LEWISTON — Ward 5 City Councilor Kristen Cloutier announced this week that she would seek another term in office.

She said in a written statement that her priorities are to decrease the incidence of childhood lead poisonings in the city and to encourage more safe and affordable housing options.

“Childhood lead poisoning rates in Lewiston are currently four times the state average,” Cloutier wrote. “We know that lead poisoning directly affects a child’s ability to learn and to become an active and engaged citizen later in life. We must provide more safe and affordable housing options in Lewiston so that all our children have a chance to succeed.”

Cloutier was first elected to the seat in 2013. As a councilor, she serves as vice chairwoman of the Downtown Neighborhood Action Committee, as the City Council representative to the School Committee, as a member of the Lewiston-Auburn Public Health Committee, the Lewiston Comprehensive Plan Committee and the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments General Assembly.

She works at Bates College as the assistant director for center operations at the Harward Center.

All of Lewiston’s elected positions are up this November, including the mayor, seven city councilors and eight School Committee members.

Lewiston’s election cycle kicks off July 6. Candidates can begin circulating nomination petitions then and need to complete and return them to the City Clerk’s office by Sept. 4 to receive a spot on the ballot.

 staylor@sunjournal.com

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