#ered t#icein the last 9our years. hen 8E$ $ayor= 8 #ant tolead the charge in getting our $oney bac .

/$at about land ban ing #$ould t$e cit! beallo&ed to set aside parcels for specific inds ofdevelopment, sa! to promote retail or $ousingaround t$e river front

Land ban ing is an interesting idea. hat $atters$ost in housing= ho#e0er= is #ho o#ns it. Bac#hen people li0ed in the buildings they o#ned=Le#iston did not ha0e nearly the inds o9 housingissues #e do no#. A 9e# corporate slu$lords no#control so $uch property do#nto#n that they #ould

be the ninth/largest property taIpayer in the city i9all their assets #ere co$bined.

My ca$paign is releasing a series o9 ideas on ho#to crac do#n on the s$all nu$ber o9 0ery badlandlords= and $o0e that property bac to aresident/o#ned $odel.

/$at &ould !ou do to improve %e&iston sdo&nto&n $ousing stoc #$ould t$e cit! evenbe involved in do&nto&n $ousing /$! do !out$in t$at

Le#iston collects $ore in 9ines 9ro$ o0erduelibrary boo s than #e do 9ro$ housing code0iolations. *hat is absurd. e need to $a e 9ines onthe big 0iolations li e loss o9 heat and hot #aterin the #inter= plu$bing and 9ire sa9ety eIpensi0eenough to actually change the beha0ior o9 the #orstlandlords.

*hen= #e need to le0erage the in0est$ent necessaryto rebuild do#nto#n. e ha0e already spent <4$illion o9 public $oney de$olishing 5"' units o9housing. Property taIpayers can no longer beeIpected to pic up the tab #hen corporateslu$lords canEt ta e care o9 their buildings.

8 #ant to 9lip it eIactly the other #ay around= usingthe 9ines #e get 9ro$ the #orst o99enders to rebuildour city. Again= $y ca$paign #ill be releasing a

plan to support resident/o#ned housing.

&u/e *+ $ensen

Email address*Lu ed ensen yahoo.co$

+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$lu e9orle#iston

-ccupation or primar!source of income* Ban ingspecialist= *) Ban

Education* B.A. international relations= LynchburgCollege

+amil! information* &4 years old= single= 9i9th/generation Le#iston resident.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* Past candidate 9or2ouse )istrict 5" o9 the Maine Legislature= &%!4D

present associate $e$ber= Le#iston 2istoricPreser0ation (e0ie# Board.


Le#iston is $y ho$e. As a young person #hoearned a bachelorEs degree and returned ho$e tostart a pro9essional career= and as the only $ayoralcandidate born and raised here in Le#iston= 8 #ill

bring a uni@ue perspecti0e to the $ayorEs o99ice thathas ne0er been there be9ore.

e absolutely need to $a e Le#iston a city #hereour young people #ant to stay and in0est in theco$$unity= #hich #ill in turn $a e Le#iston a$ore attracti0e place 9or young indi0iduals and9a$ilies.

At the age o9 !-= 8 #as chair o9 the Le#iston 1outhAd0isory Council= president o9 $y high school classand a delegate 9or Le#istonEs success9ul All/A$erica City bid. 8E0e spent a lot o9 $y young li9egi0ing bac to the city that has $ade $e the person8 a$ today.

8E$ running 9or $ayor because 8 care about the


http://www.facebook.com/lukeforlewiston






place 8 call $y ho$e= 8 al#ays ha0e= and 8 #ish tocontinue $y ser0ice to our city. Le#iston is not adying cityD it is a PhoeniI rising 9ro$ the ashes=ready to spread its #ings.

A young $ayor #ould certainly portray Le#iston asthe ne# and re0italiKed place our city is beco$ing.



Public sa9ety #ill be $y top priority once s#orninto o99ice. Our 9ire9ighters are needed no# $orethan e0er= yet they donEt ha0e the resources theyre@uire to be their 0ery best. 8 #ill prioritiKe theaddition o9 resources to the 9ire depart$ent= #hichthey are certainly as ing 9or.

Our police o99icers also need $ore resources=especially considering the gro#ing use o9 heroin inour co$$unity and state as a #hole. Public sa9ety#ill not 9all through the crac s #hile 8E$ in the$ayorEs seat.


*he budget= li e other recent budgets= le9t a badtaste in $y $outh but it could ha0e been $uch=$uch #orse.

8 co$$end city councilors 9or putting so $uche99ort to#ard lessening the blo# to taIpayers= andloo 9or#ard to #or ing #ith councilors on ne##ays #e can $a e city go0ern$ent $ore e99icient

and cost/e99ecti0e. Property taIpayers= especiallyour seniors on 9iIed inco$es= deser0e and eIpectthat o9 us.


hile 8 disli e the idea o9 co$$on use o9 land ban ing by the city= 8 re$ain cautious as toeli$inating a tool at the cityEs disposal to achie0ethe i$portant goal o9 de0eloping the ri0er9ront area.

8 #ould li e to $a e one point 0ery clear: Le#iston0oters should ha0e the right to re ect indi0idual land

ban ing proposals through citiKen re9erendu$s.


*he city has no choice but to be in0ol0ed inLe#istonEs do#nto#n housing stoc . Many

buildings are dangerous 9or residents and9ire9ighters #ho need to be able to $o0e about9reely in case o9 an e$ergency. (ubbish bet#een

buildings poses 9ire haKards= and s$o e detectorsare co$$only re$o0ed 9ro$ apart$ents.

8Ed li e to see less lo#/inco$e housing do#nto#n=and $ore options 9or young pro9essionals #ho#ould en oy li0ing in a ne#ly/re0italiKed part o9 the

city. 8$pro0ing the do#nto#n areaEs housing $a esLe#iston $ore attracti0e to indi0iduals and businesses that $ay #ish to relocate to our city.

)obert E+ "ac!onal!

-ccupation or primar!source of income* (etired

Education* BS= ortheasternFni0ersity

+amil! information* 8 a$$arried to ?irginia and #eha0e 9our children and 9i0egrandchildren.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld : Current $ayor


8 a$ running to eep the progress o9 the cityachie0ed o0er the last ' ! & years continue. 8 9urthera$ running to hope9ully sub$it and pass long

o0erdue #el9are re9or$.

8 a$ also running to stop one o9 the current $ayoralcandidates 9ro$ turning Le#iston into a #el9aredestination.



Sorely needed road repair and public sa9ety #illha0e to go on the bac burner. 2o# can #e 9undthings that are needed #hen #e ha0e a <!7 $illionspecial education tab #e ha0e to 9und

*hatEs <!7 $illion out o9 a <-% $illion budget. 89 it#as not 9or the school superintendent and theSchool Co$$ittee= Le#iston $ight be loo ing at a$illion or $ore added to the current 9igure.




A <&7 plus $il rate is $uch too high. Both thecouncil and School Co$$ittee $e$bers did a good

ob eeping it under <&" $ils. Mandates 9ro$ thestate and 9ederal go0ern$ents= the illing andre#riting o9 #el9are bills sub$itted by the city= and

the 9act that #e are a ser0ice center co$$unity #illcontinue to dri0e up taIes.


1es. e are in desperate need o9 businesses and

land ban ing. Let the city control #hat type o9 businesses and or housing are built in an area.


e $ust continue to tear do#n buildings that areuninhabitable. e 9urther need to 9ind a source o99unding in order to help current landlords 9iI uptheir buildings.

One blighted neighborhood #ill o0ershado# !%0ibrant neighborhoods= thus gaining Le#iston a

poor reputation. Lastly the #or ing poor needdecent housingD they are the cogs that eep any cityrunning.

tep%en $+ "organ

Email address*ste0e ste0e$organgroup.co$

+aceboo * ###.9aceboo .co$Ste0eMorgan orMayor

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* (eal estate agent

Education* ashington County ?ocational*echnical Center

+amil! information* Married to )ina G)onohueH

Morgan 9or al$ost '% yearsD daughter icole= sonadeD 9i0e grandchildren A0a= 8saiah= Josiah=(egan= )ailen.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* Currently running9or $ayor= past president o9 the Le#iston CityCouncil 9or t#o yearsD past chair$an o9 the Le#istonPlanning Board 9or 9i0e yearsD past $e$ber o9 theState Board o9 Property *aI (e0ie#= 9i0e years.


irst= 8 #ould say $y eIperience #ith the publicsector is greater than any other candidate running.

8 ha0e also been a 9ull/ti$e real estate bro er in thisarea 9or &" years. 8 can easily say that 8 ha0e beenin0ol0ed in $ore $ulti/9a$ily sales than ust aboutany other local real estate agent. *hat has gi0en $e auni@ue perspecti0e o9 not ust the do#nto#n area=

but all o9 Le#iston. 89 #e donEt attract ne# businesses to Le#iston #e #ill ne0er build our taI base and it #ill constantly be an uphill battle= tryingto lo#er taIes and the return o9 ser0ices and

do#nto#n i$pro0e$ents.

Le#iston G ust as $any other to#nsH has ust startedto co$e bac 9ro$ a de0astating econo$icdo#nturn o0er the last "/!% years. e are poisedright no# to dra$atically $a e an i$pact on thestate o9 Maine due to our siKe= location in the state=access to the ri0er9ront= rail and airport= etc.

My goal #ould be to encourage and #or #ith ourecono$ic de0elop$ent tea$ and the $a orde0elopers in and outside the area to de0elop theareas around +Iit "%= the Bates Mill buildings= andthe ri0er9ront. *his #ill create increased 9unding 9or

a taI base that #ill help other areas o9 the cityi$pro0e Gi.e. do#nto#n= roads= education etc.H.

*his is not an easy ob= but 8 9eel 8 a$ easy toapproach and tal to= and that #ill $a e $e a gooda$bassador 9or the city. My ability to listen and $ynegotiating s ills #ill help #ith council $eetingsrunning s$oothly. hile being able to bring together

people #ith di99erent points o9 0ie# and help to 9indagreeable solutions.



Public sa9ety 9irst and 9ore$ost. Sa9ety is loo ed at by ust about anyone loo ing to $o0e here. e needstrong police and 9ire depart$ents in order toacco$plish this.

Secondly and not 9ar behind is education #hereagain the local reputation is ey 9or not only bringingin people to Le#iston= but eeping the$ here.


http://www.facebook.com/SteveMorganForMayor







(oads un9ortunately are a di99erent and di99icultstory. 89 8 re$e$ber correctly Le#iston has roughly!'" plus or $inus $iles o9 roads that need to be$aintained and= #ith the 9unds that are a0ailable= thecity is behind and it #ill ta e eItra 9unding 9or itto

eep up but that is still nu$ber three in priority.


$ig$, too lo&, ust rig$tAgain this year the 9inal budget is running too highand the current $ayor and City Council did a great

ob at trying to $a e the nu$bers #or in 9a0or o9the #hole o9 the city= considering #hat they had to#or #ith.

8 #ould ta e you bac to the pre0ious @uestion and$y ans#er regarding increasing the taI base. All city#or ers Gpolice= 9ire= public #or s= etc.H hope andeIpect to get at least a cost o9 li0ing increase. *hese

9unds need to co$e 9ro$ taIes= so #e need thesecond largest city in the state to continue to gro# inorder to eep up and not increase our taIes.


1es= i9 they dee$ it necessary. People need to no#that so$eti$es= due to con9identiality= upco$ingtransactions and negotiations that #ere pri0ate andonly tal ed about in eIecuti0e sessions need to beheeded. 2a0ing ser0ed on the council 8 no# this9irsthand.

*hat said= so$e issues need to be brought to thecitiKensE attention #ith that ind o9 an eIplanation

and a pro$ise that they #ill eIplain #hy they did#hat they did at a later date.

/$at &ould !ou do to improve %e&iston sdo&nto&n $ousing stoc #$ould t$e cit! even beinvolved in do&nto&n $ousing /$! do !out$in t$at

Ob0iously the city needs to be in0ol0ed and a strongcode en9orce$ent o99ice is a ey. ,ood 9ollo# upand attention to details is 0ery i$portant. *his see$sto be one o9 the hot topics on so$e candidatesEagendas= and 9iIing this proble$ co$pletely is closeto i$possible.

Again during the econo$ic decline= large nu$bers o9tenants #ere not able to pay their rent to theirlandlords. Many $o0ed to rents they could a99ord ore0en bac in #ith parents and= un9ortunately= so$ee0en 9ound the$sel0es ho$eless.

Landlords #ere stuc #ith a high nu$ber o90acancies or tenants that could only pay a portion o9the rent across the entire do#nto#n. *his in turncaused $any landlords to not be able to eep up #ith$ortgages= heat= and other utilities in order to$aintain the properties.

8 can re$e$ber se0eral o#ners actually trying to ustabandon the buildings and gi0e the$ bac to their

ban because they couldnEt a99ord the$.

8= $ore than $ost people= understand tenants rightsas #ell as landlord rights. *his is a tough tightrope to

#al = especially #hen the une$ploy$ent rate ishigh= due to a crushed econo$y.

inding a 9iI/all ans#er to this has to be a $iI o9tenants= landlords and code en9orce$ent #or ingtogether to co$e to agreeable solutions.

C%arles Art%ur oule

7ame* Charles Arthur SouleEmail address* online#eb9ire yahoo.co$

-t$er social media ###.soule&%!5$ayor.#ordpress.co$

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* See ing $ayor./$! are !ou running for office /$! s$ouldvoters select !ou for t$is ob Ans#er on###.soule&%!5$ayor.#ordpress.co$/it$ a limited budget and no&ing &$at !ou

no& no&, &$at &ould be !our top spendingpriorit! among t$ese t$ree services* road repair,education or public safet! /$! Ans#er on

###.soule&%!5$ayor.#ordpress.co$/$at do !ou li e about t$e cit! budget passedt$is !ear, and &$at don t !ou li e /as it too$ig$, too lo&, ust rig$t Ans#er on

###.soule&%!5$ayor.#ordpress.co$/$at about land ban ing #$ould t$e cit! beallo&ed to set aside parcels for specific inds ofdevelopment, sa! to promote retail or $ousingaround t$e river front Ans#er on###.soule&%!5$ayor.#ordpress.co$/$at &ould !ou do to improve %e&iston sdo&nto&n $ousing stoc #$ould t$e cit! evenbe involved in do&nto&n $ousing /$! do !out$in t$at Ans#er on###.soule&%!5$ayor.#ordpress.co$



Cit# Council 'ar! 1

/ncumbent City Council Leslie ubois faces challenger Jim Lysen in Ward 1.

