Mayor Larry Raymond should be remembered for leading Lewiston through a difficult time of transition.

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” Recognize that quote? It reflected very different communities and times, but it seems quite apropos for our own communities and times. Lewiston and its surrounding area are in a period of transition, and transition, as we well know, is never easy.

The most recent transition has been in Lewiston’s leadership, and let me publicly say: Congratulations Mayor Guay.

The cities of Lewiston and Auburn, as well as my own town of Lisbon, are looking forward to your leadership years with excitement and anticipation. You are taking over the reins at a momentous time in our history, and we are all looking forward to the fulfillment of our vision of progress.

In the same breath, we must say farewell to Mayor Raymond, the fearless leader who catapulted us into the 21st century amid controversy and sensationalism, yet demonstrated a quiet strength and confidence that has brought us light years beyond where we were when he took office.

Despite the fact that his tenure will be first remembered for “the letter,” there is so much more that Mayor Larry Raymond accomplished that should be acknowledged.

It’s his leadership that has placed our feet firmly on the springboard of the Lewiston-Auburn-Lisbon Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area’s (SMSA) long overdue revitalization. The gateways and hubs of our communities are experiencing impressive facelifts.

Larry Raymond, a self-proclaimed country lawyer, has been in and involved in Lewiston-Auburn and its surrounding communities since childhood. He has always had a progressive vision. As mayor, he was able to bring his vision into focus and affect real change to improve our image and benefit our people.

His leadership allowed municipal administrators and economic developers to do their jobs well. Under his administration, there were no embarrassing arguments witnessed within the city council membership. Instead, there was an air of cooperation, growth and calculated risk-taking for the benefit of the city and the area in general.

With Mayor Raymond’s guidance, the Main Street gateway welcoming folks from Auburn into Lewiston is primed to soon showcase a new park.

It was his determination that drove the southern gateway to downtown Lewiston on lower Lisbon Street to experience the incredible revitalization from a string of blighted, underused properties to attractive new expansions of Northeast Bank, Oxford Networks, VIP and Andover College.

Let’s not forget the community’s showpiece – Saints Peter and Paul “Cathedral” – that is so incredibly awe-inspiring as it stands illuminated each night as a symbol of our heritage and beliefs. Mayor Raymond made that happen to accentuate community pride.

There have been tremendous focus, negative press and fist waving about “the letter,” but let’s take a closer look at the lasting impact it has had on our communities. Without “the letter,” the inspirational peace rally would not have happened, certainly not to the grand extent that it did. It truly drew all factions of our communities together in a way that enabled new understanding with a fresh perspective and appreciation of and for diversity.

Now, when you drive around the area and see women wearing scarves to cover their heads, it’s nothing to stare at. It hasn’t been an easy transition for our traditionally white population, but because of “the letter,” we were compelled into action and the transition progressed more swiftly than it would have without it. We are now known for our diversity, and it is enriching us in ways many of us couldn’t have imagined.

Although I don’t live in or represent Lewiston in the Maine State Legislature, I am proud to have called Larry Raymond a friend and a friend of my town of Lisbon for many years.

Laurier T. Raymond Jr. has always been one of us, and we can be proud to call him our native son. He will continue to be one of us, and to be active and involved in our communities. We are grateful for that.

Rep. Robert A. Berube represents District 84 and Lisbon in the Maine State Legislature.