AUBURN — Androscoggin County Commissioner Jonathan LaBonte said he would give up the last year of his commission term if he’s elected Auburn mayor.

LaBonte began passing nomination petitions this weekend, seeking to get his name on November’s municipal ballot. LaBonte said he’s collected 25 signatures so far — about one-quarter necessary to get his name on ballot.

“I plan on getting the signatures collected this week,” he said. “My goal is to not spend more than a week on this phase. I want to get my name on the ballot and move on to the next phase.”

LaBonte, who represents  Auburn, Poland, Mechanic Falls and Minot to Androscoggin County, said he has ideas and concepts to promote that might be better addressed as mayor.

“I think there are some bigger discussions the community needs to have, about where we are going and how we get there,” LaBonte said. “I’ll be three years into my term with the county commission and there are still issues there that need to be resolved. But I’m at a place now where I will not seek another term. Perhaps it’s not the best vehicle now to move forward.”

LaBonte declined to discuss his plans, if elected mayor.

“I’d prefer to save those discussions until I am actually on the ballot,” he said.

LaBonte was elected to his county post in 2008 as an independent and is scheduled to serve until 2012. He said he’s spoken to the Secretary of State’s office and has been told that Gov. Paul LePage would name the person who would finish the last year of his term.

“But, if elected in Auburn, we have 45 days after the election to figure that out,” LaBonte said. LaBonte is also the executive director of the Androscoggin Land Trust, a nonprofit organization that focuses on land conservation and recreation along the Androscoggin River.

With a month left for candidates to collect signatures on their nomination petitions, the race to replace Mayor Dick Gleason is wide open, and even what names will appear on ballot is far from settled. Four other candidates are passing nomination petitions for the job. They include sitting at-large Councilor Belinda Gerry, former at-large Councilor Ron Potvin, Donald J. Bernard of 2784 Turner Road and Larry P. Morrissette of 12 Oak St.

As of Tuesday morning, none of the mayoral candidates had returned their nomination petitions guaranteeing themselves a spot on the ballot.

Both Gerry and Potvin are also considering other seats on the City Council. Both are passing nomination petitions for one of the two at-large seats and Potvin is also passing nomination petitions for the Ward 1 City Council seat, potentially replacing outgoing Councilor Mike Farrell.

The race for the at-large seat is potentially as crowded as the race for mayor. In addition to Gerry and Potvin,  Joshua Shea, of 30 Paul St.,  and local traffic engineer Jeremiah Bartlett, of 107 Shepley St. are passing nominating petitions for the two at-large seats.

Ward 2 Councilor Robert Hayes and Ward 4 Councilor David Young  are passing nominating petitions to get their names on the ballot. Mary LaFontaine, 113 Western Ave., will seek the Ward 3 council seat.

Candidate  Leroy Walker Sr., of 41 Broad St., became the first council candidate to pass in his nomination petitions and guarantee a spot on the Nov. 8 ballot. He’s seeking the Ward 5 council seat. Evan Cyr, of 245 Broad St. and Robert Sevigny, of 86 Sixth St., are also passing nomination petitions.

Would-be Ward 5 candidate Cyr said he has every intention of gaining the seat. Cyr, an Edward Little High School science teacher, said he does not believe the city has the right to keep him from the seat. City rules restrict city employees from sitting as councilors.

“I don’t have any doubt I’d be allowed to serve, if I’m elected,” Cyr said. “It’s being looked at, but I don’t intend to think about it right now, until I hear from the lawyers.”

Auburn candidates have until Aug. 25 to collect signatures for their nominating petitions. 

Candidates for mayor need to collect at least 100 signatures from registered voters living anywhere in Auburn. Candidates for City Council or School Committee need to collect 25 signatures — from anywhere in the city for at-large candidates or from within individual wards for ward candidates.

According to City Charter, terms for Auburn’s elected officials begin 45 days after the election, or Dec. 23, 2011.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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