&eslie + *ubois

Email address*lesliedubois hot$ail.co$

+aceboo *&&&.faceboo .com8duboisformaine

-t$er social media 8 donot t#eet= tube= gra$ or

blog. Besides $y li$iteduse o9 aceboo = 8 can be 9ound on Lin ed8n.

-ccupation or primar! source of income*Ad$inistration

Education* Business $anage$ent. AssociateEsdegree in co$putersD bachelorEs degree in education9ro$ Fni0ersity o9 Maine Pres@ue 8sleD certi9icatesin A$erican 8nstitute o9 Ban ingD diplo$a 9orgraduating 9ro$ Na$a A$erican 2igh SchoolD andli9e eIperience 9ro$ the school o9 hard noc s. D/H

+amil! information* 8 ha0e li0ed in Le#iston 9orthe past &% years and ha0e been $arried &! years toMichael L. )uboisD ha0e t#o ids G9a$ily petsH= SirBrussels a 6/year/old sil y terrier= and Mr. Jac son=a '/year/old ShitKu.

8 #or as ad$inistrator o9 Michael L. )ubois= P.A.=running the day/to/day operations o9 the la#

practice. 8 #as a $ilitary dependent GAr$y bratH9ro$ birth to &4 years o9 age= 9irst as a daughterGbirth to !"H then as a #i9e to a soldier. A9ter !'years #e di0orced and 8 returned to Pres@ue 8sle in!6"6 #here 8 #ould $eet and later $arry $y truelo0e.

8 ha0e a strong #or ethic and ha0e a yearning 9oreducation and to no# #hatEs happening. 8 belie0e

in and li0e by the F.S. Constitution and the holyBible.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* ard ! citycouncilor= see ing re/election.


8 a$ running 9or re/election 9or ard ! Le#istoncity councilor because 8 en oy gi0ing bac to $yco$$unity. 8 li e to 9ollo# through #ith #hate0er 8do and 9eel there are $any ite$s still le9t undone

9ro$ $y 9irst ter$ in o99ice.

8 belie0e 8 a$ the nu$ber one choice 9or thecitiKens o9 ard != Le#iston City Council. 8 ha0e

de$onstrated that 8 a$ approachable. 8 listen to you=0oice your concerns= #or 9or you and 8 care. 8#ould 0ery $uch li e to continue being the 0oice9or ard !.



8 belie0e the city has 9ocused and balanced all threethis past year.

ith the li$ited budget #e the present CityCouncil ha0e budgeted 9or and prioritiKed theroads needing repair throughout the city. e ha0e$ade great strides in education= ha0e purchased ane# 9ire engine= and there are current progra$s in

place 9or lead re$o0al in do#nto#n housing.

e #ill continue to spend in all three o9 these areas.2o#e0er= $y top priority in spending in the co$ingyear #ould be in public sa9ety= ensuring the #el9areo9 our citiKens. As our city gro#s #e see increaseddrug abuse proble$s= robberies= ho$e in0asions=shootings= 9ires= gang related 0iolence= etc. *here isa need to hire bac personal in our police 9orce=code en9orce$ent and 9ire depart$ents.

e need to 9eel sa9e.


8 belie0e the City Council #or ed #ell together thisyear and 9ocused on priority spending. Cuts #ere$ade #ith $ost o9 the #ant ite$s as #econcentrated on the need ite$s.

As an ad0ocate 9or lo#er taIes= 8 belie0e the budget#as too high= as property o#ners #itnessed in therecent taI bills in increased property taIes. 8 belie0ea lot o9 9ederal and state $andates re@uiring largea$ount o9 city share is a big proble$= andso$ething 8 hope the Legislature #ill deal #ith inits upco$ing ter$.

/$at about land ban ing #$ould t$e cit! beallo&ed to set aside parcels for specific inds of


http://www.facebook.com/duboisformaine







development, sa! to promote retail or $ousingaround t$e river front

My belie9 is that taI/ac@uired property should be put out 9or bid sale to so$eone other than the city=or the person or 9a$ily in de9ault.

Should the city purchase property 9ro$ indi0iduals#ho approach the city because they 9eel itEs their

best interest to do so and 9orgo selling to the pri0atesector o.

Should the city be spending $oney on a site #iththe potential o9 so$e de0eloper ac@uiring the

property at a later date in lieu o9 helping thosecitiKens in need o9 assistance= in lieu o9 eepingtaIes do#n= in lieu o9 cutting sta99= in lieu o9

pro0iding a sa9e Le#iston o.

hen property beco$es a0ailable 9or sale and a#illing purchaser co$es to the Planning Boardregarding de0elop$ent or re/de0elop$ent= thePlanning Board should be able to direct thede0elop$ent and pro$ote the highest best use 9orthe area.

/$at &ould !ou do to improve %e&iston s

do&nto&n $ousing stoc #$ould t$e cit! evenbe involved in do&nto&n $ousing /$! do !out$in t$at

*he city has been aggressi0e in ac@uisition andde$olition o9 the housing stoc = $ore so than e0er

be9ore. *here are progra$s currently in place to rid buildings o9 lead= a tas 9orce designed to en9orcecode and Koning changes to acco$$odate $ar et

rate housing.Should #e continue 1es. Should #e go 9urther1es.

e need to add sta99ing 9or code en9orce$ent and9ire $arshal and be 9orce9ul in ha0ing the o#ner

bring their building to code. *here are also $oniesthrough progra$s a0ailable 9or repairs= and thatshould be ta en ad0antage o9.

And= yes. e need to continue encouraging $ar etrate housing. 2o#e0er= the ones occupying the units

need to care about their surroundings en0iron$entand ta e responsibility= step up and clean up a9terthe$sel0es= clean their belongings and debris 9ro$their unit and in the hall#ays= $a ing a sa9e= li0ablearea.

$ames $+ &#sen

Email address* a$eslysen yahoo.co$

+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$Ji$/Lysen/ or/Le#iston/City/Council

-ccupation or primar!source of income* (etired= Social Security.

Education* Bachelor o9 science= ci0il engineering=(ose/2ul$an 8nstitute. Master o9 city and regional

planning= 8llinois 8nstitute o9 *echnology.

+amil! information*

8 ha0e li0ed at &- *aylor 2ill (oad in ard ! 9or '!years #ith $y #i9e Susann PelletierD a poet= #riterand teacher= and a nati0e o9 Le#iston.

Our daughter ,ene0ie0e= a graduate o9 Le#iston2igh School and 2o9stra Fni0ersity= recently

purchased a house nearby in ard !.

8 retired e# 1earEs +0e a9ter a 45/year career= $osto9 it ser0ing this co$$unity. e are all in9or$ed inour #or by a strong sense o9 social= econo$ic andracial ustice. e are a0id organic gardeners and

support local 9ar$s and businesses.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld*

*his is $y 9irst ca$paign 9or public o99ice.


8 lo0e this co$$unity= 8 thin it deser0es better and8 can help $a e that happen.

8E0e de0oted $y li9e to public ser0ice 9ro$ $y daysas an +agle Scout. 8E0e been co$$itted to ser0eothers throughout $y career as an engineer=Le#iston planning director 9or !5 years= eIecuti0edirector o9 St. MaryEs Co$$unity Clinical Ser0ices9or !& years= and in $y 0olunteer acti0ities.

8 no# Le#iston #ell= and 8 ha0e li0ed in ard !since !6"4. *hrough $y li9e and #or here= 8E0egained uni@ue insights into our co$$unityEsstrengths and challenges. 8 ha0e a #ide and di0ersenet#or o9 people and organiKations that #ill per$it$e to #or collaborati0ely as a city councilor. Asthat net#or gro#s= 8 pledge to 9ind the co$$onground that Le#iston needs to tap its people po#erand resources.



http://www.facebook.com/Jim-Lysen-For-Lewiston-City-Council











irst= 8 do not belie0e in pitting one 0aluable ser0iceagainst another= or that #e are in a constant state o9scarcity and li$ited budgets.

A strong education syste$ and the public sa9ety o9e0ery Le#iston resident should be non/negotiable.Police and 9ire are critically i$portant= and #e $ust$aintain these high @uality ser0ices.

2o#e0er= #e need to ac no#ledge that publicsa9ety is a $uch broader category.

*he city $ust en9orce its housing and buildingcodes= #ith $eaning9ul 9ines 9or non/co$pliance=especially 9or slu$ landlords. Such en9orce$ent#ill raise re0enues= #hile i$pro0ing the sa9ety andi$age o9 our do#nto#n neighborhoods.

*oo $any streets and side#al s in Le#istondesperately need repair= and state 9unding issuesha0e co$plicated addressing this issue. Le9t un/repaired= they present dri0ers= riders and pedestrians#ith unsa9e conditions= and #ith costly car repairs9or $any.

*hat being said= our highest priority should beassuring that all our residents= at all ages= can access@uality education and ob training progra$s. e$ust do this in a #ay that does not depend sohea0ily on local taIpayers= instead aggressi0ely tap9ederal= state and pri0ate sources o9 9unding=

including grants.Le#istonEs 9uture= its @uality o9 li9e and econo$icde0elop$ent= #ill rely partly on ne# industriesand products. *hese include solar and energy/e99icient building and rehabilitation technologies=and other s$all/ to $ediu$/siKed $anu9acturers.Job training progra$s and e$ployers $ust be allied#ith our high school and colleges to build anenergetic= dependable local #or 9orce= paid a 9air#age.


8t #as 0ery bare/bones= #ith $any i$portant needsnot being 9ully addressed. e need to eIploreadditional re0enue/raising options that are not usthidden taIes or 9ees on Le#iston residents= such asthe pay/per/bag trash sche$e. State 9unding 9orschools needs to go up to le0els as already appro0ed

by Maine 0oters.

As pre0iously noted= slu$ landlords need to be heldaccountable and stop causing residents to li0e in un/sa9e conditions #hile costing the city taI dollars.(e0enue sharing 9ro$ the state $ust return tohistoric le0els= #hile all taIpayers need to pay their9air share= including the #ealthy and corporations.*aI shi9ts to the $iddle class and seniors are notacceptable.


Absolutely= the city and other agencies andorganiKations should be allo#ed to land ban

parcels to help create an en0iron$ent #herein0est$ent can occur.

2o#e0er= it $ust be done in open and transparent$anners= #ith 9ull no#ledge o9 the City Council

and the public. (i0er9ront rede0elop$ent= includingour underutiliKed $ill spaces= is a pri$e location 9orland ban ing. 8 #ould add that #e should also bethin ing about 0iable and uni@ue $anu9acturing0entures= li e BaIter Bre#ery.


8 #ould 9ocus on creating and encouraging o#ner/occupied housing= including co/ops to i$pro0edo#nto#n housing stoc .

As pre0iously $entioned= slu$ landlords need to beheld accountable and stop causing residents to li0ein un/sa9e conditions as their apart$ent buildingsdeteriorate. Proper en9orce$ent and 9ines #ould$ore than pay 9or the cityEs costs o9 de$olition andlost property taI re0enues.

8t #ould also protect the rental housing in0est$entso9 the $any good landlords #hoE0e seen the 0alueo9 their properties go do#n.

O9 course= the city and other public agencies should be in0ol0ed in do#nto#n housing. *he pri0atesector= led by slu$ landlords= has had control 9or toolong. Loo at the results. *he residents o9 Le#istonha0e no#n this 9or decades.

8t is ti$e 9or the city to ta e responsible actions anddo its share to i$pro0e housing= peopleEs li0es= thelocal econo$y and Le#istonEs i$age.



Cit# Council 'ar! 2

$wo new candidates $imothy La4oie and Marc Roy see) the Ward # City Council seat.

imot%# $+ &a6oie

Email address*t la oie aol.co$

+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$*i$/La oie/9or/Le#iston/City/Council/ ard/&/&4-&!-7-""64&%7

-t$er social media 2ub Pages blog:http: t la oie.hubpages.co$

-ccupation or primar! source of income**ho$as College= ad unct instructor o9 cri$inal

ustice and public spea ingD corporal= AndroscogginCounty Sheri99Es )epart$ent

Education* Certi9icate o9 graduate study= cri$inal usticeD M.A. in $anage$ent and leadership studiesDM.A. in theological studies

+amil! information* ather o9 t#o gro#n children=#ho also reside in Le#istonD $arried &" years to $ycollege s#eetheartD one grandson.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* (an 9or election toAndroscoggin County sheri99= &%!4D Maine 2ouseo9 (epresentati0es= &%!&.


Le#iston has been $y ho$e 9or nearly 5% years. 8ha0e raised $y children here and hope they #illraise their children here.

8 belie0e so$e o9 the go0ern$ent initiati0es bothat the local and state le0el ha0e discouraged andsti9led the strong 0alues that once bound thisco$$unity together.

8 li0e and #as raised in ard &. 8 no# the residentsand #e share the sa$e 0alues: 9aith= 9a$ily= andhonest hard #or . *hese are the 9oundation o9 any#or ing class co$$unity. 8tEs ti$e to return tothose= and thatEs #hat 8 hope to help Le#iston to do.



Priorities 0ary year to year so 8 donEt #ant to

pro0ide an ans#er that restricts $a ing ad ust$entsyear to year. *oday= 8 belie0e education and publicsa9ety should de$and $ost o9 our attention. Sa9eco$$unities and good schools attract ne# residentsand pri0ate in0est$ent. e #ant to attract people toLe#iston #ho #ant to #or in good obs= li0e ingood neighborhoods= and send their children togood schools.


As a personal philosophy 8 al#ays thingo0ern$ent spends too $uch $oney.

8 #ill be a budget/conscious councilor to $a e sure#e are being responsible #ith the $oney gi0en tous. e ha0e to re$e$ber= as elected representati0es=that #hate0er $oney #e see to spend co$es out o9the poc et o9 so$eone else.

2o#e0er= Le#iston did not borro# as $uch $oneyas in the past= #hich is a good thing. 8n the 9uture itlea0es $ore $oney in the poc ets o9 our citiKens= tospend as they see 9it.

e need to do $ore to lo#er the $il rate toencourage ne# businesses to settle in Le#iston=hope9ully by a0oiding ta ing on the eIpenses o9

progra$s the city cannot a99ord.


*he city should not be spending taIpayer $oney on0acant lots.

)e0elop$ent is best le9t to the pri0ate sector and property should be sold at 9air $ar et 0alue= notgi0en a#ay in the hope that it can be de0eloped intoa re0enue generating property.

