Previous efforts to collaborate on a possible merger of Lewiston and Auburn have met with limited success because of political differences. The possibility of a merger will continue to have limited success as long as the cities are dependent upon two different city councils and mayors guiding the process. With luck, there might be councils and mayors in agreement and progress made for two years, but then there would be another election, risking the possibility of no further collaboration. In the past six years, that has happened numerous times.

With the consolidation, there would be one vision, one government, one set of priorities and unlimited possibilities.

From my prospective, the only way to move this one community forward is to consolidate the two cities. The area will grow and prosper as one Lewiston-Auburn.

I will vote in favor of the consolidation.

Richard LaFontaine, Auburn