Scott Harriman
As a public official, I take transparency very seriously.
Those of us who have been elected to municipal office are there to serve the people of the city, not our own personal or party agendas. Continued anti-democratic behavior by some elected officials has concerning implications for the public’s trust and participation in our government.
In Lewiston’s last municipal election, four of us ran with no opponent at all. Overall voter turnout was under 30%, and some wards saw only a few hundred of their roughly 5,000 residents cast votes.
We should be working toward increasing trust and participation. I worry we are heading in the wrong direction.
Almost one year ago, I wrote an op-ed noting that the public’s business must be conducted transparently by the Lewiston City Council. I wrote that op-ed after four councilors suspended the council’s rules during a late-night meeting to introduce a surprise agenda item and appoint their political ally to a Planning Board seat.
Unfortunately, these councilors continue to use the same tactics with little regard for basic transparency and the public’s right to know what is happening in council chambers. Near the end of the council’s Feb. 21 meeting, those same four councilors once again suspended the rules to introduce another surprise item of business. This came after we agreed as a council several times to communicate with each other regarding agenda items, and to submit them in advance of each council meeting.
They broke the rules we agreed to in order to censure the mayor for allegedly breaking the rules. The late-night surprise agenda item was kept secret from other members of the council and the public. Instead of putting it on the council’s agenda in advance so Lewiston residents could be aware of and comment on it, these councilors pushed a partisan distraction when we have far more important issues to address. None of them could clearly articulate why we should vote to censure the mayor.
Just a couple months ago, they also attempted to limit the mayor’s ability to speak about council business. When their attempt to silence differing voices ultimately failed, censure was apparently the next thing on their list.
This is just more of the same pattern of lack of transparency, intimidation and bullying that I have observed and experienced since my term on the council began. As I mentioned earlier this year, Councilor Lee Clement and Councilor Rick LaChapelle pulled me aside after a council meeting where I introduced a resolution reaffirming our city’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
During this hallway conversation, they threatened that “if we don’t get some moderation from the left, then we’re going to start removing people from the council.” Instead of doing the right thing and working together in good faith to do the people’s business, they’ve shown again and again that they would rather use threats to silence opinions that are contrary to their own. Those willing to dedicate their time to serve our city should be able to do so without being bullied for dissenting opinions.
Residents should be able to come to City Council meetings and voice their concerns without councilors being disdainful of their presence or suspicious of their motives. They should feel safe requesting public records without wondering if elected officials will call their boss and start asking questions.
Lewiston’s residents must be able to trust their democratically-elected leaders to conduct business transparently. They should be able to have faith that we are working toward the common good instead of playing partisan games. The City Council should address residents’ concerns instead of wasting time on surprise moves that don’t serve anyone.
These are just some of the many reasons why we as elected officials need to be held accountable by the people we serve: you. The City Council is elected to represent you.
Come to City Council meetings. Call and email us. Let us know what you think.
And, most importantly: This is your city. Vote for people who share your values and will work to uphold them.
Scott Harriman represents Ward 3 on the Lewiston City Council.
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