Misidentified Monday’s city council inauguration should have credited Ismail Ahmed as offering the closing prayer on behalf of Lewistons Muslim community. An earlier version of the name was incorrectly reported on the Web and on Tuesday’s B2 of the City edition.


LEWISTON – The city’s seven new councilors have learned a lot about municipal government since they were elected two months ago.

“We do not have all the answers,” Councilor Tom Peters said Monday. “Indeed, we don’t know all the questions.”

Peters, Mayor Larry Gilbert, the rest of the newly elected City Council and School Committee swore their oaths of office Monday night in the Lewiston Middle School’s auditorium, calling for renewed resident involvement in Lewiston’s municipal affairs.

Gilbert pledged to bring plans for a citizens committee to oversee the city’s budget before councilors. He presented that plan to councilors last spring but couldn’t get it approved.

“The more eyes that can be cast on a budget the more savings that might be achieved,” Gilbert said.

He said he was eager to work with councilors.

“This all new council is bringing a new spirit of service to our residents,” he said. “Together, we are all concerned about property taxes and most especially how they impact those on a fixed income. I believe you will find it interesting as to how we as a council approach the budget process this year.”

It’s the first time in Lewiston’s history that voters have changed the entire council. Of the seven seats, only two incumbents sought re-election in last November’s ballot. Stavros Mendros and Ron Jean lost their bids to keep their council positions.

That made room for an entirely new group: Peters in Ward 1; Nelson M. J. Peters Jr. in Ward 2; Larry J. Poulin in Ward 3; Denis L. Theriault in Ward 4; Tina G. Bailey in Ward 5; Elizabeth A. Dube in Ward 6; and Robert A. Reed in Ward 7.

Speaking for the new councilors, Tom Peters urged voters to step forward. Peters was elected council president – and acting mayor if Gilbert is absent.

“With each election cycle in our wonderful country, we the voters are given a chance to finally get it right,” he said. “Only time will tell if we have been successful, but any success of this council you have elected will be as much a function of your love for this community and your willingness to be involved as it is our willingness to serve you.”

He announced a public workshop, scheduled from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Jan. 17 at City Hall. It will be an open forum for residents to address councilors.

School Committee Chairman Tom Shannon acknowledged that slim budgets and needs throughout the city’s educational system will be tough problems to handle.

“I look forward to that challenge, and I embrace it,” Shannon said. “The alternative is to deny that change is coming, when in truth, it is already here.”

The members of the 2008-2010 School Committee are Leah M. B. Poulin, member at-large; John T. Butler Jr., Ward 1; Laurier P. Lachance, Ward 2, Dennis Grafflin, Ward 3; James R. Handy, Ward 4; Norman B. Prevost, Ward 5; Ronella A. Paradis, Ward 6 and Shannon, Ward 7.

Monday’s ceremony featured three local religious leaders blessing the ceremony. Rabbi Hillel Katzir of Temple Shalom offered the opening prayer, and the Rev. Daniel Greenleaf of Holy Cross Catholic Church offered the invocation prayer, and Ismail Mohammed offered the closing prayer on behalf of Lewiston’s Muslim community.