The Auburn City Council has made a goal to ensure government will be transparent, responsible, and for and about the citizens.

The majority of us feel the only way to make the city prosper is by using a common sense approach, and easing into budget cuts and service restructuring to make sure we not only save noticeable money, but at the same time do not cripple our city.

Everyone who placed confidence in me should know I will stay on top of things, and use a sensible but no-nonsense approach to the business-as-usual attitude in the city departments. I feel the citizens have lost their right to control their community, and I am fighting to restore it, piece by piece.

I would also like to set the record straight. I was quoted as being against a proposal to cut the school budget by 3 percent. (Sun Journal, Jan. 24) The truth is I was for that proposal, from first discussion. I still support the proposal, and I have now helped approve that proposal.

My priorities are to give Auburn back to the citizens, make living here affordable, and to help taxpayers stop carrying the weight of bad policy.

I believe in education, and I want the best for our children. However, the cost of educating a primary school student in Auburn is almost $10,000 a year, per pupil. There are state universities in this country that charge close to that for college tuition yearly.

Things need to change.

Dan Herrick, Auburn

City Councilor, Ward 3