AUBURN – Candidate Eric G. Samson sees many different groups in Auburn, all working toward the same goal – better services for the community.

They don’t work together, however, and that costs everyone.

“You notice it, especially at the council meetings,” Samson said. “There’s this stand-offish attitude.” City officials, councilors, school board members, taxpayers and parents all know it would be easier to work together, but can’t do it, Samson said.

“I think that’s where I’d be effective,” he said. “I am open, and I listen and I’m able to communicate ideas well.”

This is his first foray into politics. Samson said his lack of experience shouldn’t hurt his effectiveness.

“I’m not going to sit here and say that I understand everything about how the City Council runs and that I know exactly what to do,” Samson said. “But I understand the effect the things they do can have. I think the City Council needs to think about that, maybe a little bit more. They need to think about how they do things, almost as much as what they do.”

That includes listening to unpopular opinions.

“You may have 85 percent of the community for something and 15 against,” Samson said. “But if those 15 show up, they deserve an explanation of what you’re doing and they deserve to be heard.”

He said that opinion reflects what he’s heard during his campaign, going door to door in Ward 3. People say the current city councilors don’t listen to voters and won’t justify their decisions.

“It’s an accountability thing, like they don’t owe anybody an answer,” he said. “I don’t want to take anything away from the current council. They’ve made some tough decisions. But I think I can be more effective with people.”

That is where he is strongest, he said.

“I can look at both sides effectively,” he said. “That means I’ll actually listen, and make a decision based upon what people really will support. And I think I can sell a good idea to the public just as well. I’m able to communicate well.”

Some of the biggest work needs to come in the relationship between city management and the School Department.

“They just do not seem to be able to work together,” he said. “They both say, This is where we stand,’ and they don’t move.”

He sees a similar relationship between the city and its police officers. He talks with Auburn’s police regularly in his job at the county jail.

“The services are available and they are good, but there are morale issues,” he said. “I know what they say. And I see the firefighters out (picketing) as well. Something needs to be done to make them all feel more positive about representing the city of Auburn.”