Benjamin Chin, Luke Jensen, Robert Macdonald, Steve Morgan and Charles Soule are running for Lewiston mayor on Nov. 3, 2015. Learn about more candidates and issues in our Election 2015 guide.
Name:
Benjamin W. Chin
Email address:
benchinformayor@gmail.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/benchinformayor
Other social media?
Website: http://benchinformayor.com/
Twitter: @bchinme
Instagram: @benchinformayor
Occupation or primary source of income:
Maine People’s Alliance political director
Education:
Bates College
Family information:
My wife Nicola and I are expecting our first child on Oct. 30! We live on Kensington Terrace, a quiet street off Montello, near the Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary.
Public offices sought or held:
Candidate for mayor of Lewiston
Why are you running for office? Why should voters select you for this job?
My wife and I are excited about raising a young family in Lewiston; our city has so much potential.
At the same time, we have far too many corporate slumlords — like Joe Dunne, Ted West and Rick Lockwood — who take advantage of people, give us a bad reputation, and block legitimate economic development.
It’s time to raise our standards. We need new ideas and new energy in city hall.
Over the last 10 years, I’ve shown I know how to get big things done. In 2005, I helped lead the effort to stand up to our former city administrator, Jim Bennett, around the so-called “Heritage Initiative.” In 2011, I led the effort to protect same-day voter registration in Maine, gathering over 70,000 signatures in 23 days to block its repeal through a People’s Veto. In 2012, I helped lead the campaign to prevent over 50,000 seniors and people with disabilities from losing prescription drug assistance to pay for the governor’s tax breaks for the rich. In 2013, I negotiated an additional $22 million in property tax assistance through the Property Tax Fairness Credit.
Just this year — when the governor wanted to take millions away from Lewiston in his budget — I helped lead the effort to pass a budget that actually increased education funding for Lewiston’s schools. I’m currently leading the statewide volunteer effort to gather signatures to raise Maine’s minimum wage. It’s time Lewiston had a leader with that kind of a record.
With a limited budget and knowing what you know now, what would be your top spending priority among these three services: road repair, education or public safety? Why?
The mayor’s job isn’t to pick favorites among city departments. The mayor’s job is to leverage resources for the city so that every department has what it needs to be successful.
I mentioned earlier that Gov. LePage continues to use municipal revenue sharing as his piggy bank to pay for tax breaks for the rich. Everyone looking out their window at a pot hole, or wondering why a certain program isn’t offered at school, or worrying about police and fire protection, needs to know one thing: If Lewiston continues to roll over every time the governor uses us to pay for tax breaks for the rich, we are never going to have the roads, schools, and public safety we deserve.
The hospitals got their money back. The teachers are beginning to make progress on education funding. There’s no excuse for Lewiston and every other municipality in Maine to accept this bullying. We need a leader who can actually stand up for our city.
What do you like about the city budget passed this year, and what don’t you like? Was it too high, too low, just right?
The biggest problem with Lewiston’s budget is that we — like every other municipality in the state — are owed tens of millions of dollars from the state. Lewiston simply can’t do right by its property taxpayers if the state doesn’t do right by us.
The good news is that it’s completely possible. Last year, I worked in a coalition with teachers who organized a statewide effort that successfully — and with bi-partisan support — increased funding for schools. Lewiston’s schools saw more funding as a result.
Two years ago, Gov. LePage found $500 million to pay back the hospitals. It’s time that the mayors of Maine’s largest cities followed the example of teachers and hospitals in demanding that Augusta stop using municipal revenue sharing as a piggy bank for tax breaks for the rich.
Wealthy Mainers have had their taxes lowered twice in the last four years. When I’m mayor, I want to lead the charge in getting our money back.
What about land banking? Should the city be allowed to set aside parcels for specific kinds of development, say to promote retail or housing around the river front?
Land banking is an interesting idea. What matters most in housing, however, is who owns it. Back when people lived in the buildings they owned, Lewiston did not have nearly the kinds of housing issues we do now. A few corporate slumlords now control so much property downtown that they would be the ninth-largest property taxpayer in the city if all their assets were combined.
My campaign is releasing a series of ideas on how to crack down on the small number of very bad landlords, and move that property back to a resident-owned model.
What would you do to improve Lewiston’s downtown housing stock? Should the city even be involved in downtown housing? Why do you think that?
Lewiston collects more in fines from overdue library books than we do from housing code violations. That is absurd. We need to make fines on the big violations — like loss of heat and hot water in the winter, plumbing and fire safety — expensive enough to actually change the behavior of the worst landlords.
Then, we need to leverage the investment necessary to rebuild downtown. We have already spent $4 million of public money demolishing 583 units of housing. Property taxpayers can no longer be expected to pick up the tab when corporate slumlords can’t take care of their buildings.
I want to flip it exactly the other way around, using the fines we get from the worst offenders to rebuild our city. Again, my campaign will be releasing a plan to support resident-owned housing.