89 properties ha0e no co$$ercial 0alue initially= ase0aluated by the pri0ate sector= perhaps the city cano99er incenti0es that #ould $a e a pri0ate in0estorta e a $easured ris on de0eloping a less 0aluable

piece o9 property into one that generates re0enue.

/$at &ould !ou do to improve %e&iston sdo&nto&n $ousing stoc #$ould t$e cit! evenbe involved in do&nto&n $ousing /$! do !ou


http://www.facebook.com/Tim-Lajoie-for-Lewiston-City-Council-Ward-2-246216768894207












t$in t$at

+ncourage pri0ate in0est$ent.

SubsidiKed housing is a part o9 e0ery co$$unity= but pro0iding it should not be part o9 a strategy toattract people to the co$$unity #ho do not #ish tocontribute. ,o0ern$ent entitle$ent $oney is not

the #ay to encourage econo$ic gro#th. Pri0atein0est$ent #ill return #hen the econo$y i$pro0es.

,o0ern$ent in0ol0e$ent= #hether subsidiKinghousing or business= only inhibits @ualityi$pro0e$ent.

"arc )+ )o#Email address*$arcroyca$paign g$ail.co$

-t$er social media Lin ed8n:###.lin edin.co$ in$arcrroycpa

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* Certi9ied public accountant

Education* MasterEs degree= accounting and

9inancial $anage$ent.+amil! information* 8E$ $arried and ha0e t#ochildren.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* 8E0e ne0er held orsought public o99ice be9ore.


8E$ running 9or o99ice si$ply because 8 li e beingin0ol0ed in this co$$unity and en oy lending $yti$e and eIpertise #here 8 thin it #ill help.Particularly= 8 #ant to lend a hand to this co$$unityin continuing its re0i0al.

8 #as born and raised in Le#iston and #hen 8 #asgro#ing up there see$ed to be an o0erbearing senseo9 gloo$ in the city. By the ti$e 8 had reachedadulthood= 8 had decided that Le#iston #as not a

place 8 #anted to li0e in. So 8 le9t in !66" and li0edand #or ed in a nu$ber o9 places around thecountry and e0en o0erseas.

hen 8 9inally returned= a9ter !& years= 8 noticed a$ar ed di99erence in the attitude and energy o9

people in Le#iston it #as li e night and day. 8tEsan attitude and energy that is eIciting and$oti0ating and is 9ocused on $a ing this city greatagain. 8tEs an attitude and energy that doesnEt la$entthe losses o9 the past but= rather= inter#ea0es aspectso9 our history and culture #ith the realities o9 &!stcentury econo$ics and de$ographics= all #ith thegoal o9 9orging a ne#= $odern co$$unity.

*he 0isionary and hard/#or ing citiKens #ho ha0e begun this trans9or$ation ha0e done a great ob= and

8 #ant to u$p in there and #or #ith the$ to eep$o0ing 9or#ard.

8E$ running 9or o99ice to help ensure that the citycontinues to aggressi0ely i$ple$ent the positi0echanges en0isioned in the (i0er9ront 8sland MasterPlan.

8E$ running 9or o99ice to help adopt and eIecute thecityEs co$prehensi0e plan= #hich incorporates anu$ber o9 eIciting yet realistic ideas on ho# tocontinue the cityEs trans9or$ation.

8E$ running 9or o99ice to $a e use o9 $y accountingand ad0isory eIpertise to assist the city in thetransparent= responsible and e99icient use o9 itsresources as it stri0es to achie0e its trans9or$ationalgoals.

Perhaps $ost i$portantly= 8E$ running 9or o99ice tocha$pion the city and to positi0ely reshape not onlyho# others see us= but ho# #e see oursel0es.



All three are i$portant. *o be a city that attracts9a$ilies= businesses and 0isitors= #e need goodschools= a sa9e en0iron$ent and a net#or o9 roadsthat enables us to $o0e about our co$$unity#ithout di99iculty.

Although thereEs al#ays roo$ 9or i$pro0e$ent=#eEre currently $eeting the needs o9 essential

progra$s and ser0ices 9or the education o9 ourchildren= and our police depart$ent has e$ployede99ecti0e strategies Ge0en #ith its li$ited resourcesHthat ha0e reduced our cri$e rate by &4 percent inthe last year alone.

Our streets and roads= on the other hand= ha0e not been #ell $aintained. (oad repair= there9ore= #ould be $y top priority.

e all no# the headaches o9 ha0ing to dodge potholes= and #e all dread the higher than nor$alcosts o9 realign$ents and other car repairs thatresult 9ro$ not $anaging to dodge all o9 those

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potholes.

But de9erring proper road $aintenance has an e0engreater negati0e i$pact on the co$$unity itsel9

because it a99ects ho# people 9eel about the city.Bad roads $a e the city 9eel run do#n and poorly$aintained= and that discourages businesses= 0isitorsand residents ali e.

89 #eEre serious about re0italiKing the city= roadrepair $ust be a top priority.


Creating a 0iable budget under current econo$icconditions is a di99icult tas = and the options are notli ely to please $ost people.

A large taI increase #as passed this year= and thathurts a lot o9 people #ho are already struggling to$a e ends $eet.

*his budget decision #as the result o9 ha0ing helddo#n increases as $uch as possible in recent years

because o9 the recession and the econo$yEs slo#reco0ery.

Fn9ortunately= this yearEs increase #as necessary toensure that the city could continue to $eet itsobligations and the de$ands 9or its ser0ices. 8n thelast siI years= the city has se0erely li$ited itsoperating budget increases by laying o99 sta99=

eeping open positions un9illed= and aggressi0elyre9inancing debts at lo#er interest rates. 8t has alsode9erred $uch/needed capital i$pro0e$ents andother in0est$ents= and dipped into our 9und balance.

Although this approach sa0ed residents 9ro$ beinghit #ith large taI increases #hen ti$es #erehardest= it has le9t the city at a point #here $anydepart$ents are understa99ed= in9rastructure ande@uip$ent are getting close to the end o9 theiruse9ul li0es= and the unassigned 9und balance= #hichis used to co0er uneIpected costs= is close to its

authoriKed $ini$u$.hat 8 li e about the budget is that it attends to

these concerns #hile see ing to e$ploy taIpayerresources as responsibly as possible. hat 8 donEtli e about the budget is that the taI increase #as aslarge as it #as. 8n an ideal #orld= i9 a city $ustincrease taIes= itEs better to increase the$ slo#lyo0er ti$e to a0oid such large u$ps.

ot ha0ing been tas ed #ith $a ing those pastdecisions= it #ould be easy 9or $e to argue that

perhaps #e #ould ha0e been better o99 not holding

do#n the operating budget so $uch in recent years.Perhaps it #ould ha0e been better to ha0e passedslightly higher taI increases in those years so that#e could ha0e a0oided a big u$p this year. 8t $ight

be e0en easier to argue that any and all taI increasesare bad= no $atter #hat the situation. But these arenot easy decisions 9or a City Council to $a e.Because these decisions ha0e a serious i$pact on

peopleEs li0es= they are not so$ething to be ta enlightly or to be based on a pre/deter$ined #orld0ie#.

8ncreasing taIes is hard on us all= but the bene9it isthat #eEre in0esting in our co$$unity anddeli0ering $uch/needed ser0ices. Cutting taIes iseasier on our personal 9inances= but taI cuts canreduce or eli$inate the ser0ices #eE0e co$e to relyon and under$ine the co$$unity #e li0e in.Serious decision/$a ers consider co$peting needshonestly and atte$pt to 9ind the best path 9or#ard.

Flti$ately= the budget #as a co$pro$ise= but onethat 8 belie0e #ill #or to the bene9it o9 the city. 89eel the City Council and the cityEs sta99 ha0e done agood ob #ith #hat they had to #or #ith= and i98E$ elected= 8Ell oin the ran s o9 those #ho ta ethese #eighty decisions seriously.


1es= 8 belie0e it should. 8n order to i$ple$ent plansli e the (i0er9ront Master Plan= the city $ust ha0ethe po#er to ac@uire parcels o9 land 9or speci9ic

purposes.


1es= the city should be in0ol0ed in do#nto#nhousing and in trying to i$pro0e the current state o9

the do#nto#n housing stoc .8n order 9or the city to carry out its re0italiKation

plans= it $ust be e$po#ered to act and needs to beable to get rid o9 properties not #orth sa0ing and tosupport ne# housing de0elop$ents #here0er

possible.

*o get rid o9 the bad housing stoc and i$pro0e thehousing situation= the city should continue 9undingde$olitions and consider adding additional codeen9orce$ent sta99. *o encourage i$pro0e$ents= the



city should ta e a bloc /by/bloc approach thatis= it should 9ocus on one bloc at a ti$e and #orto 9ind potential o#ners= lenders and grantors to

trans9or$ each bloc into a beauti9ul= li0able area.

*hese actions #ill ulti$ately bene9it the co$$unityas a #hole.

Cit# Council 'ar!

/sobel Calderwood Moiles is running uno""sed in Ward %.

7sobel Cal!er(oo! "oilesEmail address*isobelc$ g$ail.co$

+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$isobel$oiles9or le#istoncitycouncil

-ccupation or primar!source of income* Legislati0e aide at the Maine

State 2ouse.Education* Bates College

+amil! information* e#ly#ed

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* See ing Le#istonCity Council= ard '


8 a$ running 9or City Council because 8 #ant tohelp contribute to the eIciting changes ta ing place

in Le#iston. 8 thin our city is eIperiencing a lot o9 positi0e gro#th= but #e need to do $ore to increaseecono$ic opportunity and help residents 9ind good/

paying obs.

8E0e #or ed in the 9ield o9 politics throughout Maine9or $ore than three years= and 8 hope to use $yenergy and eIperience to help i$pro0e the city 8lo0e. 8 a$ enthusiastic about Le#iston andco$$itted to #or ing hard to $a e it an e0en better

place to li0e= #or = and raise a 9a$ily.



hile these are each i$portant issues= education#ould be $y top spending priority.

8n0esting in @uality public education is ey togro#ing our econo$y in the long ter$. 8t is anin0est$ent in our 9uture #or 9orce and the businesso#ners and co$$unity leaders o9 to$orro#.

89 #e can success9ully engage $ore children inschool by supporting good teachers and i$pro0ingthe classroo$ eIperience= positi0e side e99ectsinclude increased public sa9ety and decreased need9or public assistance.


8 li e that there is an e99ort being $ade to hire $oreteachers and reduce class siKes.

8E$ encouraged that the state increased its share o9education spending= but itEs continued 9ailure to9und education at the 0oter/$andated 55 percent

puts a strain on local co$$unities.

urther$ore= state/dri0en cuts to re0enue sharingha0e contributed to rising property taIes.

8 appreciate the #or done by the pre0ious councilto $itigate the da$age to local property taIpayers

by eli$inating $ore than <5%%=%%% 9ro$ the proposed $unicipal budget. 8E$ concerned about

our o0er/dependence on our rainy day 9und and bonding to pay 9or routine $aintenance and capitalin0est$ents.

,i0en our current econo$y= 8 thin the budgetstruc the right balance.


1es= 8 do thin the city should be allo#ed to setaside parcels o9 land 9or 9uture use and 8 thin this isan i$portant strategy 9or rede0elop$ent. *he citycan $a e strategic in0est$ents and build to#ard along/ter$ 0ision 9or Le#iston in a #ay thatindi0iduals and pri0ate corporations alone cannot.Land ban ing allo#s the city to ha0e a 0oice in ho#our land is de0eloped to best $eet the needs o9Le#iston residents= and it allo#s us to $a ethought9ul and strategic decisions about our cityEs9uture.

/$at &ould !ou do to improve %e&iston s


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do&nto&n $ousing stoc #$ould t$e cit! evenbe involved in do&nto&n $ousing /$! do !out$in t$at

Our lagging property 0alues are holding this city

bac . 8 absolutely belie0e that the city should in0estin our housing stoc . 8t is in the cityEs best interestto increase our property taI base= i$pro0e the@uality o9 li9e 9or current residents= and attract ne#9a$ilies to settle do#n here.

Cit# Council 'ar! -

%ane Bouc%ar!

City Councilor Shane Bouchard= the incu$bent 9or the ard 5 City Council seat= declined to sub$itresponses to the Sun JournalEs @uestions. Bouchard has no challengers 9or this seat.

Cit# Council 'ar! 5

/ncumbent 5risten Cloutier faces challenger Blaine Linton in Ward *.

3risten + Cloutier

Email address*ristencloutier yahoo.co$

+aceboo * ###.9aceboo .co$3risten/Cloutier/9or/Le#iston/City/Council/&6-7-5&5%4-!'47

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* Assistant director=2ar#ard Center 9or Co$$unity Partnerships= BatesCollege.

Education* M.A. in leadership studies= Fni0ersityo9 Southern MaineD B.A. in ournalis$= ortheastern Fni0ersity.

+amil! information* 8 ha0e been $arried to thesa$e #onder9ul guy 9or nine years. e ha0e onedaughter and t#o rescue dogs.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* Current CityCouncilor= ard 5


Le#iston is $y co$$unity. 8 9all $ore in lo0e #iththis city e0ery day. 8 re$e$ber $y $other ta ing$e to Pec Es at Christ$as to ha0e $y picture ta en#ith Santa= and attending the ,ree esti0al at 2oly*rinity ,ree OrthodoI Church an e0ent that 8still loo 9or#ard to sharing #ith $y 9a$ily e0eryyear.

8 a$ inspired by the sense o9 co$$unity that 8 9eelhere. 8 #ant to $a e sure that #e continue to createa co$$unity that supports econo$ic de0elop$ent

and pro0ides a sa9e= a99ordable= healthy and

engaging place 9or people to raise their 9a$ilies andli0e their li0es.

8n $y ti$e on the council= it has been $y pleasureand $y pri0ilege to engage in con0ersation #ith the

people o9 Le#iston about the hopes and drea$s that#e all share. *here are eIciting things happeninghere and they deser0e to be celebrated. e are

poised to beco$e one o9 the greatest cities in Maine.8 #ant to continue $y #or #ith the co$$unity to

build a legacy that all our children can be proud o9.



LetEs be honest. As taIpayers= all o9 these ser0icesare priorities.

As the City Council representati0e to the SchoolCo$$ittee= as a $e$ber o9 the )istrict Pro9iciency/Based Learning Co$$ittee= and as the parent o9 a9irst/grader at ar#ell +le$entary School= educationis a priority that 8 a$ $ost passionate about.

