Leslie Dubois and Jim Lysen are running for Lewiston City Council Ward 1 on Nov. 3, 2015. Learn about more candidates and issues in our Election 2015 guide.
Name:
Leslie T. Dubois
Email address:
lesliedubois@hotmail.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/duboisformaine
Other social media?
I do not tweet, tube, gram or blog. Besides my limited use of Facebook, I can be found on LinkedIn.
Occupation or primary source of income:
Administration
Education:
Business management. Associate’s degree in computers; bachelor’s degree in education from University of Maine Presque Isle; certificates in American Institute of Banking; diploma for graduating from Zama American High School; and life experience from the school of hard knocks. 😉
Family information:
I have lived in Lewiston for the past 20 years and have been married 21 years to Michael L. Dubois; have two kids (family pets), Sir Brussels a 9-year-old silky terrier, and Mr. Jackson, a 3-year-old Shitzu.
I work as administrator of Michael L. Dubois, P.A., running the day-to-day operations of the law practice. I was a military dependent (Army brat) from birth to 24 years of age, first as a daughter (birth to 18) then as a wife to a soldier. After 13 years we divorced and I returned to Presque Isle in 1989 where I would meet and later marry my true love.
I have a strong work ethic and have a yearning for education and to know what’s happening. I believe in and live by the U.S. Constitution and the holy Bible.
Public offices sought or held:
Ward 1 city councilor, seeking re-election.
Why are you running for office? Why should voters select you for this job?
I am running for re-election for Ward 1 Lewiston city councilor because I enjoy giving back to my community. I like to follow through with whatever I do and feel there are many items still left undone from my first term in office.
I believe I am the number one choice for the citizens of Ward 1, Lewiston City Council. I have demonstrated that I am approachable. I listen to you, voice your concerns, work for you and I care. I would very much like to continue being the voice for Ward 1.
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?
I believe the city has focused and balanced all three this past year.
With the limited budget we — the present City Council — have budgeted for and prioritized the roads needing repair throughout the city. We have made great strides in education, have purchased a new fire engine, and there are current programs in place for lead removal in downtown housing.
We will continue to spend in all three of these areas. However, my top priority in spending in the coming year would be in public safety, ensuring the welfare of our citizens. As our city grows we see increased drug abuse problems, robberies, home invasions, shootings, fires, gang related violence, etc. There is a need to hire back personal in our police force, code enforcement and fire departments.
We need to feel safe.
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?
I believe the City Council worked well together this year and focused on priority spending. Cuts were made with most of the “want” items as we concentrated on the “need” items.
As an advocate for lower taxes, I believe the budget was too high, as property owners witnessed in the recent tax bills in increased property taxes. I believe a lot of federal and state mandates requiring large amount of city share is a big problem, and something I hope the Legislature will deal with in its upcoming term.
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?
My belief is that tax-acquired property should be put out for bid/sale to someone other than the city, or the person or family in default.
Should the city purchase property from individuals who approach the city because they feel it’s their best interest to do so and forgo selling to the private sector? No.
Should the city be spending money on a site with the potential of some developer acquiring the property at a later date in lieu of helping those citizens in need of assistance, in lieu of keeping taxes down, in lieu of cutting staff, in lieu of providing a safe Lewiston? No.
When property becomes available for sale and a willing purchaser comes to the Planning Board regarding development or re-development, the Planning Board should be able to direct the development and promote the highest best use for the 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?
The city has been aggressive in acquisition and demolition of the housing stock, more so than ever before. There are programs currently in place to rid buildings of lead, a task force designed to enforce code and zoning changes to accommodate market rate housing.
Should we continue? Yes.
Should we go further? Yes.
We need to add staffing for code enforcement and fire marshal and be forceful in having the owner bring their building to code. There are also monies through programs available for repairs, and that should be taken advantage of.
And, yes. We need to continue encouraging market rate housing. However, the ones occupying the units “need to care” about their surroundings/environment and take responsibility, step up and clean up after themselves, clean their belongings and debris from their unit and in the hallways, making a safe, livable area.
Name:
James J. Lysen
Email address:
jameslysen@yahoo.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Jim-Lysen-For-Lewiston-City-Council
Occupation or primary source of income:
Retired, Social Security.
