Name: Belinda Gerry

Age: 64

Occupation: Auburn city councilor-at-large, Maine notary public

Political experience: Three terms as Auburn state representative; nine terms (nonconsecutive) as Auburn city councilor, council representative on the Auburn Housing Authority Board, Lewiston/Auburn Transit Committee, Androscoggin County Budget Committee, Auburn Recreation Committee, Auburn Community Development Block Grant Committee, Auburn Age-Friendly Committee

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

Public service has taught me proper decorum. In all situations I treat residents and council members equally with honesty and respect. Even when I disagree. I’m known for listening to my constituents, valuing their input, doing my homework and then voting accordingly for what is right for Auburn.

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

Protecting Lake Auburn so we won’t lose our wavier and have to build an expensive water filtration plant. Lakeshore Drive needs more preventive road erosion repairs and buffer zones to lessen emissions from cars/winter plowing. Route 4/Center Street road residue run-off needs diverting away from the lake with catch gutters.

Market-rate units and low-income vouchers don’t do enough. We need attainable rents and homes, and to help developers find resources similar to market-rate development to build them. When rent on a two-bedroom apartment is more than a mortgage on a house something needs to change.

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

Mom and pop businesses are the foundation of our community. I would offer them the same incentives we give businesses that relocate here. This would help them grow, possibly bring in their adult children and modernize to keep up with the changing times with more goods selection and services people need. I would encourage giving first preference to local businesses in city bid requests, then stipulating that contractors must buy local when possible for services/goods needed for their projects. Next, I would encourage meetings so businesses can network, trade shows to publicly showcase them and handouts to be distributed at events.

Do you support the direction Auburn in moving toward with redefined development zones?

No, I don’t support all of the proposed and enacted zone and ordinance changes, nor the flawed comprehensive plan dealing with the developmental zones when this affects the quality of life in established neighborhoods and could potentially adversely affect the Agricultural Zone with its farms and resource protected areas.

Some zone changes need to be considered and done for Auburn to grow and be better prepared for future generations but not squishing more housing units in every spare space no matter the zone. Auburn is unique, having attributes that aren’t found elsewhere and this wasn’t considered nor totally protected.

What do you want voters to know about you?

Auburn is my home. I’m not a politician — no slick talk, just hard work. I’m a public servant that’s dedicated to her job 24/7. Through community interaction, listening to residents I learn the needs facing our city and try to find solutions. My agenda is clear. I’m beholden only to you.

 

Name: Adam Platz

Age: 37

Occupation: Chief financial officer, JAR Cannabis Co.

Political experience: Auburn Conservation Committee working group, Auburn School Committee student representative

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

I will bring a collaborative approach to the council, prioritizing citizen feedback and healthy discussion. In my day-to-day, I co-own and manage a company of 110 employees. I have learned over time that nothing gets done effectively unless stakeholders feel respected and listened to. I feel that our current City Council has made a habit of ignoring our citizens. I hope to change that.

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

I believe that responsible management of Lake Auburn and its watershed is crucial to this city. We cannot allow rushed zoning today to usher in negative outcomes for tomorrow. Development around the lake should be determined based on science, facts and public opinion. Currently the voices of developers are being prioritized over the voice of Auburn’s residents.

Secondly, we need to reprioritize education: Increased teacher salaries to compete with other school systems, continued investment in technology in the classroom, and promoting opportunities to develop trade skills in middle school and high school. Our children are the future, and we need to invest in them.

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

Small- and medium-sized businesses are the cornerstone of this community. In order to attract and maintain businesses in Auburn, we need to continue awarding tax and development incentives to those businesses who create jobs or provide a measurable positive impact to the city of Auburn.

Furthermore, we must make sure that local regulations are not overly burdensome and overly complicated. I feel that Auburn’s current municipal staff does a great job interfacing and being responsive to local businesses and I would continue to prioritize funding that supports our municipal systems designed to support businesses. Businesses thrive when they feel supported by their municipality.

Do you support the direction Auburn in moving toward with redefined development zones?

Though I am not opposed to redefined development zones, I do not believe the process through which the zones are being currently redefined is healthy for the city. Auburn leadership has made a habit of pushing through zoning changes in the face of public opposition, ignoring majority opinions and citizen comment. Zoning changes affect many people’s lives in many ways and each voice should be weighed equally. Development zones should be prioritized in areas that make sense; areas that already have the infrastructure in place, minimize impact to current residents, and do not damage our natural resources. Development is good, but rushed development is not.

