Tamera L. Grieshaber, 100 Stony Ridge Road

John T. Jenkins, 34 Ryan Way

Councilor at large (two seats)

David L. Burke, 38 Harmons Corner Road

Robert C. Mennealy, 43 Royal Oaks Drive (incumbent)

C. Ellen Peters, 15 Shepley St.

Ronald W. Potvin, 82 Northern Ave.

John T. Spruill Jr., 955 Pownal Road

Councilor Ward 1

Richard D. Gleason, 415 West Auburn Road

Councilor Ward 2

Jodd P. Bowles, 239 Lake St.

Robert P. Hayes, 172 Allen Ave. (incumbent)

Councilor Ward 3

Daniel R. Herrick, 470 Hatch Road

Eric G. Samson, 28 Windmere Way (incumbent)

Councilor Ward 4

Bruce A. Bickford, 64 Cameron Lane

Anna L. Camire, 9 Eastman Lane

Donna Lyons Rowell, 95 Monroe St. (incumbent)

Councilor Ward 5

Raymond C. Berube, 177 Ninth St.

Belinda A. Gerry, 143 Mill St. (incumbent)

Fern P. Lake, 612 South Main St.

School Committee, at large

Gregory E. Desgrosseilliers, 149 Hatch Road

Ross A. Leavitt, 43 Newell Ave. (incumbent)

Thomas P. Martellone, 3 Richardson St.

School Committee, Ward 1

Lane I. Feldman, 100 Chickadee Drive

School Committee, Ward 2

Francois R. Bussiere, 9 Winter St.

Bonnie J. Hayes, 172 Allen Ave.

School Committee, Ward 3

Tara E. W. Paradie, 100 Hillside Ave.

School Committee, Ward 4

Susan Gaylord, 432 Beech Hill Road

School Committee, Ward 5

David H. Das, 104 Fourth St. (incumbent)

Election scramble is on in Auburn
27 seeking seats on Auburn council, School Committee

AUBURN – Property taxes and City Council controversy promise to make this year’s municipal election one to remember.

“My best guess, it’s reaction to the tax event that’s driving all this,” said Dick Gleason, the sole candidate for the council’s Ward 1 seat on November’s ballot. “Unfortunately, that’s the kind of thing that motivates people to run.”

Gleason is the only name on the ballot virtually guaranteed a seat on the council after November’s municipal election. Every other seat has at least two people competing for it. In the case of the council’s two at-large seats, six people have tossed their hats in the ring.

The results last October of the city’s property revaluation, which showed values increasing for many homeowners, inspired a property tax revolt in Auburn.

Gleason said that may account for much of the interest in City Council politics – but not for his personal interest.

“I just want to see what I can do, positively, to keep things up in the city,” Gleason said. “I’m hoping to be as proactive as possible, without stirring things up.”

Thursday was the deadline for candidates to complete and file their nomination papers for election to the council, as mayor or to the Auburn School Committee.

The election is scheduled for Nov. 7. Winners will serve a shortened, one-year term because of changes in the City Charter. According to the charter, Auburn will begin having its municipal elections in odd-numbered years, to match Lewiston elections.

Mayoral candidate Tammie Grieshaber said she thinks the shortened term might have inspired some to run for office.

“Sort of trying it for a year to see if you like it,” she said.

Not her, however.

“I’m in it for the long haul,” Grieshaber said. “If I’m elected this year, I know for sure that I’m going to run again next year.”

Incumbent at-large Councilor Bob Mennealy said people may be unsatisfied with the way the current council operates.

“Mostly, I think it’s discontent with taxes in Auburn, and with the way things are run at this level,” Mennealy said. “I think people are mostly fed up, and I think that the new taxpayers group has spurred some interest.”

Candidate Jodd Bowles, seeking to unseat incumbent Robert Hayes in Auburn’s Ward 2, said it is shaping up to be a divisive season. Bowles, who submitted his paperwork just hours before the 4:30 p.m. Thursday deadline, said he talked to many people nervous about Auburn politics.

“I’ve run for city office three different times, but I’ve never seen it like this,” Bowles said. “People told me they were afraid to let their politics be known, one way or the other.”

Both Bowles and his opponent Hayes said they were disappointed more people did not fill out petitions running for open seats on Auburn’s School Committee. Nine people handed in their papers for the seven open seats there. Seats in Wards 1, 3, 4 and 5 will go unchallenged. Two people will vie for the Ward 2 seat and three will vie for the two at-large positions.

“It does represent half of the city’s budget, so you would assume people would be just as interested,” Bowles said.