Education:
Bachelor of science, civil engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute. Master of city and regional planning, Illinois Institute of Technology.
Family information:
I have lived at 26 Taylor Hill Road in Ward 1 for 31 years with my wife Susann Pelletier; a poet, writer and teacher, and a native of Lewiston.
Our daughter Genevieve, a graduate of Lewiston High School and Hofstra University, recently purchased a house nearby in Ward 1.
I retired New Year’s Eve after a 45-year career, most of it serving this community. We are all informed in our work by a strong sense of social, economic and racial justice. We are avid organic gardeners and support local farms and businesses.
Public offices sought or held:
This is my first campaign for public office.
Why are you running for office? Why should voters select you for this job?
I love this community, I think it deserves better and I can help make that happen.
I’ve devoted my life to public service from my days as an Eagle Scout. I’ve been committed to serve others throughout my career as an engineer, Lewiston planning director for 15 years, executive director of St. Mary’s Community Clinical Services for 12 years, and in my volunteer activities.
I know Lewiston well, and I have lived in Ward 1 since 1984. Through my life and work here, I’ve gained unique insights into our community’s strengths and challenges. I have a wide and diverse network of people and organizations that will permit me to work collaboratively as a city councilor. As that network grows, I pledge to find the common ground that Lewiston needs to tap its people power and resources.
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?
First, I do not believe in pitting one valuable service against another, or that we are in a constant state of scarcity and “limited” budgets.
A strong education system and the public safety of every Lewiston resident should be non-negotiable. Police and fire are critically important, and we must maintain these high quality services.
However, we need to acknowledge that public safety is a much broader category.
The city must enforce its housing and building codes, with meaningful fines for non-compliance, especially for slum landlords. Such enforcement will raise revenues, while improving the safety and image of our downtown neighborhoods.
Too many streets and sidewalks in Lewiston desperately need repair, and state funding issues have complicated addressing this issue. Left un-repaired, they present drivers, riders and pedestrians with unsafe conditions, and with costly car repairs for many.
That being said, our highest priority should be assuring that all our residents, at all ages, can access quality education and job training programs. We must do this in a way that does not depend so heavily on local taxpayers, instead aggressively tap federal, state and private sources of funding, including grants.
Lewiston’s future, its quality of life and economic development, will rely partly on “new” industries and products. These include solar and energy-efficient building and rehabilitation technologies, and other small- to medium-sized manufacturers. Job training programs and employers must be allied with our high school and colleges to build an energetic, dependable local workforce, paid a fair wage.
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?
It was very bare-bones, with many important needs not being fully addressed. We need to explore additional revenue-raising options that are not just hidden taxes or fees on Lewiston residents, such as the pay-per-bag trash scheme. State funding for schools needs to go up to levels as already approved by Maine voters.
As previously noted, slum landlords need to be held accountable and stop causing residents to live in un-safe conditions while costing the city tax dollars. Revenue sharing from the state must return to historic levels, while all taxpayers need to pay their fair share, including the wealthy and corporations. Tax shifts to the middle class and seniors are not acceptable.
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?
Absolutely, the city and other agencies and organizations should be allowed to land bank parcels to help create an environment where investment can occur.
However, it must be done in open and transparent manners, with full knowledge of the City Council and the public. Riverfront redevelopment, including our underutilized mill spaces, is a prime location for land banking. I would add that we should also be thinking about viable and unique manufacturing ventures, like Baxter Brewery.
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?
I would focus on creating and encouraging owner-occupied housing, including co-ops to improve downtown housing stock.
As previously mentioned, slum landlords need to be held accountable and stop causing residents to live in un-safe conditions as their apartment buildings deteriorate. Proper enforcement and fines would more than pay for the city’s costs of demolition and lost property tax revenues.
It would also protect the rental housing investments of the many good landlords who’ve seen the value of their properties go down.
Of course, the city and other public agencies should be involved in downtown housing. The private sector, led by slum landlords, has had control for too long. Look at the results. The residents of Lewiston have known this for decades.
It is time for the city to take responsible actions and do its share to improve housing, people’s lives, the local economy and Lewiston’s image.
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