Name:
Luke D. Jensen
Email address:
Lukedjensen@yahoo.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/lukeforlewiston
Occupation or primary source of income:
Banking specialist, TD Bank
Education:
B.A. international relations, Lynchburg College
Family information:
24 years old, single, fifth-generation Lewiston resident
Public offices sought or held:
Past candidate for House District 58 of the Maine Legislature, 2014; present associate member, Lewiston Historic Preservation Review Board.
Why are you running for office? Why should voters select you for this job?
Lewiston is my home. As a young person who earned a bachelor’s degree and returned home to start a professional career, and as the only mayoral candidate born and raised here in Lewiston, I will bring a unique perspective to the mayor’s office that has never been there before.
We absolutely need to make Lewiston a city where our young people want to stay and invest in the community, which will in turn make Lewiston a more attractive place for young individuals and families.
At the age of 16, I was chair of the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council, president of my high school class and a delegate for Lewiston’s successful All-America City bid. I’ve spent a lot of my young life giving back to the city that has made me the person I am today.
I’m running for mayor because I care about the place I call my home, I always have, and I wish to continue my service to our city. Lewiston is not a dying city; it is a Phoenix rising from the ashes, ready to spread its wings.
A young mayor would certainly portray Lewiston as the new and revitalized place our city is becoming.
With a limited budget and knowing what you know now, what would be your top spending priority among these three services: road repair, education or public safety? Why?
Public safety will be my top priority once sworn into office. Our firefighters are needed now more than ever, yet they don’t have the resources they require to be their very best. I will prioritize the addition of resources to the fire department, which they are certainly asking for.
Our police officers also need more resources, especially considering the growing use of heroin in our community and state as a whole. Public safety will not fall through the cracks while I’m in the mayor’s seat.
What do you like about the city budget passed this year, and what don’t you like? Was it too high, too low, just right?
The budget, like other recent budgets, left a bad taste in my mouth — but it could have been much, much worse.
I commend city councilors for putting so much effort toward lessening the blow to taxpayers, and look forward to working with councilors on new ways we can make city government more efficient and cost-effective. Property taxpayers, especially our seniors on fixed incomes, deserve and expect that of us.
What about land banking? Should the city be allowed to set aside parcels for specific kinds of development, say to promote retail or housing around the river front?
While I dislike the idea of common use of land banking by the city, I remain cautious as to eliminating a tool at the city’s disposal to achieve the important goal of developing the riverfront area.
I would like to make one point very clear: Lewiston voters should have the right to reject individual land banking proposals through citizen referendums.
What would you do to improve Lewiston’s downtown housing stock? Should the city even be involved in downtown housing? Why do you think that?
The city has no choice but to be involved in Lewiston’s downtown housing stock. Many buildings are dangerous for residents and firefighters who need to be able to move about freely in case of an emergency. Rubbish between buildings poses fire hazards, and smoke detectors are commonly removed from apartments.
I’d like to see less low-income housing downtown, and more options for young professionals who would enjoy living in a newly-revitalized part of the city. Improving the downtown area’s housing makes Lewiston more attractive to individuals and businesses that may wish to relocate to our city.
Name:
Robert E. Macdonald
Occupation or primary source of income:
Retired
Education:
BS, Northeastern University
Family information:
I am married to Virginia and we have four children and five grandchildren.
Public offices sought or held:
Current mayor
Why are you running for office? Why should voters select you for this job?
I am running to keep the progress of the city achieved over the last 3 1/2 years continue. I further am running to hopefully submit and pass long overdue welfare reform.
I am also running to stop one of the current mayoral candidates from turning Lewiston into a welfare destination.
With a limited budget and knowing what you know now, what would be your top spending priority among these three services: road repair, education or public safety? Why?
Sorely needed road repair and public safety will have to go on the back burner. How can we fund things that are needed when we have a $17 million special education tab we have to fund?
That’s $17 million out of a $60 million budget. If it was not for the school superintendent and the School Committee, Lewiston might be looking at a million or more added to the current figure.
What do you like about the city budget passed this year, and what don’t you like? Was it too high, too low, just right?
A $27 plus mil rate is much too high. Both the council and School Committee members did a good job keeping it under $28 mils. Mandates from the state and federal governments, the killing and rewriting of welfare bills submitted by the city, and the fact that we are a service center community will continue to drive up taxes.
What about land banking? Should the city be allowed to set aside parcels for specific kinds of development, say to promote retail or housing around the river front?
Yes. We are in desperate need of businesses and land banking. Let the city control what type of businesses and/or housing are built in an area.
What would you do to improve Lewiston’s downtown housing stock? Should the city even be involved in downtown housing? Why do you think that?
We must continue to tear down buildings that are uninhabitable. We further need to find a source of funding in order to help current landlords fix up their buildings.
One blighted neighborhood will overshadow 10 vibrant neighborhoods, thus gaining Lewiston a poor reputation. Lastly the working poor need decent housing; they are the cogs that keep any city running.
Name:
Stephen J. Morgan
Email address:
steve@stevemorgangroup.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/SteveMorganForMayor
Occupation or primary source of income:
Real estate agent
Education:
Washington County Vocational Technical Center
Family information:
Married to Dina (Donohue) Morgan for almost 30 years; daughter Nicole, son Wade; five grandchildren — Ava, Isaiah, Josiah, Regan, Dailen.
