“Do you like-like him/her?”

Please pardon the teenage lexicon, but it’s the perfect phrase to describe the budding romance between the city councils in Lewiston and Auburn. We knew officials of the Twin Cities were acting like BFF – best friends forever – but the extent of their attraction is now just starting to be known.

The icebreaker came March 19 in Auburn, where Councilor Ellen Peters broached an interesting subject: the future of city administration. Like anyone emerging from a long-term relationship – outgoing Auburn manager Pat Finnigan had served for 12 years – the city is wondering where it goes from here.

Before “dating” again, Auburn is looking at an old friend, Lewiston, in a new light, and wants to talk about real consolidation of services, including joint administration. “We’re absolutely in support of exploring the idea, and doing it – if it’s in the best interest of Auburn,” said Peters.

The stars are aligned for this relationship to blossom. L-A’s mayoral leadership – Larry Gilbert and John Jenkins – is wide open to consolidation, and poised to further capitalize on what their predecessors, the Guay brothers, started. Gov. John Baldacci, through his aggressive school administration plan, has put “consolidation and collaboration” of government services into a statewide spotlight.

Auburn is losing its top full-time administrators for the city and school district. Lewiston is blessed with bright, and stable, leaders in both those positions. A newly minted joint services coordinator, former Rumford manager Steve Eldridge, is now sharpening his pencils for a 15-month assignment to chart L-A’s union.

Perhaps he should be described as a wedding planner.

A major obstacle, among the many, for real progress on consolidation would be reticence by the city councils. Sentiments like those expressed by Peters, however, indicate their relationship could be more than merely platonic. They could become the Romeo and Juliet of modern government in Maine.

Except here, the analogous Montagues and Capulets are the residents of Lewiston and Auburn, who must be convinced this budding affair wouldn’t be a pox on both their houses. The councilors must prove the fiscal and efficiency superiority of being together, if they’re serious about these discussions.

That’s for the future, though. Today, the focus is courtship. Their next “date” is tonight, at Auburn Hall, where the two councils again have the chance to explore their feelings. We hope they shed any lingering doubts about each other, and express their true emotions.

Lewiston-Auburn getting together is an idea we definitely “like-like.”