Biographical information

Name:

Levi Gervais

Office Sought:

Auburn City Council, at large

Home Street Address:

46 Fourth St

Campaign Phone Number:

Campaign Email Address:

Levi4auburnideas@outlook.com

Facebook page:

Twitter Account:

YouTube Channel:

Occupation or primary source of income:

Home Dad

Education:

Graduated from Gray-New Gloucester High School, have many certifications from bar tending to welding to customer service trainer from technical education establishments and corporations.

Family:

My long time girlfriend works in the legal field, her and I have an amazing daughter named Brooke (6), a daughter named Kyleigh (10), and son named Donny (14), all attending public schools here in Auburn. We love spending time together doing anything. We love cooking together, playing games and sports, watching movies, adventuring out to new places and going to the beach.

Public offices sought or held?

I am a member of the Auburn Board of Assessment Review, and this is the first time I have sought any other city office position.

Civic organizations:

I enjoy volunteering weekly at my daughter’s local elementary school.

Ice breakers

What is your favorite food?

Sauteed fish and vegetables.

What is your favorite movie?

There are so many. How about any movie I get to watch with my family, girlfriend and/or friends. As for this summers movies, “Despicable Me 2” would be my favorite release this summer.

What is your favorite book?

“The Great Gatsby”.

What is the best political advice you have received?

Just be yourself.

What Maine political figure do you admire most?

I don’t really have one. I would like to even start my own political party, called the United party. I believe that we should be all united and work together toward a greater good.

I do not believe in partisan politics, and have always thought that it wasn’t fair that if one is not labeled a “Democrat” or “Republican” then they have no chance in winning a presidential election, no matter how great of a person they are. Just as the name of our country, The United States of America, I think that we should be united in making our land the greatest.

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 like how Mayor LaBonte makes appearances, with a positive outlook in support of events in our city and does not make negative remarks as we have seen far too widespread in government lately.

As far as disagree, I feel that he seems distracted at several points during public forums at council meetings in which citizens take their time to go to and work up the courage to get up to go in front of everyone and give their input to the council.

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

I think that the council is trying to balance needs with supply.

I disagree with the fact that the city states in the charter that taxes are not to be raised more than 1.7 percent  in any year between city and school spending. However the council voted, not the voter as it is with the school department, to accept a 2.2 percent increase in spending, thus requiring the school department to balance spending so the charter can be met.

The problem is everyone, school and city, are seeing increases in the cost of living. The city council needs to be more understanding and work more closely with the school department with the knowledge that costs are increasing in the education industry just as they are in maintenance of a city.

I also feel that having a commission to look into combining Lewiston and Auburn is a waste of time and money. Lewiston has its own problems just as we do and I don’t believe that combining the cities would help these problems, I believe it will just spread them.

Also I do not know any resident of Auburn that likes being told we live in Lewiston. We are independent from Lewiston and we are proud citizens 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?

I like the efforts to beautify our city and improve the city to make it more inviting.

I disagree with projects such as the block of Court Street between Turner and Main seems like it has been redone several times over, why wasn’t it just done correctly the first time. Or, the South Main Street project is using expensive granite curbing, that does not seem necessary. The new pavement in New Auburn is great, however it does not meet with the project on South Main. There will be a large segment missed between the two projects that needs repair as well. I feel that money that could be saved from projects could help spread the wealth of needed updates to infrastructure.

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

I think that a lot of stresses have been placed upon the school committee. I think that we all feel that we should be protecting the quality of education for the youth of our city. I applaud the school department in trying things that are cutting edge and thinking outside of the box. I think that the more that we can learn from other school systems will help, but I also support the school department’s way of making Auburn Schools an example that schools from around the world could learn from as well. This just shows that there are things that are working. I also understand that just like every one of us the school department faces real life things such as rising costs and maintenance to buildings, equipment and consumables. I think that the school department has tried to not have a major impact on the taxpayer and does realize the burden on the taxpayer. It is just a very fine line and the school department does have the best interest of our youth in mind.

What is your solution for Auburn’s high school?

We have many corporations in our city and beyond that may be able to help with needed implements and possible sponsorship. I would like to get the community involved, and also have the students more involved with needed services and research in our city. There is much that our community can provide to our students, not just money. Also if we utilize the amazing resource we have, our wonderful students and teachers, to do things that our city needs it will save the city money and also bring invaluable experience to the students.

Any last words?

I love ideas!! I have ideas that can save our city money as well as ideas that will bring more money into our city. I also love others ideas as well! I feel that there are no bad ideas, as even the worst ideas have parts that can be very useful.

I want to give the people of Auburn a voice by giving them someone who wants to hear their ideas. I want to hear about the things that you like and do not like in our city, and I also want to hear how these things impact you and how you think that things can be improved. I do feel that we have a great and beautiful city and I would just like to try to make this an even better city and never stop improving our city and continuing to make a positive impact to the state, nation, world.

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