What do you want voters to know about you?

I am pragmatic, patient, and level-headed. With my first child on the way in November, I am heavily invested in Auburn’s future. I believe Auburn’s true potential exists within the diverse opinions and skills of the citizens. Through listening and outreach, I hope to harness those voices to make sure they have an impact on municipal decision-making.

 

Name: Ryan Smith

Age: (Did not answer)

Occupation: Code enforcement officer

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

I have experience in planning from my occupation and training, paired with experience in finance, which will help with the budgeting process. I also have a thorough understanding of the issues facing Auburn right now, as well as a strong knowledge of the Auburn charter and the Comprehensive Plan.

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

1. We need to improve how decisions are made by the City Council. If we do not make responsible and informed decisions, we will continue making large missteps. Examples are Lake Auburn rezoning and changing the watershed boundary line, citywide rezoning and eliminating recycling.

2. We must be diligent to ensure we maintain the filtration waiver for Lake Auburn. The ramifications of a bad decision will cost tens of millions of dollars and affect the health and welfare of tens of thousands of people. I will only make decisions with indisputable expert advice and with the involvement of the Sustainability and Natural Resource Management Board.

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

I want to target strong-value infrastructure improvements that are important to both citizens and businesses, such as walkability, traffic movement improvements, and a more thorough comprehensive planning process that includes more than eight people. I believe making Auburn a better place to work and live would make businesses more attracted to either coming to or growing within Auburn. If we cannot support a good quality of life, we will not attract strong commercial and business activity. That thought process is central with almost every decision made by the council.

Do you support the direction Auburn in moving toward with redefined development zones?

I do not. The community engagement process should be the first step in rezoning, and that process was completely bypassed and replaced by a politically-motivated process that excluded the citizens’ voice. When you look at what these new zones allow, you will see commercial uses in fully developed residential neighborhoods, such as 30-seat restaurants. That is clearly not sensible. We need to look at zoning parcel by parcel. Instead, the citizens were told it is “unlikely” that one of these commercial uses would be developed in these neighborhoods. “Unlikely” is not a way to rezone or think about zoning.

What do you want voters to know about you?

I am running to restore sensible governance, more constituent engagement, less concentrated power in the council, and to create positive change. The only interests I am looking out for are the citizens’ interests — not for my own, and certainly not for a select few at the expense of many

 

Name: Dana Staples

Age: (Did not answer)

Occupation: Director of software engineering

Political experience: One term as city councilor, Planning Board, Auburn’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan Update Committee chairman, Lewiston-Auburn Transit Committee, Auburn Public Library board of trustees, Parks and Rec Advisory Board chairman, Zoning Board of Appeals, Lewiston Auburn Complete Streets Committee and Auburn’s Strategic Planning Committee.

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

My time on the council and experience with committees has given me a breadth of experience that spans across many areas. I enjoy picking up a book or doing research on topics to determine best practices. As a city councilor I’ve done several listening sessions to hear concerns of constituents.

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

Protect Lake Auburn: We need to carefully listen to all proposals that are brought forward to protect the lake, weigh them against each other and make informed decisions.

Prepare for Auburn’s future: Enable the creation of opportunities in housing, jobs, and recreation to attract and retain a robust and vibrant culture.

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

I recently created the Third Place program (recently cited as one of the reasons Auburn was awarded the Urbanism Award for Municipal Innovation from CNU New England), which will fund two projects to add to our growing downtown.  I believe the work this council has done to encourage growth has enabled some of our successful businesses to expand and encouraged new businesses to come to Auburn. Going forward I will continue to advocate for small businesses and explore options to make our city more walkable to increase foot traffic to these small businesses.

Do you support the direction Auburn in moving toward with redefined development zones?

I support the effort to move away from primarily single-family zoning. Single-family zoning has played a big role in the quickly increasing affordability problem that we are currently seeing everywhere. As minimum lot sizes increase, homes take up more space and increase sprawl. Restricting businesses in most of our zoning leads to an over reliance on automobiles to get anywhere in the city and also increased the cost of starting a small business. I support increasing the amount of land in Auburn that allows mixed use development.

What do you want voters to know about you?

I actually enjoy and look forward to reading the 200-plus-page City Council agenda packets. A vote for me will keep me in good reading material for two more years.

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