Voters can select two candidates for the open at-large seats. The two highest vote-getters will win.
John Spruill

Address: 955 Pownal Road

Occupation: President, Diversity Partners, an affirmative action planning firm.

Community Service: Auburn City Council, 1993-94; American Association for Affirmative Action; Society for Human Resource Management; Personnel Committee and Board of Trustees for the Maine Chapter of the United Church of Christ

Education: Bachelor’s in political science, University of Southern Maine; master’s in human resource management and development, Chapman University, Orange, Calif.

Personal: (Did not answer.)

Why are you seeking a term as a city councilor?

“There’s a lot of conversation about TIFs and taxes and other things. As I look at what has happened, I don’t think the council has been fully responsive to what the people have been looking for.

What I would propose (to reduce property taxes), and what state law does not allow us to do currently, is to defer the difference in the value until you sell the house. That’s when you actually realize the profit from the increased market value. Why are we taxing people for value that they have not realized yet?”

What can you do to provide relief for Auburn property taxpayers?

“There is really nothing you can do about taxes going up. When you look at our city budget, such a large part of it is personnel costs. I can’t look at a city employee and tell them ‘I’m not going to give you at least a cost of living pay raise.'”

Please rate the incumbent. What could Bob Mennealy and Kelly Matzen (who is not running this year) have done to make things smoother for the city, the citizens or the City Council?

I think, when I look at Councilor Matzen, he has been a calming influence on the council. He has been a very deliberate thinker.

“Mr. Mennealy, I think he tends to play on peoples’ fears instead of the facts.

“He is highly educated, but just because you have an education does not mean you have a full grasp of what’s going on.”