LEWISTON — Candidates for the Ward 4 City Council seat see voters as having choices between experience and speaking out.
“I am not afraid to take a stand against anything, not afraid to say what my views are and really represent Ward 4 strongly,” candidate Darcy Reed said. She hopes to replace Councilor Doreen Christ.
Reed, a University of Southern Maine student, said she sees herself as more an activist councilor.
“I feel she could have done more, taken some stances a bit more strongly,” Reed said. “From talking to constituents, they’ve said she has not done a whole lot of anything, other than just sit there and second motions.”
Christ, who won her first term to the council in 2011, said her familiarity with city business makes her a good candidate. In addition to two years on the council, Christ worked in the city’s planning department for 10 years. She currently works for the town of Monmouth.
“I have the experience, and I know what the issues are that are out there and some that are pending,” Christ said.
Christ said she speaks out on issues when it matters. She cited the fate of a speed table for College Street, redeveloping Bates Mill No. 5 and allowing fireworks downtown.
“I base my decisions on not just what’s good for Ward 4 but what’s going to be best for the entire city,” Christ said.
Often, she said she better serves the city by taking in as much information as possible, reading every agenda item before the meeting starts.
“I usually do know how I’m going to vote before the meeting starts because I’m familiar with the information,” Christ said. “I’ve gone over everything very carefully and gotten as much information as I can before the meeting starts. It doesn’t mean I can’t have my mind changed by what happens in a meeting, but I do understand what the issues are and what’s at stake.”
Both candidates have similar takes on the issues. Both were opposed to a Volunteers of America plan to build a housing development downtown because it involved federal support for a national group to build locally. Reed spoke against the matter at the public hearing on the plan, while Christ was among councilors who voted against it.
Both say they would like to see tax incentives instead given to local landlords to help them redevelop and clean up their properties.
“I’d like to see some low-interest loans to help these landlords bring their buildings up,” Christ said. “I think they’ll have better luck enticing new tenants in if they can do that.”
Reed said she’d like to see tax breaks go to property owners.
“I am a property owner and I understand how hard it is to see your property taxes increase,” she said. “So that’s something I’d really like to push.”
Lewiston’s Ward 4 is bordered by Webster, Farwell and Sabattus streets in the west, Pond Road in the east and Old Greene Road in the north.
Ward 4 voters should go to Longley Elementary School at 145 Birch St. to vote.
Election coverage:
- Doreen Christ, Lewiston City Council Ward 4
- Darcy Reed, Lewiston City Council Ward 4
- Lewiston candidates
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