(esearch has sho#n that high school graduates #hoha0e had access to a @uality education throughouttheir pri$ary and secondary school careers are $oreli ely to be acti0e and producti0e $e$bers o9 oursociety= to 9ind gain9ul e$ploy$ent and to ha0estable 9a$ilies. *hey are also less li ely to co$$itserious cri$es= to place high de$ands on our publichealth care syste$= and to be enrolled in social#el9are progra$s. 8n0esting in education $a essense 9or e0eryone= not ust those #ith children inthe public school syste$. 8t is 9ar $ore cost/


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e99ecti0e than paying 9or the social and econo$icconse@uences o9 under/9unded= lo#/@uality schools.

*hat being said= public sa9ety is e@ually asi$portant and 8 a$ proud o9 the #or that our

police and 9ire depart$ents do on a daily basis=#hich is #hy 8 ha0e supported the Le#iston Police)epart$entEs Operation 2ot Spot.

8 a$ also happy to report that Le#istonEs cri$e rateis lo#er than that o9 Portland= Bangor or Augusta a $a or acco$plish$ent 9or #hich #e should all be

proud.

8n response to concerns eIpressed by the 9iredepart$ent= 8 #as recently appointed by the $ayorto the ne#ly 9or$ed )o#nto#n Building *as

orce= #hich #ill eIa$ine do#nto#n housingissues in relation to 9ire and public sa9ety haKards. 8a$ loo ing 9or#ard to di0ing into these issues and9iguring out #ays to pro0ide $ore support and

alternati0e 9unding sources 9or these critical publicsa9ety depart$ents.

inally= 8 ha0e ad0ocated 9or increased city 9unding9or road reconstruction and road resur9acing in eachcity budget. Our city has 9allen behind in this regardand e0ery resident recogniKes this. 8 ha0e co$e tolearn that it is $uch $ore costly to repair roads laterthan it is to $aintain the$ on a regular basis.

8Ed li e to see the city 9igure out a #ay to better prioritiKe $aintenance= #hich is #hy 8 supported thecreation and the continued ser0ice o9 the Public

or s O0ersight Co$$ittee.

Still= 9inancial resources are li$ited= and #e need to be creati0e and thin outside o9 the boI i9 #e aregoing to do $ore #ith li$ited resources= #hich is#hy 8 hope closer o0ersight o9 the Public or s)epart$ent #ill create e99iciencies and cost sa0ingsto pro0ide $ore resources 9or these 0ital ser0ices.


*he budget that #as passed this year #as 9air= butnot ideal. 8t is al#ays a challenge to try to balancethe burden o9 taIes on local residents #ith the needto $a e strategic in0est$ents that broaden the taI

base.

As a taIpayer $ysel9 #ith a 9a$ily #ho li0es paychec to paychec 8 understand ho# di99icultit can be to $a e ends $eet #hen you are suddenly9aced #ith an increase in your property taI bill.

As the councilor 9or ard 5= 8 ha0e #or ed #ith

other council $e$bers to $aintain a stable propertytaI rate despite continued cuts to re0enue/sharing

by the state and the stateEs 9ailure to pro0ide 55 percent o9 the cost 9or public education.

8n con0ersations that 8 ha0e had #ith localde0elopers= 8 ha0e learned that in order to attractne# businesses and in order to entice young peopleto call Le#iston ho$e= #e ha0e to sho# that #e= as

current residents= are #illing to in0est in Le#iston9irst. *his is #hy 8 ha0e ad0ocated 9or andsupported 0arious econo$ic de0elop$ent pro ectsthat not only broaden the taI base= but pro0idee$ploy$ent opportunities 9or residents o9 ourco$$unity. e need to gi0e people and businessesa reason to co$e here and 8 belie0e the council hastried to create those opportunities in as cost/e99ecti0e a #ay as possible.

Pro ects li e the 2a$pton 8nn= the Lo9ts at BatesMill= Argo Mar eting= BaIter Bre#ing= orageMar et= (ainbo# Bicycle= 2ealey *errace andMaine Co$$unity 2ealth Options ha0e resulted in$ore than <!'6 $illion in ne# in0est$ent sinceJanuary &%!%. *hese pro ects ha0e been $ade

possible through collaborati0e partnership and9or#ard/thin ing leadership on the part o9 our$unicipal go0ern$ent.

/$at about land ban ing #$ould t$e cit! beallo&ed to set aside parcels for specific inds ofdevelopment, sa! to promote retail or $ousing

around t$e river frontLand ban ing is a policy the city has used to ac@uiresurplus properties and con0ert the$ to producti0euse or hold the$ 9or long/ter$ strategic public

purposes. Land ban ing turns abandoned propertiesinto de0elop/able properties and co$$unity assets.

As #e all no#= abandoned properties ha0e long presented a signi9icant challenge 9or the city o9Le#iston. *hese properties beco$e a drain on localtaIpayers and can lead to a loss o9 property 0alue9or nearby ho$eo#ners. *he city has tried toaddress so$e o9 these issues through de$olition o9derelict properties. Land ban ing si$ply pro0idesanother resource to the o0erall rede0elop$ent plan9or the city. 8t allo#s the city to ta e an acti0e anddirect role in the 9uture 0ision o9 our co$$unityand is consistent #ith our dra9t co$prehensi0e plan:Legacy Le#iston.

As part o9 the Co$prehensi0e Plan *hin *an = as both a pri0ate citiKen and then as a city councilor= 8support the reco$$endations o9 the co$$ittee to



incorporate land ban ing as one tool in the cityEsrede0elop$ent toolboI #hen appropriate. 8t shouldnot be our only tool= nor should it be i$ple$entedacross the board. e need to allo# oursel0es the9leIibility to i$ple$ent #hate0er policy $a essense in order to pro$ote o0erall strategicrede0elop$ent. *o lea0e land ban ing out o9 the$iI o9 possibilities #ould be short/sighted andli$iting to the gro#th o9 our local econo$y.


As elected leaders o9 the co$$unity= the CityCouncil is charged #ith the creation o9 a 0ision 9orthe co$$unity it represents. 2ousing is a large parto9 that 0ision. *he council #ould not be doing its

ob i9 it ignored this basic need. 1ou si$ply cannot#al or dri0e through our do#nto#n residentialneighborhood and deny the 9act that $uch o9 ourhousing stoc is in disrepair or #orse.

As a co$$unity= $any ha0e spent a 9air a$ount o9ti$e bla$ing 0arious groups= organiKations or citydepart$ents 9or this. *his strategy has caused us to

beco$e polariKed. 8 belie0e it is ti$e 9or all o9 us toco$e together to deal #ith the proble$. 8Ed li e tosee us set aside our 0arious agendas and #orto#ard the co$$on good: $ore dyna$ic= healthy=clean and sa9e housing options 9or e0eryone.

e need to support our residents= #hich includes

both landlords and tenants. *he city has se0eral loan progra$s in place to help local landlords $a e basici$pro0e$ents to their buildings. 8n addition=Le#iston/Auburn is the recipient o9 a <' $illionlead abate$ent grant= #hich assists landlords inaddressing lead paint issues in their buildings. 8ha0e supported the de0elop$ent o9 these progra$sand #ould encourage any landlord to apply at City2all.

ot only is it i$portant 9or us to address theseissues 9or the health and sa9ety o9 the currentresidents o9 our co$$unity= but it $a es goodecono$ic sense as #ell: #e need to i$pro0e ourdo#nto#n housing stoc i9 #e are e0er going toattract ne# businesses and residents.

8 ad0ocated strongly 9or Le#iston/Auburn to beco$e a ,reen and 2ealthy 2o$es 8nitiati0e siteand ha0e spent the past &%/plus $onths #or ing to

brea the lin bet#een unhealthy ho$es andunhealthy children by replacing stand/alone housinginter0ention progra$s #ith an integrated= #hole/house approach. 8 ha0e also #or ed #ith 2ealthyAndroscoggin= the State o9 Maine Lead Progra$=and the Le#iston/Auburn Public 2ealth Co$$itteeto raise a#areness about the high incidence o9childhood lead poisonings #ithin the cities andstrategies 9or pre0ention.

*he incidence o9 childhood lead poisonings inLe#iston is al$ost 9our ti$es the state a0erage.

*his is si$ply unacceptable. 8 loo 9or#ard tocontinuing this #or .

Blaine B+ &inton

Email address* blaineQlinton $sn.co$

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* Substance abusecounselor

Education* So$e college+amil! information* 8 a$currently the 9ather o9 t#o boys= ages " and !%= andha0e been in a co$$itted relationship 9or the past9our years.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* 8 a$ see ing theCity Council seat 9or Le#iston ard 5.


As a board $e$ber o9 Blue illo# Counseling= and

as a counselor= 8 ha0e seen the $any challenges andstruggles that 9ace the business co$$unity as #ellas the indi0iduals o9 Le#iston.

8n $y line o9 #or 8 a$ trained to truly listen to peopleEs needs and to 9ind the creati0e solutions andco$pro$ise necessary to i$pro0e the li0es o9 those8 #or #ith. *hese are the sa$e @ualities that 8 can

bring to the city o9 Le#iston.

8 #ould as 0oters to select $e 9or the reason that 8#ill listen to $y constituents and #or to $eet theirneeds as opposed to a hard/line political agenda.



My top spending priority at this ti$e #ould beeducationD it has $any short/ter$ and long/ter$

bene9its. 3no#ledge is po#er= as they say= and



education is associated #ith decreased cri$e=declines in substance abuse rates= increased

business= higher inco$es and that $eans less taIdollars #asted long/ter$= and $ore taI dollarsco$ing bac to the co$$unity= to our roads and

public sa9ety.

8 see the conse@uences o9 lac o9 education in $yo99ice each #ee and it is clear that it #ould be

$oney #ell spent./$at do !ou li e about t$e cit! budget passedt$is !ear, and &$at don t !ou li e /as it too$ig$, too lo&, ust rig$t

8 #ould li e to see $ore budgeted 9or youth progra$s in this area to help #ith reducing cri$e=early onset o9 substance abuse= and to eep ids

participating in the schools and their education. 8no# that there is not al#ays enough to go around

but 8 9eel this could really $a e a di99erence 9or the

co$$unity./$at about land ban ing #$ould t$e cit! beallo&ed to set aside parcels for specific inds ofdevelopment, sa! to promote retail or $ousingaround t$e river front

8 belie0e the city should be allo#ed to land ban pro0iding that the cost is not too eItre$e. A great

deal o9 business gro#th in this area has co$e aboutthrough land ban ing= ho#e0er #hene0er #e arespending the taIpayersE $oney #e do need toeIercise discretion.


*here is a great deal that can be done #ith thedo#nto#n and 8 belie0e that the city should play arole. *he proble$ is t#o9old in that i$pro0ing thedo#nto#n presents challenges 9or both landlordsand tenants= neither o9 #ho$ are al#ays in0ested.

e need to 9ind a #ay 9or both landlords andtenants to start in0esting the$sel0es into these

properties and= in order to do so= #e need to 9ind#ays to e$po#er both #ith regulation that protectslandlords 9ro$ abusi0e tenants and tenants 9ro$

abusi0e landlords. hen tenants 0alue the placesthey li0e= they #ill ta e care o9 the$D #henlandlords 9eel they can trust their tenants= they #illin0est in their buildings.

*he do#nto#n is associated #ith po0erty= drugs=cri$e= bedbugs= coc roaches= etc.= and i9 #e do not#or as a city to address these proble$s then these

proble$s #ill only gro# 9urther.

Cit# Council 'ar! 8

$hree new candidates are ,ying for the Ward 6 seat Joline Landry Beam !te"hen Miller andBrian Wood.

$oline &an!r# Beam

Email address* olinebea$ g$ail.co$

-ccupation or primar!source of income* (etired

teacher= current substituteteacher

Education* 2oly a$ilySchool= Le#iston 2ighSchool= and Fni0ersity o9 Southern Maine GB.S. ineducationH

+amil! information* Married= three children and9i0e grandchildren

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* Le#iston SchoolCo$$ittee= elected !6"6= reelected !66!D Maine

2ouse o9 (epresentati0es= elected !66&= ser0ed!66'/!665.


8 ha0e spent $ost o9 $y li9e in Le#iston. My parents and grandparents #ere also li9elongresidents o9 the city. Le#iston is a great city. 8#ould li e to be part o9 ta ing Le#iston into the9uture as the representati0e o9 ard - on the CityCouncil.



All three areas road repair= education and publicsa9ety are i$portant co$ponents o9 a strong



co$$unity. *he tas o9 the City Council is tore0ie# in detail all aspects o9 these areas o9 public

policy and #or #ith the citiKens and city o99icialsto establish #hich ele$ents #ithin their respecti0e

budgets ha0e priority and to see support 9or the$ost i$portant and the $ost urgent tas s at hand.

*aIes in Le#iston are high and it is theresponsibility o9 the City Council to re0ie#

eIpenditures care9ully so that the city can $eet its$ost pressing needs and eep taIes do#n. Council$e$bers $ust also #or #ith the cityEs legislati0erepresentati0es to $a e sure Le#iston gets its 9airshare o9 re0enue sharing 9ro$ the state go0ern$ent.*he council $ust see sources o9 inco$e 0eryaggressi0ely to assure that it can pro0ide goodroads= an eIcellent education= and a sa9een0iron$ent and at the sa$e ti$e #or to

eep taIes do#n.

*o strengthen the cityEs econo$ic standing= thecouncil $ust also be proacti0e in encouraging

businesses to $o0e to Le#iston in order to eIpandthe taI base and relie0e the pressure on residents9ro$ property taIes.


Last yearEs city/#ide taI rate stayed the sa$e. *heschool/side budget had a <%.!5 increase. *#o

positions #ere eli$inated Gthe recreation directorand a position in public #or s.H *he budget thecouncil ust adopted 9or this year= #hich began July!= had an increase o9 <%.7" on both the city andschool sides. o positions #ere eli$inated.(e0enue sharing #as slated to be eli$inated. 8t #assa0ed but it still decreased 9ro$ #hat it #assupposed to be.

*he City Council should continue to encourage$ore business gro#th and a larger share o9 statere0enue sharing to stop the taI increases.


8n order to attract businesses and assure a gooden0iron$ent 9or the people= co$$unities $ustsecure a good balance o9 de0elop$ent.Co$$unities need success9ul businesses that #illadd to the taI base as #ell as pro0ide e$ploy$ent9or its citiKens. Businesses #ill= in turn= $o0e to aco$$unity that can pro0ide its citiKens par s=entertain$ent 0enues= good schools and a sa9e andhealthy en0iron$ent.

*he ri0er9ront is an eIa$ple o9 an area that can bede0eloped #ith a balance o9 businesses= #al ing

and bi ing trails= housing= recreation areas= and per9or$ance areas.

