Name: Scott A. Harriman

Age: 37

Occupation: Self-employed landlord; in-home caregiver; volunteer

Political experience: Serving first term on Lewiston City Council; many council-related committees

Why do you think you’re the most qualified, or best candidate for this seat?

I have spent the past two years listening carefully to the people of Lewiston and working toward positive solutions to the important issues they care about. I bring dedication and commitment to this city and a commonsense approach to making sure the government works for and benefits everyday people.

Please name two issues that you believe are critical to Lewiston’s future, and how you would address them. 

Our children are Lewiston’s future. I will continue to be a strong supporter of our school system so it has the resources necessary to ensure that all students receive an equitable education and that all educators and staff feel valued and supported.

We also need to continue working to increase our housing stock. We currently have little available housing, leading to rents being able to rise unchecked, families being unable to move into something different or better, and many of our neighbors ending up homeless after losing their housing, often through no fault of their own.

What actions will you take to support businesses and grow the local economy? 

I will continue to support efforts to address problematic behavior in our downtown that lead to local business owners or their customers feeling uncomfortable or unsafe. It makes it challenging for our business district to thrive while so many people in the area are struggling and not getting the resources they need.

Also, Lewiston’s population is younger than the state average, which gives us a great advantage when it comes to filling local jobs. I will continue to advocate for full funding of our schools so students can graduate with both the hard and soft skills that employers demand.

What solution do you support to address homelessness in Lewiston? 

Instead of ignoring the problem and standing in the way of solutions, city leaders need to cooperate with willing and able partners to create a low-barrier shelter so our friends and neighbors don’t have to spend another winter suffering outside. We need productive solutions to help people find stable housing as well as access the resources they need to address any other challenges they may face. As I mentioned above, we also need to invest heavily in building more housing so more people are not priced out of their homes and onto the street.

What do you want voters to know about you?  

Voters should know that I’m compassionate, a good listener, and someone who wants to cooperate with others to find positive solutions. I will also continue to push for local officials to conduct public business transparently and democratically so everyone can trust that we are putting the people’s interests first.

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