Pro-merger campaign to take live questions

LEWISTON — One LA, the campaign in favor of merging Lewiston and Auburn, will take questions from the public during a Facebook live event Wednesday, June 14.

Campaign co-chairs Gabrielle Russell and Carl Sheline will host Gene Geiger, chairman of the Lewiston-Auburn Joint Charter Commission, for the conversation, which is billed as an “ask-me-anything style sit-down.”

The group will take questions live from a Facebook audience via the campaign’s Facebook page from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. According to the group, those unable to watch the live Facebook event can post questions as comments on the event page and the group will attempt to answer as many as it can.

The campaigns for and against the proposed merger have been organizing events over the past few months, and will continue until November, when the charter commission aims for a community-wide vote.

Russell and Sheline visited the Top It Frozen Yogurt Bar in Auburn on Monday, handing out sweets and taking questions regarding the merger from residents.

Supporters believe a consolidated Lewiston-Auburn will save money while allowing the region to work together on a shared economic vision. Opponents say evidence is lacking for the potential financial savings of a merger, and that a consolidation would come with unintended consequences, such as a revaluation that could hurt taxpayers and lost identity.

Questions fielded by the One LA campaign Wednesday could center on the disputed financial impact of a merger and the process for how a consolidation would work. The charter commission has found that consolidation could save between $2.3 and $4.2 million annually.

Last week, the charter commission voted unanimously to propose the name Lewiston-Auburn for the consolidated city, should the measure ultimately pass.

Geiger said the decision on the name was the last of its eight requirements for its set of documents called a consolidation agreement. The commission will submit the documents to both cities by the end of June, hoping for the required public hearings to be held between July and August, leading to a Nov. 7 vote.

Both cities have to adopt the measure by a majority vote for it to pass.

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One LA Co-Chairman Carl Sheline addresses a small audience at a kickoff event in April, stating an “overwhelming” case would be made for consolidating the two cities.

To join the One LA Facebook live event, go to: www.facebook.com/OneLewistonAuburn