*he city o9 Le#iston is in a per9ect position toensure that the needs o9 all its citiKens #ill be $etthrough a thought9ul progra$ o9 de0elop$ent. *heCity Council is no# #or ing to adopt aco$prehensi0e plan. 89 elected= 8 #ill support thesee99orts.


8 #ould #or #ith the City Council= $ayor= city$anager and landlords to assure that the buildingsin Le#iston are #ell $aintained according to code=and that code en9orce$ent occurs in a #ay thatassures a sa9e en0iron$ent 9or the residents o9 the

buildings as #ell as the larger co$$unity.

tep%en + "iller

Email address*s$illerrealtor g$ail.co$

+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$Ste0e/Miller/9or/ ard/-/7&4645557-!!&!6

+amil! information* 8 a$ asingle dad o9 a !-/year/oldhonor student. 8 ha0e 9i0e brothers and sisters and$y $o$ and dad #ere $arried 9or 57 years and one

day #hen he died last October.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* 8 a$ see ing theo99ice o9 Le#iston City Council= ard -.


8 a$ running 9or o99ice to see i9 8 can $a e adi99erence in the city. 8 ha0e tal ed to $any peopleand $ost donEt e0en no# #ho to tal to #hen theyha0e ideas or concerns.


http://www.facebook.com/Steve-Miller-for-Ward-6-724945557611219








8 #ant to be a councilor #ho is reachable anda0ailable #hen the 9ol s o9 Le#iston need help or@uestions ans#ered.



+ducation should al#ays be top priority. e as acountry are 9alling behind the rest o9 the #orld and#ith that co$es $ore dependency on outsidein9luences that do not ha0e our best interest in $ind.


8 donEt ha0e all the 9igures to $a e a co$$ent onlast yearEs budget.


8 donEt thin the city should be in the real estate business.

89 land is ta en by taI de9ault that is one thing= butto in0est $oney in land 9or pri0ate business= retailor housing 8 9eel is $isappropriated 9unds.

But again= 8 #ould be #or ing 9or the people o9Le#iston and #hat they 9eel #ould be best 9or the$.


*he city should only be in0ol0ed in the sa9ety andup eep o9 housing in Le#iston.

As #e can see= in the past the city has spent a lot o9$oney 9or lo# inco$e or handicap housing and ithas not #or ed. 8 say help those #ho no# ho# torun $ulti/unit housing by $a ing lo# interest loansor taI brea s. Let the pri0ate sector o#n and run asa business.

Brian *ale 'oo!

Email address* b#ood6%%% hot$ail.co$

-ccupation or primar!source of income* (ealtor

Education* 2igh school+amil! information* My #i9e and 8 ha0e been$arried 9or siI years. e ha0e three children andthree #onder9ul grand/children.

ublic -ffices #oug$t or $eld* See ing CityCouncil= ard -.


8 care deeply about this to#n. 8 #as born and raisedhere. 8 #or here. 8 ha0e a 9e# 9ull/ti$e obs. 8 #or#ith a #ide range o9 indi0iduals. 8 run a substanceabuse counseling and $ental health o99ice at Blue

illo# Counseling. 8 deal #ith indi0iduals that arenot doing so #ell 9inancially and personally.

8 also deal #ith indi0iduals at *he Maine (eal+state et#or #ho are able to buy a hal9/$illiondollar ho$e. 8 see both sides o9 the issues #e ha0ein this to#n. 8 ha0e eItensi0e eIperience #ith

budgets 9or $ultiple success9ul businesses.

8 ha0e 0ery good ideas that #ould i$pro0e the #ay

things could go. 8 could help this to#n in $any#ays



+ducation is the nu$ber one thing 8 #ould $a e a priority. *hat is our 9uture. +ducating our children.Al#ays has been= al#ays #ill be.



Should they 1es= i9 itEs bought rightD not buying property o0er the current 0alue. 8t sounds li e thiscity needs a (ealtor to help #ith that.


e should be loo ing into eradicating bed bugs9ro$ our to#n and pro0ide assistance to those #hoha0e the$. Lea0e the condition o9 the ho$e up to



the landlords. *hat is their ob and responsibility.

Cit# Council 'ar! 9

/ncumbent Michael Lachance faces 5risten 5ittridge in Ward 7.

3ristine Elise 3ittri!ge

Email address*ristine. ittridge g$ail.co$+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$3ittridge9orcouncil

-ccupation or primar!source of income* Clinicaldietitian

Education* MS in nutrition 9ro$ Fni0ersity o9Maine= BS in nutrition 9ro$ Fni0ersity o9 Maine

+amil! information* Singleublic offices soug$t or $eld* one pre0iously


8E$ running 9or City Council because 8 lo0eLe#iston and 8 belie0e that 8 can bring a positi0e=9resh 0oice #ith ne# ideas to the council.

As a dietitian= 8 #or collaborati0ely #ithindi0iduals to co$e up #ith an indi0idualiKedapproach to their healthD 8 #ill ta e the sa$eapproach as a councilor #ith each issue that 9acesour city. 8 #ill al#ays be a0ailable to $y neighborsto listen and then in turn represent their #ishes#hile casting a 0ote.



Although all three are eItre$ely i$portant to the#ell/being o9 our city= $y top spending priority#ould be education.As 8E0e noc ed on $y neighborsE doors= this has

been the $ost discussed issue out o9 these three andunderstandably soD a strong education 9or our young

people is o9 the ut$ost i$portance to our 9uture.8E0e heard $any stories o9 teachers struggling #ithli$ited resources or 0ery large class siKes.

Our brightest 9uture is dependent on our in0est$entin the 9uture leaders o9 our co$$unity.


$ig$, too lo&, ust rig$t eIt to education= the concern 8E0e heard $ost 9ro$residents is the di99iculty they ha0e paying propertytaIes. *his yearEs property taI increase hurts seniorsand those on 9iIed inco$es $ost.

As a city councilor= 8Ell do e0erything 8 can do eep property taIes lo# #hile trying to balance the needso9 in0esting in our 9uture. +ducation= roads= andco$$unity a$enities are all e@ually i$portant= but#hen it co$es to the city budget= a city councilorhas to balance these priorities #ith the realchallenge residents 9ace each year paying propertytaIes.


Strategic rede0elop$ent o9 the ri0er9ront islandta es 0ision and land ban ing should be one pieceo9 that 0ision. *here are $any eIcellent eIa$ples inour city 9ro$ the city in0esting in properties thatha0e sho#n direct bene9its and increased taIre0enue= such as the 2a$pton 8nn on Lincoln Street.


8 thin that the role o9 $unicipal go0ern$ent is to pro0ide good go0ernance to the $e$bers o9 itsco$$unity= including pro0iding essential ser0icesthat eep the co$$unity sa9e. *here has been an

ongoing issue #ith negligent property o#ners or ban /o#ned properties that ha0e re$ained 0acant9or years= leading to sa9ety issues and code0iolations.

8 belie0e that the city has a responsibility to hold theo#ners o9 these properties accountable so that #ea0oid in uries= 9ires= etc. 8 also thin that #ith a lead

poisoning rate 9our ti$es that o9 the state a0erage=the city has a responsibility to ta e a $ore acti0erole in $anaging lead abate$ent in older apart$ent

buildings.



http://www.facebook.com/Kittridgeforcouncil








"ic%ael )+ &ac%ance

Email address*$i e lachance&%!5.co$

+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$CouncilorMi eLachance

-t$er social media 1ou*ubechannel: Mi e Lachance

-ccupation or primar! source of income* )esignand $ar eting

Education* AssociateEs degree

+amil! information* Married #ith t#o children=ages " and &%.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* See ing re/electionto Le#istonEs ard 7 Council seat


hen 8 too o99ice our #ard #as lac ing initiati0eand responsi0eness on the council. O0er the pastt#o years 8E0e listened to residents= ta en action and

produced results. *he real re#ards o9 being a citycouncilor co$e 9ro$ being the 0oice o9 residentsand deli0ering those results in City 2all #ithoutselling out. 8 do not ser0e= nor do 8 run= as a

personal springboard to#ard a bigger career in politics or acti0is$.

ith a li$ited budget and no#ing #hat you no#no#= #hat #ould be your top spending prioritya$ong these three ser0ices: road repair= educationor public sa9ety hy

*he 9iscal de$ands o9 these three areas 9luctuate9ro$ year/to/year and depending on circu$stances=and can each represent a higher priority one year butnot the neIt.


$ig$, too lo&, ust rig$t

e cut our borro#ing by a $argin not seen indecadesD reducing the local taIpayersE eIposure andeIercising a 9or#ard/thin ing approach that #illhelp us 9inancially 9or years to co$e.

(egardless o9 this= our $il rate re$ains too high=and the school depart$ent is 9aced #ith spending$andates #hich only eIacerbate our proble$s.


8n certain cases land ban ing can $a e sense.2o#e0er= #hen the city uses taIpayer dollars to

prospect and ga$ble on chance= o9tenti$es the best=$ost e99icient use o9 our li$ited resources is lost.

AuthoriKing the city to spend $ore/than/$ar et0alue 9or properties that ha0e not yet been $ar etedto the pri0ate sector is irresponsible= and gi0inga#ay those properties 9or a dollar is rec less. Onlygo0ern$ent can operate in such a $anner #ithoutconse@uence.


Stop spending taIpayer dollars $oney earned bythe #or ing class to subsidiKe housing created

pri$arily 9or the habitually une$ployed or ne#lyarri0ed undocu$ented 9oreign nationals.

So long as #e inhibit personal in0est$ent inhousing our housing stoc #ill continue todeteriorate. Le#istonEs housing stoc is a directresult o9 the 9ailed eIperi$ent called *he ,reatSociety.

8s our Le#iston housing stoc society greattoday Perhaps #e should than LBJ.


http://www.facebook.com/CouncilorMikeLachance






c%ool Committee Can!i!ates

c%ool Committee At large

John Butler faces Megan Par)s for the at-large school committee seat.

$o%n + Butler $r+

Email address* butler butlerbros.co$

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* Outside sales person9or Butler Brothers.

Education* B.A in politicalscience 9ro$ Saint MichaelEs in

inoos i= ?t.

+amil! information* Married to Ann Butler 9or ''years 8 ha0e three gro#n children= #ho all attendedLe#iston public schools. 8 ha0e three grandchildren=#ith one at Montello School. Li9elong Le#istonresident.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* SiIteen years on theLe#iston School Co$$itteeD 9our years on theLe#iston City CouncilD $e$ber o9 Maine)epart$ent o9 +ducation Sa9e and )rug reeSchool *as orceD $e$ber o9 the )O+ *ruancy)ropout and Alternati0e +ducation Co$$itteeD past

regional director o9 the Maine School BoardAssociation.


8 a$ running because 8 9eel 8 ha0e a lot to o99er as 8 belie0e 8 ha0e done in the past. 8 belie0e in the besteducation possible 9or e0ery student and that in asa9e= respect9ul en0iron$ent it occurs.

/as t$e last 9'4.: million sc$ool budget passedtoo lo&, too $ig$ or ust rig$t And &ould !ou

support a sc$ool budget t$at boosts programspending, maintains or cuts program spendingand &$!

*he school budget passed #as at the $ini$u$ localre@uire$ent as deter$ined by the state 9unding9or$ula o9 +ssential Progra$s and Ser0ices. Anylo#er #e #ould ha0e lost <&.5% 9or e0ery dollar #ecut. On a <!%%=%%% cut #e #ould ha0e lost<'5%=%%%.

8 do support to continue our $ini$u$ local

re@uire$ent as a practice and see #hat the nu$bersallo# us to do.

After rolling out roficienc! (ased %earning andne& diplomas for t$e Class of 201", t$eadministrators c$anged direction and $ave no&dela!ed t$e ne& diplomas until 2021, &$ile ot$erparts of (% are being implemented no&. s t$ata good idea or not /$!

Pro9iciency Based Learning can #or as long ase0eryone is in0ol0ed to include students=

parents=teachers= support sta99 and ad$inistrators.*hey all should be on the sa$e page o9understanding ho# PBL #or s.

*his is a process that is no#ledge/based and that is#hy #e send our children and grandchildren toschool.

Classroom overcro&ding $as been a concern. 6o!ou favor $iring more teac$ers to reduceclassroom si;es f !es, &$ere s$ould t$e mone!come from

Classroo$ siKe is an issue that deser0es 9urtherin0estigation. e ha0e to loo at a budget that allcitiKens appro0e in a re9erendu$ and our +ssentialSer0ices and Progra$ nu$bers to deter$ine 9uturesta99ing le0els.

8n an ideal #orld lo# student/teacher ratios are best9or learning.

$e sc$ool committee recentl! voted to build ane& elementar! sc$ool near %e&iston <ig$#c$ool t$at combines and replaces t$e =artel

and %ongle! sc$ools and gives t$e cit! improvedat$letic fields. 6o !ou favor t$is plan

*he ne# proposed school location is a great site. 8tis in the Longley district #ith no additionaltransportation cost in the Martel district= and #eo#n the property. Mo0ing and i$pro0ing the 9ieldsis a bonus and the state is #illing to pay 9or that.

*his is #in #in situation and a great opportunity 9orall o9 Le#iston residents.



"egan *+ Par/s

Email address*$egandpar s g$ail.co$

+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$+lectMeganPar s

-ccupation or primar!source of income* Mentalhealth case $anager andsubstance abuse counselor

Education* 8 started indergarten at Pettingill+le$entary in !6"' and a9ter a period o9ho$eschooling through $iddle school= 8 graduated9ro$ Le#iston 2igh School in !665.

8 spent a year at FSM in the ele$entary education progra$ be9ore gi0ing a year each to dental schooland cos$etology school.

)esiring a career change in &%%6= 8 returned as anon/traditional student= earning $ultiple degrees in

business ad$inistration= psychology and hu$anser0ices through 3aplan Fni0ersity and Mus ieSchool o9 Public Ser0ice FSM= and #ill graduate#ith $y $asterEs o9 social #or in Septe$ber &%!-.

+amil! information* 8 a$ a third generationranco/A$erican= proudly born and raised in

Le#iston. 8 a$ $arried= ha0e a daughter in eighthgrade at LMS and a son in 9irst grade at ,eiger= and

a dea9 BoIer na$ed Lily.ublic offices soug$t or $eld* Le#iston Public

SchoolEs (edistricting Co$$ittee &%!4/!5. 8 a$also a $e$ber o9 the board o9 directors 9or *heJubilee CenterD a 0olunteer at the Androscoggin2u$ane Society= and Le#iston Little LeagueG9or$erly +lliot A0e Little LeagueHD and a proudsupporter o9 Co$$unity Little *heatre and *he

o$anEs Literary Fnion in Auburn.