Public offices sought or held
Currently running for mayor, past president of the Lewiston City Council for two years; past chairman of the Lewiston Planning Board for five years; past member of the State Board of Property Tax Review, five years.
Why are you running for office? Why should voters select you for this job?
First, I would say my experience with the public sector is greater than any other candidate running.
I have also been a full-time real estate broker in this area for 28 years. I can easily say that I have been involved in more multi-family sales than just about any other local real estate agent. That has given me a unique perspective of not just the downtown area, but all of Lewiston. If we don’t attract new businesses to Lewiston we will never build our tax base and it will constantly be an uphill battle, trying to lower taxes and the return of services and downtown improvements.
Lewiston (just as many other towns) has just started to come back from a devastating economic downturn over the last 8-10 years. We are poised right now to dramatically make an impact on the state of Maine due to our size, location in the state, access to the riverfront, rail and airport, etc.
My goal would be to encourage and work with our economic development team and the major developers in and outside the area to develop the areas around Exit 80, the Bates Mill buildings, and the riverfront. This will create increased funding for a tax base that will help other areas of the city improve (i.e. downtown, roads, education etc.).
This is not an easy job, but I feel I am easy to approach and talk to, and that will make me a good ambassador for the city. My ability to listen and my negotiating skills will help with council meetings running smoothly. While being able to bring together people with different points of view and help to find agreeable solutions.
With a limited budget and knowing what you know now, what would be your top spending priority among these three services: road repair, education or public safety? Why?
Public safety first and foremost. Safety is looked at by just about anyone looking to move here. We need strong police and fire departments in order to accomplish this.
Secondly and not far behind is education where again the local reputation is key for not only bringing in people to Lewiston, but keeping them here.
Roads unfortunately are a different and difficult story. If I remember correctly Lewiston has roughly 138 plus or minus miles of roads that need to be maintained and, with the funds that are available, the city is behind and it will take extra funding for itto keep up — but that is still number three in priority.
What do you like about the city budget passed this year, and what don’t you like? Was it too high, too low, just right?
Again this year the final budget is running too high and the current mayor and City Council did a great job at trying to make the numbers work in favor of the whole of the city, considering what they had to work with.
I would take you back to the previous question and my answer regarding increasing the tax base. All city workers (police, fire, public works, etc.) hope and expect to get at least a cost of living increase. These funds need to come from taxes, so we need the second largest city in the state to continue to grow in order to keep up and not increase our taxes.
What about land banking? Should the city be allowed to set aside parcels for specific kinds of development, say to promote retail or housing around the river front?
Yes, if they deem it necessary. People need to know that sometimes, due to confidentiality, upcoming transactions and negotiations that were private and only talked about in executive sessions need to be heeded.
Having served on the council I know this firsthand.
That said, some issues need to be brought to the citizens’ attention with that kind of an explanation and a promise that they will explain why they did what they did at a later date.
What would you do to improve Lewiston’s downtown housing stock? Should the city even be involved in downtown housing? Why do you think that?
Obviously the city needs to be involved and a strong code enforcement office is a key. Good follow up and attention to details is very important. This seems to be one of the hot topics on some candidates’ agendas, and fixing this problem completely is close to impossible.
Again during the economic decline, large numbers of tenants were not able to pay their rent to their landlords. Many moved to rents they could afford or even back in with parents and, unfortunately, some even found themselves homeless.
Landlords were stuck with a high number of vacancies or tenants that could only pay a portion of the rent across the entire downtown. This in turn caused many landlords to not be able to keep up with mortgages, heat, and other utilities in order to maintain the properties.
I can remember several owners actually trying to just abandon the buildings and give them back to their bank because they couldn’t afford them.
I, more than most people, understand tenants rights as well as landlord rights. This is a tough tightrope to walk, especially when the unemployment rate is high, due to a crushed economy.
Finding a fix-all answer to this has to be a mix of tenants, landlords and code enforcement working together to come to agreeable solutions.
Name:
Charles Arthur Soule
Email address:
onlinewebfire@yahoo.com
Other social media?
www.soule2015mayor.wordpress.com
Public offices sought or held:
Seeking mayor.
Why are you running for office? Why should voters select you for this job?
Answer on www.soule2015mayor.wordpress.com
With a limited budget and knowing what you know now, what would be your top spending priority among these three services: road repair, education or public safety? Why?
Answer on www.soule2015mayor.wordpress.com
What do you like about the city budget passed this year, and what don’t you like? Was it too high, too low, just right?
Answer on www.soule2015mayor.wordpress.com
What about land banking? Should the city be allowed to set aside parcels for specific kinds of development, say to promote retail or housing around the river front?
Answer on www.soule2015mayor.wordpress.com
What would you do to improve Lewiston’s downtown housing stock? Should the city even be involved in downtown housing? Why do you think that?
Answer on www.soule2015mayor.wordpress.com
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