AUBURN — Solving any problems the city has starts with a new City Council, according to at-large candidate Robert Sevigny.
“I don’t have all the answers, but I know this — we need to take down the wall between the council and the people,” said Sevigny, one of five candidates seeking two at-large City Council seats. “The last four years, Mayor (Jonathan) LaBonte has successfully neutered the council and built a big wall. They don’t answer questions. All they do is tell people how to go about getting answers themselves.”
Candidate Grady Burns has a similar goal — to add some new blood to the council.
“One thing I’m hearing from voters is that the current members of the council have ideas, but they haven’t translated them into any cohesive plans of action,” Burns said. “So getting fresh blood could very well put us in a position where we can move forward and make some progress for the community.”
The race could be a contest between established city councilors and newcomers like Sevigny and Burns. Belinda Gerry and David Young are the current at-large councilors, with several years under their belts. Gerry served from 2000 to 2005 as the Ward 5 councilor and has been a councilor at-large since 2010. Young was the councilor from Ward 4 from 2009 to 2013 and is finishing his first term as councilor at-large.
Similarly, Bob Mennealy was a City Councilor at-large from 2002 to 2009. He’s ready to get back on the council.
“A step away from the council, like I’ve had, might give Councilors Young and Gerry some refreshing perspective,” Mennealy said.
By contrast, neither Grady Burns nor Bob Sevigny have held public office.
Sevigny paints a sad picture of the city.
“The taxes are going up, the property values are plummeting, the drugs, the crime, and nobody wants to acknowledge those problems,” Sevigny said. “Like Jonathan, who says everything is lovely; ‘Just grab a kayak and go on the river, it’s beautiful.’ But it really isn’t beautiful in Auburn.”
He wants residents to have a much bigger voice in decisions.
Burns, however, said the current City Council has been stagnant and hesitant to act. Voters select them to make decisions and they need to do that.
“They are elected to govern,” Burns said. “You sometimes need to make tough decisions that rely on your own feelings and information, moving forward in a way that you feel is best for the community.”
But Gerry said her experience matters and can’t be replaced.
“I am consistent,” she said. “I work hard to look out for the interests of all my constituents. And when constituents have problems, I know where to go to help them solve it.”
Councilor David Young said his experience and calm demeanor make him a valuable asset.
“I stay calm in a hostile moment and I listen to what other people are saying,” he said. “I try not to get emotionally involved, but to listen and be more analytical and look for common ground. Some think it’s a weakness. I think it’s a strength.”
Young said he sees a change in the city’s fortunes, especially downtown.
“Main Street has a nice kind of feeling where I think people will come,” he said. “I don’t know if we need to add incentives. I think the momentum has already started. I’m not in favor of giving TIFs down there.”
Gerry said she’s pleased with the way downtown is changing, too.
“If we can better define the parking there, and get people to realize they have that parking garage, we can get more businesses there,” she said. “By trying to create walkability, we have encouraged people to come down there.”
For Mennealy, his big issue now is the schools.
“I hope we can unite behind getting a new high school,” Mennealy said. “It’s hard to believe we cannot get that done, particularly since our mayor is there at the right hand of the governor.”
He also said many residents think the new city-owned Norway Savings Bank Arena is a drawback, but it does not have to be.
“If managed properly, it’s an asset,” he said. “It brings in business to hotels with all these hockey parents. So I think it can help, if they do it right.”
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