/$! are !ou running for office /$! s$ould

voters select !ou for t$is ob8E0e 9ound that $any parents and teachers 9eel li ethey do not ha0e a 0oice in decisions that directlya99ect us= or they $ay not ha0e the 9ree ti$e tode0ote to 9ully participating in these decisions thatcan so$eti$es carryo0er 9ro$ $onth/to/$onth.

89 elected= 8 #ill co$$it not only to attending$eetings= but to participating 9ully in each $eeting=and soliciting input 9ro$ those #ho #ant tocontribute but cannot. 8 a$ not a9raid to as the@uestions that no one #ants to hear= and 8 #ill ai$

to al#ays ta e a $ulti/perspecti0e loo at eachsub ect.

8 ha0e no personal or political a99iliations to s#ay$y 0ote= and 8 #ill ne0er 0ote #ith the $a ority 9orthe sa e o9 peace eeping only. 8 a$ passionateabout $y co$$unity= and 8 #ould be proud to bechosen to represent all o9 Le#istonEs residents. My

political ci0ic eIperience $ay not span decades= but

8 9eel 0ery strongly that $y dedication and 9reshideas co$e as a bene9it to our aging SchoolCo$$ittee.

/as t$e last 9'4.: million sc$ool budget passedtoo lo&, too $ig$ or ust rig$t And &ould !ousupport a sc$ool budget t$at boosts programspending, maintains or cuts program spendingand &$!

8 donEt thin any budget is e0er ust right= but 8 dthin co$$ittee $e$bers do the best they can #ith

#hat they ha0e.ith this yearEs budget there #as a lot o9 bac and

9orth= #hich indicates to $e that the process #asta en 0ery seriously by those in0ol0ed= and thatalone deser0es respect. hen $illions o9 dollars o9taIpayer $oney is being discussed= co$$ittee$e$bers ha0e the obligation to eIa$ine each ande0ery line ite$= big or s$all= to see #here this$oney is going.

e all #ant our schools to ha0e as $uch $oney as possible and understand the i$portance o9 a #ell/9inanced education and co$petiti0ely paid sta99= but#e also #ant this $oney to be spent as e99ecti0elyas possible. 8 9eel that it is 0ery i$portant to solicitinput 9ro$ our teachers 9or their 9ront/line

perspecti0es on #hat is needed #here the rubber$eets the road and #hat #e could a99ord tosacri9ice= 9inding 9inancial balance #hile still

pro0iding a @uality education.

After rolling out roficienc! (ased %earning andne& diplomas for t$e Class of 201", t$e

administrators c$anged direction and $ave no&dela!ed t$e ne& diplomas until 2021, &$ile ot$erparts of (% are being implemented no&. s t$ata good idea or not /$!

8 belie0e that the progra$ #as introduced pre$aturely= ha0ing a negati0e i$pact on studentsand teachers. 8 a$ glad that i$ple$entation has

been delayed until &%&!= gi0ing e0eryone ti$e toease into these changes in a $ore organiKed and#ell/in9or$ed $anner.


http://www.facebook.com/ElectMeganParks








Classroo$ o0ercro#ding is a big concern 9or $e. 8do 9eel that hiring $ore teachers #ould be

bene9icial= but 8 also belie0e that throughrestructuring o9 current sta99 and space= and possible

slight ad ust$ents to current district lines #hen thene# ele$entary school opens= $uch o9 our currento0ercro#ding proble$s can be $anaged #ith 0erylittle added eIpense.

Ad usting district lines is another hot button topic= but 8 thin historically it has been approached inunnecessarily drastic #ays= #hich 8 do not agree#ith= causing understandable 9ear and 0ery littleacceptance.

$e sc$ool committee recentl! voted to build ane& elementar! sc$ool near %e&iston <ig$#c$ool t$at combines and replaces t$e =arteland %ongle! sc$ools and gives t$e cit! improvedat$letic fields. 6o !ou favor t$is plan

As a $e$ber o9 the (edistricting Co$$ittee 8 too$y role 0ery seriously #hen $a ing decisions that 89elt #ere in the best interests o9 Le#iston students

as a #hole= and 8 a$ so pleased that the ne# school#ill be in a central location 9or both Longley andMartel 9a$ilies= but 8 ha0e so$e @uestions andconcerns o0er the location and its proIi$ity to thehigh school.

8$pro0ing our athletic 9ields is a 0ery enticing dra#and 8Ed lo0e to see L2S ac@uire )rouin 9ield as thene# so9tball space= but 8 #ould li e to no# $oreo9 the 9ine print details on the eIpense 9or this and#ho #ill co0er that eIpense.


&in!a "+ cott

Linda Scott= the incu$bent candidate 9or the Le#iston School Co$$ittee seat in ard != declined to sub$itans#ers to the Sun JournalEs @uestions. Scott has no challengers 9or the seat.


Paul )+ t+ Pierre

Paul (. St. Pierre= the ard & candidate 9or the Le#iston School Co$$ittee= declined to sub$it ans#ers tothe Sun JournalEs @uestions. St. Pierre has no challengers 9or this seat.

c%ool Committee 'ar!

2ew candidate +rancis 'agnon is uno""osed in Ward %.

rancis .agnon

Email address* rancisMainePhoto inish.co$

-t$er #ocial =edia###. rancis,agnon.co$Gunder constructionH

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* Photo inish and?ia/?ision ?ideo

Education* B A= $ass co$$unication and 9il$ production= +$erson College.

+amil! information* rancis ,agnon #as born andraised in (u$9ord as the 9irst proud A$erican in his

9a$ily. 2is parents or$and and Pierrette ,agnon$o0ed 9ro$ the pro0ince o9 ;uebec in !6-". 2eestablished Le#iston residency in !666 and o#ns?ia/?ision ?ideo in Bruns#ic and Photo inish in

the Auburn Mall.2usband to +llie ,agnon raising t#o young boys#hich attend Le#iston public schools.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* See ing Le#istonSchool Co$$ittee= ard 'D recognition= &%!%1PLAA Business$an o9 the 1earD Le#iston 2ighSchool Multi$edia Board $e$ber since &%!%D LA*oast$aster= president &%%"/&%!!D J M= *he Li9eCenter= Co$$unity Choice A#ard= &%%5D Acti0e$e$ber #ith the Androscoggin Cha$ber o9Co$$erce




As parents #e raise our children by de$onstratinggood actions and $orals. Fpon sending our childrento public school #e eIpect additional gro#th #ith@uality 0alues and s ills in their education.

Continually de0eloping positi0e gro#th bet#een parents= teachers and the educational syste$ createsa synergy #hich strengthens our co$$unity.

A9ter all= strong co$$unities are built upon those#ho eIpect success

Our School Co$$ittee is the educational 0oice o9the people and 8 ha0e the eIperience and a$bitionto deli0er Le#istonEs high eIpectations o9success9ul students and graduates. Parents= teachers=school ad$inistrators are #elco$e to approach $e.1our concerns should be addressed #hether youneed directions to a school depart$ent or ha0e a@uestion about the 9uture o9 our school syste$.8 #ill put $y best 9oot 9or#ard to gain in9or$ationand $o0e our 9uture generations in the correctdirection. 8E$ happy to listen to your 0ie#s and gain

perspecti0e.

Le#iston is $y ho$e= 8 pay taIes= ha0e a 9a$ilyand o#n t#o businesses this is our co$$unity. 8tta es responsibility to represent our city and #ithyour insight #e can $a e a di99erence in oureducational syste$.


Balancing a <-4.7 $illion budget is no easy tas .Superintendent Bill ebster along #ith the SchoolCo$$ittee and the City Council #or 0ery hard at$aintaining a balance bet#een spending= cuts andne# progra$s.

8tEs di99icult to i$agine all the 0olunteered e99orts$any o9 our teachers and citiKens also pro0ide=including 9undraising 9or special pro ects andeducational 9ield trips. Ma ing cuts to a budget iso9ten re@uired but ne0er easy as it usually directlyin0ol0es se0eral people in our syste$.

2o#e0er= changes are al#ays re@uired and 9inding a balance bet#een our educational in9rastructure andthe taIpayers o9 our city is i$portant. 8 ha0e #or ed#ith se0eral business plans and budgets throughout$y pro9essional career. March &%!-= during budget

re0ie#s= #ill be $y 9irst atte$pt at $aintaining astrong and proacti0e budget 9or our co$$unity.


Pro9iciency Based Learning has been a recentchallenge 9or students #ho #ere co$9ortable #ith asyste$ #hich #or ed 9or $any years prior to thei$ple$entation. PBL should ha0e ta en se0eralyears to 9ully i$ple$ent.

2o#e0er Le#iston #as @uic to introduce the ne#structure be9ore teachers= parents and students #ere9ully prepared. 2a0ing disco0ered the di99iculties=the 9ull i$ple$entation o9 PBL has been ad usted#ith the graduating class o9 &%&!. *his has been

$andated by la# and eItending it out to the class o9&%&! #ill ease so$e o9 the concerns Le#istonrecently encountered.


*eacher/to/student ratios #ithin Le#iston is aserious concern $any do not 9ully realiKe. hile$any schools throughout Maine are shrin ing=9uture predictions sho# Le#iston #ith gro#ingnu$bers #ithin the neIt se0eral years.

*o $aintain an educational success rate #e shouldnot o0erburden our teachers #ith o0er enroll$ent.2o#e0er= #e are @uic ly losing space at ourschools. ot enough ade@uate classroo$ space isa0ailable to pro0ide roo$s 9or ne# teachers. Plansare in progress 9or a ne# ele$entary school in thenear 9uture= but concerns about o0ercro#dingsurround us i$$ediately.

e should in0estigate the possibility o9 hiring ne#teachers= #hich #ould currently teach ino0ercro#ded classroo$s= as a tea$ e99ort until thene# school or a ne# classroo$ opens. e currentlyha0e $any ed techs= $any are actual certi9iedteachers and #ho see the need and eager to i$pro0eour educational syste$. LetEs in0estigate this9urther.

$e sc$ool committee recentl! voted to build ane& elementar! sc$ool near %e&iston <ig$#c$ool t$at combines and replaces t$e =artel



and %ongle! sc$ools and gives t$e cit! improvedat$letic fields. 6o !ou favor t$is plan

8 belie0e our co$$unity recogniKed $any years ago both Longley and Martel #ere too s$all 9or thegro#th capacity #e ha0e encountered. A ne# schoolnear the high school is a s$art in0est$ent. *he

in9rastructure 9or the building is nearby= the buildingis central= property $anage$ent #ill be e99icientand bus tra0el should be easier to na$e a 9e# ideals.

*he ne# school is not a ne# business. 8tEs anopportunity to i$pro0e our current educationalsyste$.

c%ool Committee 'ar! -

/ncumbent Jim 8andy faces Ben Martin in Ward (.

$ames )+ an!#

Email address* rhandy $egalin .net

-ccupation or primar!source of income* eSer0icesat L.L.Bean

Education* ,raduated #ithhonors 9ro$ Fni0ersity o9Southern Maine #ith a BA in

political science.

+amil! information* 2appily $arried 9or '& yearsDthree children #ho attended Le#iston publicschools

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* Le#iston SchoolCo$$ittee= Maine 2ouse o9 (epresentati0es= MaineSenate.


8 a$ running because 8 belie0e #holeheartedly inthe 0alue o9 public education.

8 belie0e public education truly is the path to personal= econo$ic and co$$unity success. Mythree children are all products o9 the Le#iston

public schools and all three 9ound their niche #hileattending Le#iston schools. *heir eIperiencesspea to the #ide range o9 opportunities o99ered atour schools. My daughter 9ound $usic and theatre

progra$s that led her to nu$erous theatre and$usical roles and ulti$ately a career in educationD$y eldest son recei0ed eItraordinary specialeducation ser0ices #hich prepared hi$ 9or successin the 9ield o9 education and in collegeD and= $yyoungest son too ad0antage o9 one o9 the array o9

progra$s through Le#iston (egional *echnicalCenterEs Culinary Arts progra$ preparing hi$ 9orhigher education at the Culinary 8nstitute o9A$erica. 2e is no# the head che9 $anager o9 a

local restaurant. All hold college degrees and ha0estayed in the area.

Our story is replicated by nu$erous 9a$ilies 9ro$Le#iston #ho ha0e attended Le#iston publicschools. 8 #ant this ind o9 success 9or all o9Le#istonEs children= #hether they choose to go to

college or enter the #orld o9 #or a9ter high school.*hose #ho clai$ that Le#iston schools are nothighly regarded are perpetuating a $yth. Le#istonschools ha0e been recogniKed state#ide andnationally 9or their stellar education. Our school to#or transition progra$ Jobs 9or Maine ,raduatesand Pro ect (+AC2 ha0e recei0ed $any a#ards.

8 had the honor o9 #or ing #ith (epublican ,o0.John Mc3ernan and sponsored the legislation thatcreated Jobs 9or Maine ,raduates. Our Adult+ducation progra$ has also been singled out as oneo9 the best Adult +ducation progra$s= and has beenrecogniKed 9or its outstanding leadership andinno0ati0e progra$s 9or adult learners. On $orethan one occasion= the Maine )epart$ents o9+ducation and Labor ha0e called on Le#istonEs

progra$ to create and pilot progra$s that connectlearners #ith the #orld o9 #or . 8 supported thecreation o9 our pre/3 progra$= classroo$sdedicated to children #ith autis$ and reducing thenu$ber o9 students in a classroo$ Gthe student/teacher ratioH. 8 a$ #ell/engaged in $y co$$unity=ha0ing been born here= li0ing here all $y li9e=#or ing here= and raising $y 9a$ily here.

