LEWISTON — Helping city staff turn around the city’s downtown housing stock would be one important job for Doreen Christ.

“There are so many buildings downtown just sitting empty, we need to see them get rehabilitated and put back to use,” said Chris, 47, of 1 Buckley St. “It’s a process that I know a little something about.”

Christ is a 1982 graduate of Medomak High School in Waldoboro. She spent 10 years working as an assistant to the city’s Code Enforcement and Planning Department and now wants to put that experience to work.

“I know the inside scoop and how things can get done,” she said. “I think I’d be a very good representative for the people in my ward and I’m ready to give back.”

Christ is used to being busy. She currently is co-owner of DJ’s Painting Service and works at the College Corner Grill in addition to delivering newspapers for the Sun Journal. She’s attended Casco Bay College in Portland and Central Maine Community College.

She said she’s ready to make a decision on the Bates Mill building No. 5. She favors tearing down the building and replacing it with a retail space — probably a grocery store.

“Hopefully, we can build something nice that will have something in common with the Bates Mill No. 5,” she said. “But a good, big grocery store would be great for downtown. I know we don’t have one downtown in Lewiston and I think it would be great for people living there.”

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