By Daniel Hartill,Staff Writer
Bernier, Poulin and Horn compete for Democratic nomination

LEWISTON – A four-year seat on the Androscoggin County Commission has drawn three candidates for the democratic nomination: Renee Bernier, Helen Poulin & James Horn.

All three – each vying to replace departing Lewiston Commissioner Patience Johnson – said they plan to work at keeping spending down, if elected.

Other issues include opening up the commission to the public by televising its meetings, finding new revenue sources and working to ensure taxpayers pay no more than their fair share of the county tax.

“I want to make sure Lewiston is not paying more than it should,” said James Horn, a long-time school administrator who is running in his first election.

“We pay a tremendous amount of taxes to the county,” he said.

If elected, he pledges to give away his $6,900 annual stipend, splitting the money between several nonprofit groups: the Franco-American Heritage Center, the St. Martins de Porres Residence, Lewiston-Auburn Veterans and Lewiston’s school libraries.

Like Horn, candidate Renee Bernier believes the budget needs watching.

For the past two years, Bernier has served as a Lewiston representative to the county’s budget committee. It’s become the forgotten piece of most people’s tax bills, she said.

“It was a real eye-opener, as well as a strong deciding factor in running for the office,” she said.

Bernier believes too little is known about how county government works and how its leaders make decisions.

If elected, she hopes to get the twice-monthly meetings televised, just like city council meetings in Lewiston and Auburn.

“County government needs to come out of the box,” she said. “We’re dealing with people’s tax dollars.”

“You hear about the local and state numbers,” said Bernier, president of the Lewiston City Council. “But this is the first figure we deal with. It has a big impact on what people pay.”

Candidate Helen Poulin hopes to use her experience as the county treasurer – a post that is currently filled by her husband, Robert – to help keep the county’s nearly $6 million budget down.

“I think there are new revenue sources that could be found,” she said.

Poulin spent almost a full term as the treasurer, leaving the job to begin her own business, Austin’s Business Services.

Previously, she attended virtually every commission meeting.

“As the treasurer, you’re paying the bills and following the budget,” she said. “The commission sets the policy.

“I know what the county needs,” she said. “I could do a lot.”

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