My interest in Le#iston goes beyond ser0ing on theSchool Co$$ittee. My co$$unity engage$entsho#s that 8 ha0e been acti0ely in0ol0ed in0olunteering $y ti$e #ith nu$erous groups andorganiKations= including:

Literacy ?olunteers= Androscoggin Ca$paign 9or ,rade Le0el (eading L A Arts



(ed Cross Blood )onor 2ealthy Androscoggin Le#iston (ecreation )epart$ent Pettingill School Building Co$$ittee ar#ell School Building Co$$ittee Le#iston 2igh School Music Association o 3id 2ungry Share Our Strength

8 ha0e been in0ited to spea at a nu$ber o9 local=

state= and national organiKations:/ ,reat Maine Schools Pro ect Mitchell ,ates

oundation/ Blaine 2ouse Con9erence on ?olunteeris$/ +ducation: Mandating Ser0ice at the State Le0elMaryland )epart$ent o9 +ducation/ Jobs 9or A$ericaEs ,raduates= Atlanta= ,a./ +Ipanding 1our 8nternal Consulting S ills:

acilitating Adult Learning Se$inar= Bangor / ational School Boards Association AnnualCon9erence= San )iego/ Bates College/ Fni0ersity o9 Southern Maine/ Central Maine Co$$unity College

8tEs easy 9or people to bash public schools= but the9act is #e are pri0ileged to ha0e $any dedicated andinno0ati0e educators #ho are gi0ing their all toeducate students o9 all abilities and learning styles.

2a0ing said that= #e are al#ays stri0ing to $a e ourschools better and rele0ant to the #orld #e li0e in.Public school education is the great [email protected] on the sidelines co$plaining andcriticiKing is not constructi0e and does nothing toaddress the education o9 our children.

8 a$ a passionate about education and children. 8ha0e been on the 9ront lines 9ighting 9or @ualityeducation and creating inno0ati0e solutions. 8 a$#ell/@uali9ied and #ell/e@uipped to continue that9ight on behal9 o9 the children and 9a$ilies #eser0e. Change 9or changeEs sa e is si$ple. 2a0ing@uali9ied representation #ith a deep no#ledge o9education $atters is critical to $eeting todayEschallenges.


*he budget passed #as a responsible budget.

Because #e ha0e been creati0e and inno0ati0e= #eha0e sa0ed hundreds o9 thousands o9 dollars. *he

9act that Le#iston 0oters ha0e passed our school budget e0ery year since re9erendu$s began pro0esthat taIpayers appro0e o9 the care9ul #ay that #eare spending taI dollars.

O0er the last se0eral years= the school depart$enthas turned $illions o9 dollars o0er to the city to help

balance its budget. S$art budgeting has enabled usto reno0ate and i$pro0e our school buildings=

reduce class siKe= and i$ple$ent progra$s ai$edat= 9or eIa$ple= children #ith autis$ spectru$disorder= pre/3 education.


8 support Pro9iciency Based Learning. e ha0e$ade great progress in de0eloping ho# this state$andate #ill loo 9or our schools and #e ha0e $ore#or to do. e ha0e $any parents and co$$unity$e$bers helping #ith this i$portant tas . PBL #illhelp student be 9ocused o9 their #or and be clearon #hat needs to be achie0ed. Allo#ing students touse alternate $ethods to de$onstrate #hat theyha0e learned is an essential ele$ent.


(educing class siKe has been a priority o9 $ine. eha0e $ade a substantial i$pact on reducing thenu$ber o9 students assigned to a teacher. 8n 9act= #eha0e already hired $ore educators to reduce classsiKes. e ha0e signi9icantly reduced the nu$ber o9students sent out o9 district 9or specialiKed

progra$$ing= sa0ing hundreds o9 thousands o9taIpayer dollars= and gi0ing us the ability to reduce

class siKe. 8 #ill be 0igilant and care9ully #atch ourclassroo$ nu$bers and address any 9urtherchanges.


O0er se0eral $onths a di0erse co$$ittee o9 citiKensstudied possible sites then $ade their



reco$$endation to the School Co$$ittee. e0er be9ore has a Site Selection Co$$ittee $ade aunani$ous reco$$endation 9or a particular site.

*he School Co$$ittee then unani$ously agreed#ith the reco$$endation. 8 do 9a0or this plan. *he

site is central to both Martel and Longley schools=#hich is good 9or students and parents. Locating thene# school ad acent to Le#iston 2igh School opensup all inds o9 opportunities 9or collaboration 9orstudents and parents.

Ben6amin $+ "artin

Email address* b$artin%&"5 g$ail.co$

+aceboo * ###.9aceboo .co$ ben a$in$artin&%!5

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* (esidentialad$inistrator

Education* AssociateEs degree in businessad$inistration

+amil! information* Proud parent o9 t#o children=ages three years and eight/$onths.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* e0er sought or help public o99ice be9ore.


8 a$ eIcited and eager to help build a strongerschool co$$unity= one that 9osters co$$unicationand transparency #ith all sta eholders: students=

parents= teachers= taIpayers and ad$inistration. or

too long teachersE and parentsE thoughts andconcerns ha0e been silenced. hile 8 a$ only one0ote= 8 belie0e $y responsibility as a SchoolCo$$ittee $e$ber is to listen= be a 0oice and asthe @uestions that those in $y #ard #ant to hear theans#ers to.

2a0ing t#o children about to enter the public schoolsyste$ gi0es $e the added ad0antage o9 ha0ing $ydecisions $a e a direct i$pact on the 9uture o9 $yo#n children.


8 belie0e the budget #as passed in the ust rightcategory= though 8 a$ deeply concern that the

budget did not address the o0ercro#ding in ourele$entary schools.

8 #ant our schools to ha0e as $uch $oney ashu$anly possible but 8 #ant to $a e sure #e are

spending e0ery penny #isely. hile <-4 $illionsounds li e a lot= $any are saying needs are not

being $et #ith issues such as classroo$ siKes=technology needs and teacher pay.

8 #ant to go through the budgets and $a e sure that#e ha0e all o9 our priorities in the right place= and

no# that #e are getting the $ost out o9 e0ery penny. 8 loo 9or#ard to collaborating #ith teachersand parents to identi9y our priorities 9or our schoolsE

budget.

Collaborating #ith all sta eholders #ill ensure our budget re$ain ust right and that the spending o9

this budget is responsible.After rolling out roficienc! (ased %earning andne& diplomas for t$e Class of 201", t$eadministrators c$anged direction and $ave no&dela!ed t$e ne& diplomas until 2021, &$ile ot$erparts of (% are being implemented no&. s t$ata good idea or not /$!

hile there are $erits to Pro9iciency Based+ducation= our rushed i$ple$entation is o9 seriousconcern.

8 belie0e diplo$as should $ean so$ething. 8 belie0e that there should be clarity in #hat gradesstand 9or= on ho# grades are arri0ed at and that allstudents should be held to the highest possiblestandards that are right 9or the$. 8 also belie0eteachers should be gi0en appropriate ti$e to planand de0elop a curriculu$ that #or s and that theyare con9ident in.

89 this i$ple$entation has taught $e anything= it isthat our School Co$$ittee needs to do its duediligence to $a e sure any $a or changes tocurriculu$ are 9ully 9lushed out prior toi$ple$entation.


hether they are in indergarten or high school= allstudents learn di99erently= all students re@uiredi99erent le0els o9 one/on/one interaction #ith theirteachers.

https://www.facebook.com/benjaminmartin2015







Large classroo$ siKes are hindering the ability o9our teachers to pro0ide the a$ount o9 attention theyneed to on the indi0idual le0el to students. *eachersare eIpected to $anage classes o9 &5/plus students.

hile Le#iston has tal ed about large class siKes9or a nu$ber o9 years= little is being done to $a edecreasing the$ a priority. e are addingad$inistrator positions e0ery year= li e deans o9

students and teacher coaches #hich 8 do not doubtare nice/to/ha0e positions= but the priority should beusing the 9unds 9or those positions to actually $a ea direct i$pact to lo#er classroo$ siKes.

hile 8 a$ thrilled that this year the ad$inistration9ound <4%%=%%% to 9und the hiring o9 $oreeducators= this is ust a s$all drop in the buc et 9or#hat #e need. Once you get to the $iddle schooland high school teachers are responsible 9or !%%/

plus students. So #hile the la# points to standardson indergarten classes= #e cannot lose sight o9#hat is right 9or all students and 9aculty.


8 belie0e the plan is the best option a0ailable to thecity o9 Le#iston= considering all the 9actorsin0ol0ed in such a decision. hile 8 still ha0econcerns about the location Gtra99ic= ele$entary neItto a high school= etc.H 8 belie0e these concerns can

be #or ed out prior to the opening o9 the ne#school. *his #ill ta e care9ul planning by all parties=including ad$inistration= the School Co$$ittee andthe general public.


/ncumbent Jama Mohamed faces challeger Richard White in Ward *.

$ama A!en "o%ame!

8ncu$bent ard 5 School Co$$ittee candidate Ja$a Moha$ed declined to sub$it ans#ers to the SunJournalEs @uestions.

)ic%ar! &+ '%ite

Email address*richardl#hitela g$ail.co$

-ccupation or primar!source of income* laggercerti9ier

Education* So$e college

+amil! information* 8 a$ a single dad o9 t#o "! &/year/old t#ins.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* Currently see ingSchool Co$$ittee 9or ard 5. (an 9or City Council

pre0ious election. as appointed to the C)B,Co$$ittee.


u$ber one= 8 ta e $y responsibilities seriously. 8#ill do #hat research 8 need to in order to $a ein9or$ed decisions. 8 #ill represent ard 5 #ithintegrity and honor. 8 #ill be at the SchoolCo$$ittee $eetings and #or shops= 8 #ill as thetough @uestions and $y decisions #ill be $ade

based on 9acts.

8 #ill also be $eeting #ith teachers= students= and

parents regularly to discuss #hat is #or ing and#hat is not #or ing. 8 #ill encourage by eIa$ple

parent in0ol0e$ent in the schools. 8 #ill respond toall e$ails= phone calls and letters on a ti$ely basis.

*his is not about politics. *his is about pro0idingthe best education 9or our children and to do that=#e need the 9eedbac 9ro$ our teachers= studentsand parents.

/as t$e last 9'4.: million sc$ool budget passedtoo lo&, too $ig$ or ust rig$t And &ould !ou

support a sc$ool budget t$at boosts programspending, maintains or cuts program spendingand &$!

8 a$ pretty sure there is a lot o9 roo$ 9ori$pro0e$ent. 8 #ould support a budget that 9unds

progra$s that #or = cut progra$s that donEt= and$aintain a curriculu$ that #ill pro0ide our children9or the 9uture. 8 #ant to #or #ith teachers andstudents to 9ind out #hat #or s and #hat doesnEt.*hat #ay= #e can $a e decisions based on real li9eeIperience and not #hat loo s good on paper.




PBL does ha0e so$e $erits. 2o# it #asi$ple$ented has bro en trust and set the students

and 9aculty up 9or 9ailure.Any ti$e #e i$ple$ent $a or changes to ourschool syste$= #e as co$$ittee $e$bers need to9lesh out all o9 the details and ta e as $uch9eedbac 9ro$ those in0ol0ed Gparents= teachers andstudentsH be9ore i$ple$enting any $assi0echanges. e o#e it to our co$$unity to do our duediligence and get it right the 9irst ti$e.

Classroom overcro&ding $as been a concern. 6o!ou favor $iring more teac$ers to reduce

classroom si;es f !es, &$ere s$ould t$e mone!come from

*his is an issue that does need to be addressed at allle0els= 3/!&. e need to create a budget thatre9lects our top priorities. Our top priorities should

be e99ecti0ely educating our students= preparingthe$ 9or the 9uture.

8 belie0e that by care9ully researching the budget=#e can not eli$inate #aste= but ta e those 9unds anduse the$ 9or i$pro0ing the teacher student ratio as

#ell.$e sc$ool committee recentl! voted to build a

ne& elementar! sc$ool near %e&iston <ig$#c$ool t$at combines and replaces t$e =arteland %ongle! sc$ools and gives t$e cit! improvedat$letic fields. 6o !ou favor t$is plan

Actually= 8 argued on behal9 o9 that plan. *heoriginal plan #ould ha0e been $ore costly= anddepri0e the schools o9 their $ost 0aluable resource

parent in0ol0e$ent. 8 belie0e in co$$unity

schools= and by eeping the schools in theirrespecti0e co$$unities= allo# 9or all o9 us to play0ital roles in the education o9 our children.


/ncumbent Matt Roy faces awn 8artill for the Ward 6 !chool Committee seat.

*a(n artill

Email address*

)a#nM2artill g$ail.co$+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$)a#n2artill ard-

-ccupation or primar!source of income* Certi9iedin9or$ation syste$s auditor

Education* Bachelor o9 Science degree ininterdisciplinary studies= *ennessee *e$pleFni0ersity= Chattanooga= * .

+amil! information* Married= $other o9 ' sons

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* Ser0ed on theLe#iston e# School redistricting sub/co$$ittee&%!4/&%!5D sought ard - School Co$$ittee

position in &%!'


As a $other o9 three and a ho$eo#ner= 8 ha0e a0ested interest in the city o9 Le#iston and theschools in Le#iston. 8 ha0e been acti0ely in0ol0ed

in the Parent/*eacher OrganiKations o9 Martel+le$entary School and Le#iston Middle School 9orthe last !4 years and ha0e ser0ed in 0olunteer

capacities at both schools.as the last <-4.7 $illion school budget passed too

lo#= too high or ust right And #ould you support aschool budget that boosts progra$ spending=$aintains or cuts progra$ spending and #hy

*he school budget decisions are ne0er easy and 8applaud Mr. ebster and the current SchoolCo$$ittee $e$bers on a ob #ell done this year.*hey spent a tre$endous a$ount o9 ti$econsidering all aspects and 8 belie0e that the 9inal

budget #as ust right.


8t is a 0ery good idea to delay the roll/out o9 PBLuntil the district has ti$e to care9ully plan thei$ple$entation= train teachers and sta99= andsocialiKe the progra$ be9ore $a ing it $andatory.


http://www.facebook.com/DawnHartillWard6







o business #ould i$ple$ent a ne# progra$#ithout a care9ully thought out pro ect plan= so 8 a$glad that the school depart$ent is care9ully planningthis ne# progra$ i$ple$entation as #ell.


1es= classroo$ o0ercro#ding is a concern 9or $anyschools in Le#iston.

or so$e schools= hiring $ore teachers $ay reduceclass siKes= ho#e0er at other schools there is nospace to add eItra classroo$s 9or ne# teachers touse. Fntil the ne# ele$entary school is built G#hichco$bines Martel and LongleyH 8 thin thesuperintendent is 9ollo#ing the right path by

allo#ing school choice and hiring ne# teachers atthe schools that ha0e space 9or additionalclassroo$s.


8 0ery $uch 9a0or this plan and 8 belie0e that a ne#school in the proposed location near the high schoolis eIactly #hat a city the siKe o9 Le#iston hasneeded 9or a 0ery long ti$e. *his ne# school #ill

pro0ide a better learning en0iron$ent 9or thestudents= plenty o9 green space= and still beaccessible to the 9a$ilies that li0e in the currentLongley and Martel districts.

