Biographical information

Name:

Adam R. Lee

Office Sought:

Auburn City Council, Ward 4

Home Street Address:

132 Main St.

Campaign Phone Number:

207 312-4057

Campaign Email Address:

adam4auburn@gmail.com

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/AdamRLeeForAuburn

Twitter Account:

YouTube Channel:

Occupation or primary source of income:

Attorney at Skelton, Taintor & Abbott

Education:

B.A. in History, University of Texas; J.D., cum laude, Vermont Law School.

Family:

I am married to Heidi L. McCarthy

Public offices sought or held?

This is the first time I have sought public office.

Civic organizations:

I am a Big Brother mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Androscoggin County; I am a Committee Member of the Triple Crown 5K Series; I volunteer at the Auburn YMCA; I have helped judge and coach the Edward Little Speech and Debate Team and the Lewiston High School Mock Trial Team; I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Lewiston Education Fund; and am the Player/Manager for the Skelton, Taintor & Abbott softball team in the Auburn Recreational Softball League.

Ice breakers

What is your favorite food?

Fresh fruits and vegetables…and Pizza.

What is your favorite movie?

Top 5, no particular order: “Field of Dreams, ” “The Godfather,” ” E.T.,” ” It’s a Wonderful Life,”  and “Glory.”

What is your favorite book?

I am partial to historical non-fiction. Recently, I read and thoroughly enjoyed “Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend, a biography of Satchel Paige,” by Larry Tye.

What is the best political advice you have received?

Do not pre-judge people or issues.

What Maine political figure do you admire most?

I admire both Olympia Snowe and George Mitchell. While members of different parties, each has shown, both in the US Senate and in their lives after the Senate, that good policy is far more important than politics.

Local politics

What has Mayor Jonathan LaBonte done during the past two years that you agree with? What has he done that you disagree with?

I admire what Mayor LaBonte has done in setting the groundwork for meaningful and beneficial economic development in our community. I look forward to working with him on this. I believe, and I have shared this with him, that he and the council could do a better job engaging ALL of Auburn in the conversation on these issues.

What has the city council done during the past two years that you agree with? What have they done that you disagree with?

It is remarkably easy to be an “arm-chair” City Councilor. I am not running for a position on the “arm-chair” City Council. I am running for City Council. I am not running because anyone has done a bad job, nor would I choose not to run because I thought anyone did a good job. I am running because I have a set of skills that would benefit the council, and I want to do what is best for the Residents of Ward 4 and the City of Auburn.

What has the city manager and the city staff done during the past two years that you agree with? What have they done that you disagree with?

Manager Deschene has been on the job for just over a year. I believe he and his staff have effectively worked on cleaning up messes they inherited and are also focusing on the future. I am very enthusiastic to work with individuals who have their eyes set on improving our City. I was heartened to see Manager Deschene actively engaged in molding a vision for the future at the recent “Community Conversation” at Edward Little.

What has the school committee done during the past two years that you agree with? What have they done that you disagree with?

It has become very clear to me as I engage in conversations with Auburn residents that we agree that our number one priority is improving education. We differ on solutions. I believe that Auburn residents realize that the School Committee has a very difficult job at which it works earnestly. However, as residents we’d like to understand why the School Committee makes the decisions it does. The Committee should be more transparent in providing us details as to why it thinks certain things deserve funding, and why others do not. We need more transparency, and more dialogue.

What is your solution for Auburn’s high school?

It would be arrogant to believe that any one of us has the solution or that it could fit in the allocated space for this post. If it were feasible, every single one of us would like to see a beautiful new state-of-the-art facility. We must be highly cautious, however, not to sacrifice beneficial educational programs simply to improve the facility. Good facilities alone do not make for a good education. I was educated in public schools. My mother worked in public schools. My wife is a public school teacher. We should do everything within our power to ensure that our teachers have the resources they need and that our students have the programs they need to make Auburn education exemplary. To the extent that requires improved facilities, we should consider all options including improvements short of a new facility and non-municipal funding sources.

Any last words?

I pride myself on being a pragmatist. I will always let you know what I think, but my mind is never closed to others who have different ideas. I am humble enough to know that I am not always right, but confident enough to stand my ground when I know that I am. I look forward to serving the Residents of Ward 4 and the City of Auburn.