Jeff Harmon Submitted photo
Name: Jeffrey Harmon
Age: 64
Occupation: Retired, former deputy chief of the Maine State Police and general manager of the Justice Practice, Constellation Software Inc.
Political experience: Member of Citizens for Sensible Growth, Save our Agriculture and Resource Protection Zone and the Protect Lake Auburn community groups. Eight years of experience representing the Bureau of State Police before the Maine Legislature and the governor’s office.
Why do you think you’re the most qualified, or best candidate for this seat?
I have 30 years of experience leading government agencies and growing private sector businesses that serve public entities. As a leader, I utilize collaborative and participatory decision making where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. I will engage the community and be responsive to the residents of Auburn.
Please name two issues that you believe are critical to Auburn’s future and how you would address them. Be specific.
Protection of natural resources is essential. It is important to protect Lake Auburn as it is our only source of drinking water. We need to use the best available science to understand the potential risk to drinking water quality in areas around the lake. We should not support new construction within the Lake Auburn watershed. We need to be careful that we make the right decisions to protect the lake, bad decisions could jeopardize our filtration waiver and cost ratepayers tens of millions of dollars. We need to restore curbside recycling to do our part to provide a sustainable environment. With a well-developed and implemented program, we can provide reasonable and cost-effective recycling services.
Additional housing of all types for all income levels is an urgent need. Our current policy primarily encourages the development of market-rate luxury apartment complexes. We need a housing strategy that also includes the needs of seniors and working people who cannot afford luxury apartments. To meet these urgent needs, we need a collaborative approach that includes both public participation and the involvement of private and nonprofit housing providers. Providing housing for all is necessary for successful economic growth.
What actions will you take to support businesses and grow the local economy?
High-quality education is essential for economic progress. Education is a key driver of growth and prosperity, as it prepares individuals for successful employment. Our schools should collaborate with businesses to ensure that students have the skills necessary for successful employment or for future education and training. Attracting and retaining educators and staff is critical to providing a high-quality education.
Attracting new businesses requires an available workforce and high-quality infrastructure, especially transportation and telecommunications. We can assist businesses with incentives, such as tax increment financing, when there are public benefits such as the creation of new jobs.
What else do you want voters to know about you?
Over the past two years I have attended almost every City Council and Planning Board meeting. It has become clear to me that we need a new direction in Auburn. Over the next two years critical decisions will be made that will have a major and long-lasting effect on the direction of our city.
Jason Levesque Submitted photo
Name: Jason Levesque
Age: 49
Occupation: Mayor of Auburn
Political experience: Six years as mayor, two years on School Committee, four years Legislative Policy Committee, Maine Municipal Association Legislative Committee on Housing
Why do you think you’re the most qualified, or best candidate for this seat?
My experience in business, the military and six years as mayor gives me the skill set to continue to guide Auburn through a period of significant growth, and economic uncertainty. If we continue to move smartly forward, we will be stronger and economically better off as a city. This is not the time to change direction.
Please name two issues that you believe are critical to Auburn’s future and how you would address them. Be specific.
There is one critical issue that must be attacked head-on, and that is combating the opioid crisis, which is the root cause of our most pressing issues from violent crime to homelessness. We have implemented several initiatives to support and help those addicted get clean, find transitional housing and stable work. We also recognize that prevention is the best cure and that’s why I will ensure we build a new, larger PAL Center with youth programs focused on breaking the cycle of drug use and ending generational poverty, while keeping our police in our schools to ensure our students’ safety and make sure problems are identified and dealt with quickly.
We must take a strong look at enforcement. Last year, I reintroduced and ensured funding to hire a law enforcement team that focused on taking out drug dealers. I want to expand that program and ensure that our first responders have the resources, including support from county, state and federal partners, to take these criminals off the street. I will also double my lobbying efforts in Augusta and Washington for stronger laws to punish drug dealers. These dealers are killing our residents and holding back our efforts to grow and be prosperous. They must be eradicated.
What actions will you take to support businesses and grow the local economy?
I’ve talked with dozens of our local businesses, and our actions cutting government red tape, and building a better image of Auburn have helped them achieve some record growth. They now need new workers, from doctors to precision machine operators and everything in between. Auburn has some great recreational and quality-of-life amenities, but what we lack is housing. Whether its market rate apartments, starter homes, or retirement communities, we need more housing to house more young workers for our growing manufacturing, service and professional industries. We need folks to work, play and LIVE here, not in other towns.
What else do you want voters to know about you?
For six years I have worked tirelessly to ensure that the City Council, boards and committees have the necessary information to make the best decisions possible, even if those decisions are unpopular to some. Auburn will succeed by making educated decisions based on fact, not emotions or a desire to be popular.
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