"att%e( Paul )o#

Email address*$atthe#proy g$ail.co$

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* Property$anage$ent ad$inistrati0e assistant

Education* B.S. Business Ad$inistrationGaccountingH

+amil! information* Single= one niece.

ublic -ffices #oug$t or $eld* Le#iston SchoolCo$$ittee &%!4/presentD Androscoggin CountyCo$$ission &%!5/present.


As a product o9 this city and its schools= 8 ran 9oro99ice in &%!' so to gi0e ser0ice bac to Le#iston.O0er the last t#o years= $any issues ha0e been onthe table.

8 a$ see ing another ter$ to continue the #or

others and 8 ha0e been #or ing to#ard regardingPBL= standardiKed tests= Opt/Out= the proper role o9the di99erent le0els o9 go0ern$ent as they relate toeducation= and co$$unication transparency o9 the

board and its $e$bers to the #ider co$$unity.


A $a or issue is the un9unded $andates passed

upon us 9ro$ ashington and Augusta. *he F.S.

Constitution is clear on the role o9 the 9ederalgo0ern$ent in education and it is ti$e they return toits constitutionally pro0ided role and le9t educationto local co$$unities= teachers and parents.

Li e all local ser0ices= it is about balancing ser0icesand taIes.

After rolling out roficienc! (ased %earning andne& diplomas for t$e Class of 201", t$eadministrators c$anged direction and $ave no&dela!ed t$e ne& diplomas until 2021, &$ile ot$er

parts of (% are being implemented no&. s t$ata good idea or not /$!

PBL and the ne# diplo$as #ere $andated by theLegislature in &%!!. As a ne# co$$ittee $e$ber in&%!4= the 9irst ti$e PBL #as an agenda ite$ #asnEtuntil the late spring early su$$er o9 &%!4.

A lot o9 the issues #hich later ca$e up= i9 planningstarted a9ter the la# #as passed= could ha0e beena0oided. e could and should ha0e applied 9or a#ai0er last su$$er= as Auburn did and not inearly &%!5. *he idea is to get it right the 9irst ti$eand not go bac to the dra#ing board.


8 9a0or hiring $ore teachers because students do notlearn in classroo$s #ith &"/'% students. *o 9und thehiring o9 these teachers= #e should use surplus9unds.






8 did 0ote 9or the reco$$endation o9 the SiteSelection Co$$ittee.

Also= 8 0oted against the $erging o9 the Martel andLongley school districts. *his #as because t#oreasons= !H potential ne# transportation costs basedon #here the ne# school #ould been located= and &Hon the ne# school construction list as deter$ined bythe state= Martel #as ran ed nu$ber eight= andLongley &%th. *here #ere concrete reasons 9orran ings.

c%ool Committe 'ar! 9

/ncumbent $om !hannon faces $ina 8utchinson in Ward 7.

ina utc%inson

Email address* tact9ultina yahoo.co$

+aceboo *###.9aceboo .co$*ina/2utchinson/9or/

School/Co$$itee/ ard/7/""654-67776%7!&

-ccupation or primar! sourceof income* )isabled

Education* ,raduated in !6"59ro$ Lea0itt Area 2igh School

+amil! information* 8 a$ a single $other o9 t#o.My daughter graduated 9ro$ Le#iston 2igh Schooland the Fni0ersity o9 Maine at ar$ington #ith adegree in ele$entary education and is currentlyteaching.My son is currently a sopho$ore at Le#iston 2ighSchool.


My daughter #ent through school #hen o ChildLe9t Behind #ent into e99ect. My son is no# goingthrough the i$ple$entation o9 Pro9iciency Based+ducation. *hroughout the years 8 ha0e seen a$a or change in ho# #e educate our children.

8$ple$entation o9 ne# progra$s is ey to $a ingour children and teachers success9ul. *ransparencyand collaboration is crucial to $a ing our schoolsthe best they can be. All o9 these things= in $yopinion= ha0e been lac ing in recent years. 8attended $ost o9 the school co$$ittee $eetings thisyear and #as disappointed in not ha0ing parentsEconcerns heard or addressed.

*he Class o9 &%!" and our teachers #ere putthrough $a or hurdles during the &%!4/&%!5 school

year ust 9or Pro9iciency Based +ducation to be pulled bac and re/i$ple$ented. ot only #as thisdetri$ental to our children= but it also created $ore#or than necessary 9or our teachers and cost thetaIpayers $oney that could ha0e been better spentin other areas.

8 9eel it is ti$e 9or ne# 9aces= ne# ideas= and people#ho are actually #illing to hear #hat is being said.Our teachers need to be able to be co$9ortablespea ing out #hen they ha0e concerns #ithout 9earo9 losing their obs.

Maybe i9 #e had transparency= collaboration= andne# ideas #e could 9igure out #hy #e only ha0e a7% percent graduation rate #hich is unacceptableno $atter #hich $ath syste$ you use.

/as t$e last 9'4.: million sc$ool budget passed

too lo&, too $ig$ or ust rig$t And &ould !ousupport a sc$ool budget t$at boosts programspending, maintains or cuts program spendingand &$!

e are 9acing $any $andates 9ro$ the state o9Maine and the 9ederal go0ern$ent. *he currentstandardiKed test= the +A= is costing thetaIpayers <-%=%%%. Our students are ta ing this tesduring Septe$ber and #ill be ta ing it again thisschool year= e0en though the state is stilldeter$ining #hich test it #ill ha0e schools use

#hich #ill also cost our taIpayers $oney.8 $ay not agree #ith ho# the $oney is being spentand thin that there are #ays to spend the $oney$ore #isely= but 9eel that #e ha0e to in0est in ourschools as our children are our 9uture.

89 elected= 8 #ill as the tough @uestions and $a edecisions only a9ter ha0ing all the 9acts. 8 #ill not0ote to $a e cuts ust to sa0e $oney nor #ill 8 0oteto add $oney to a budget ust because it is as ed9or. 8 #ill loo hard at the reasons behind the cuts


http://www.facebook.com/Tina-Hutchinson-for-School-Commitee-Ward-7-889546977790712











and increases= #hat is best 9or our students= and#hat is best 9or the education o9 our children. 8 #illnot be scared into $a ing cuts nor #ill 8 be 9orcedto add unnecessary $oney to a budget. 8 #ill #orto $a e sure taIpayer $oney is spent #isely andnot #asted. 8 #ill loo out 9or our students= oursta99= and our taIpayers to the best o9 $y ability.

After rolling out roficienc! (ased %earning and

ne& diplomas for t$e Class of 201", t$eadministrators c$anged direction and $ave no&dela!ed t$e ne& diplomas until 2021, &$ile ot$erparts of (% are being implemented no&. s t$ata good idea or not /$!

My son is a $e$ber o9 the Class o9 &%!"= and !-7students 9ro$ this class needed to attend su$$erschool or ta e standard reco0ery classes this year inorder to pass their 9resh$an year. Students #erediscouraged. Parents #ere 9rustrated. *eachers #ereo0er#hel$ed.

o# #e are going to change directions again andthe grades 9or the Class o9 &%!" 9resh$en year #illnot be 9igured in their ,PA but #ill be on theirtranscripts. *hey #ill be eIplaining this 9or the resto9 their li0es.

e #asted precious resources in a poori$ple$entation. 8 a$ currently a $e$ber o9 theLe#iston 2igh School Pro9iciency Based +ducationCo$$ittee #or ing to#ard sol0ing $any o9 theissues that 9aced our students and our sta99. 8 alsoser0e on the co$$ittee loo ing at graduationre@uire$ents 9or our special education students.*his is not the best case scenario= but it #as the onlyoption le9t a9ter a rushed i$ple$entation= poortraining= and lac o9 transparency or input 9ro$those tas ed #ith doing the actual #or .


Our class siKes ha0e been gro#ing 9or years.3indergarten class siKes are $andated by la# and#e ha0e to co$ply. Our teachers are 9aced #ith 0ery

challenging class siKes #ith students o9 0aryingneeds.

hen discussing class siKes #e need to realiKe that#e are not ust tal ing about the siKe o9 classes inour ele$entary schools= but also #ith our $iddleand high school= both o9 #hich ha0e o0ercro#dedclasses as #ell.

8n the high school there are not enough 9oreignlanguage teachers to teach the population o9students currently re@uesting to ta e these classes=and #hen Pro9iciency Based +ducation is !%%

percent in e99ect there #ill not be enough 9oreignlanguage teachers 9or all the students to $eet thestate $andate.

*o be 9air to our students and our sta99 #e need to$a e sure the class siKes are $anageable so thatteachers can 9ocus on educating our children. eneed to be realistic #ith our eIpectations o9 both

students and sta99 and create an en0iron$ent #hereeducation is the goal. 8 a$ sure there are other areaso9 the budget that could be cut to pay 9or $oreteachers.

*he issue beco$es #here to put the ne# teachers#hen there is no space 9or $ore classroo$s. eneed to be creati0e in order to $eet all the needs 9ore0eryone.


hile 8 understand the need 9or a ne# school= 8 a$not in 9a0or o9 the selected location. e ha0e beentold 9or years that our ele$entary schoolsEenroll$ent has been increasing. o# it see$s that itis le0eling o99= but those students #ill be heading tothe $iddle school and the high school in the near9uture. *he $iddle school #as reno0ated and should

be able to acco$$odate the increased enroll$ents=

but #hat about the high school *hey ha0e no#li$ited options 9or a 9e# years do#n the road.



%omas P+ %annon

Email address* tshannonle#istonpublicschools.org

+aceboo * ###.9aceboo .co$to$.shannon.6"47"-

-ccupation or primar!source of income* (etiredEducation* Attended FMO= nodegree

+amil! information* Marriedto the 9or$er ,ale (ic er o9Le#iston= 4% years this past August. ather o9 9ouradult children and grand9ather o9 9our. eItgrandchild anticipated in early &%!-.

ublic offices soug$t or $eld* 8t has been $y pleasure to ser0e on the Le#iston SchoolCo$$ittee 9or &% o9 the last &5 years. Ser0ed aschair$an o9 the School Co$$ittee $ultiple ti$es.2a0e represented both ard 5 and ard 7=depending on the #ard boundaries. Ser0ed in theMaine State Legislature 9or one ter$. (anunsuccess9ully 9or the City Council a9ter PaulSa$son retired.


+Iperience. )edication. A0ailability. Co$$it$ent.Much has been done. *here is $uch le9t to do. 8stand on $y record o9 attendance and participation.


*he budget that #as passed included the $ini$u$local share as re@uired by the Maine Legislature.

eIt year= that $ini$u$ local share #ill increase.

*he budget allo#ed us to begin class siKe reduction plans in our schools. Substantial positi0e change inclass siKe #ill be realiKed in the neIt budget year.Should the city o9 Le#iston not contribute the$ini$u$ local share as re@uired by the Legislature=our State +ducation Subsidy #ill be reduced by

<&.4% 9or each d%llar not contributed.

Le#iston recei0es the largest State +ducationSubsidy. 8E$ not ready to say eep it= or any parto9 it.


All School Co$$ittee $e$bers s#ear an oath touphold the la#s o9 the state o9 Maine. hen the la##as passed re@uiring Pro9iciency Based )iplo$as=#e #ere bound to atte$pt to i$ple$ent that

progra$.

(egardless the reasons= #e #ere not ready to $o0e9or#ard. Current reassign$ents and retire$ents

ha0e allo#ed a reassess$ent to be underta en at allle0els o9 PBL i$ple$entation. Once co$plete andre0ie#ed= a true assess$ent can be $ade about #hatit #ill ta e to $o0e 9or#ard. Stay tuned.


8 do 9a0or hiring $ore teachers to reduce class siKe.

All eIpenses o9 the school depart$ent as to regulareducation teachers is a shared eIpense 9undedthrough local taI dollars and State +ducationSubsidy. *he neIt budget #ill see the end o9reduced local share legislation. *he published 9igure#hen deciding on last yearEs budget le9t a personnelshort9all that needed a <!.! $illion plug.

e ha0e $ade so$e progress in this area. *hisa$ount #ill shrin considerably be9ore budget #or

begins in late ebruary or early March= dependingon enroll$ent nu$bers.


1es. ?oted 9or it. ould again.


http://www.facebook.com/tom.shannon.984786






An!roscoggin Count#)eferen!um 4o+ 1: Count# C%arter Amen!ment)o you 9a0or a$ending the Androscoggin County Charter= Article '.7= Co$pensation= as 9ollo#s:Add the 9ollo#ing: G ot#ithstanding the 9inal authority o9 the Board o9 Co$$issioners o0er the adoption o9the County Budget under Section 5.5.4.= no increase in the salaries or eIpansion o9 bene9its o9 elected

o99icials is e99ecti0e #ithout the appro0al o9 a $a ority plus one 0ote o9 the 9ull budget co$$ittee.H

tate Ballot ;uestions;uestion 1: "aine Clean Elections Act Citi<en 7nitiativeAn Act *o Strengthen the Maine Clean +lection Act= 8$pro0e )isclosure and Ma e Other Changes to theCa$paign inance La#s.)o you #ant to change Maine la# to allo# publicly 9inanced state candidates to @uali9y 9or additional 9undsunder certain li$its and rules in the Maine Clean +lection Act= to i$pro0e the disclosure o9 #ho pays 9or

political ads= and to increase penalties 9or 0iolations o9 ca$paign 9inance la#

;uestion 2: =15 "illion Bon! for lo( income senior %ousing)o you 9a0or a 915,000,000 bond issue 9or the construction o9 ne# energy/e99icient a99ordable ho$es 9orlo#/inco$e seniors= the adapti0e reuse o9 structures 9or ho$es 9or lo#/inco$e seniors and the repair and#eatheriKation o9 eIisting ho$es 9or lo#/inco$e seniors= #hich #ill create obs and #ill be $atched by anesti$ated <&&=-%%=%%% in pri0ate and other 9unds

;uestion : =>5 million bon! for transportation)o you 9a0or an 9"5,000,000 bond issue 9or construction= reconstruction and rehabilitation o9 high#ays and

bridges and 9or 9acilities and e@uip$ent related to ports= harbors= $arine transportation= 9reight and passengerrailroads= a0iation= transit and bicycle and pedestrian trails= to be used to $atch an esti$ated <!&!=5%%=%%% in

9ederal and other 9unds

Lewiston-Auburn Candidate Profiles 2015

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Transcript of Lewiston-Auburn Candidate Profiles 2015