Name: David Chittim

Age: 73

Occupation: Professional engineer and land surveyor (retired)

Political experience: Lewiston Historic Preservation Review Board, Lewiston Auburn Railroad Co., Municipal Review Committee, Lewiston Public Works Advisory Committee, Lewiston-Auburn Comprehensive Transportation System Technical Committee, Androscoggin Historical Society, treasurer (nine years) and president (two years).

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

My unshakable commitment to civil discourse, a deep understanding of municipal governance, and over 45 years of community service in Lewiston make me the better candidate for the Ward 6 City Council seat. Our city will realize far better outcomes when the council works in concert rather than in conflict.

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

Address homelessness by realizing that many are unhoused because a single setback precipitated a cascade of events. With nowhere to shower for a job interview or store one’s belongings, surviving becomes a full-time endeavor. Adequate transitional housing would provide relief to focus on returning to productivity. Violence often arises from turf wars and from domestic disputes gone horribly wrong. Resolving one requires stronger enforcement and more serious consequences for perpetrators. The other calls for a more compassionate approach. The commendable program of partnering social workers with police officers moderates brute enforcement with compassion and fosters better understanding of the situation.

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

In its heyday, Lewiston relied on manufacturing to fuel the local economy. As this work moves overseas, a healthy economy requires it to be replaced with service industry jobs in our professional firms, hospitals, construction companies, and retail establishments. Today’s incentives to economic growth include providing support through tax increment financing to enterprises that will expand the economy. This is a direct way the council can encourage business development; recognizing and celebrating those local successes can foster growth as well. The City Council and Planning Board should jointly recognize that apt zoning is a valuable tool in encouraging business development.

What solution do you support to address homelessness in Lewiston?

The unhoused in Lewiston and elsewhere vary in circumstances from alpha to omega and some may not want the security of a roof, but for those who do, it should be a high community priority to provide it. No one should have to beg for food, and programs should be available to aid in regaining traction. However, these opportunities should require some payback from the recipient. Nearly everyone can collect litter in Kennedy Park. The city has recently seesawed on the issues of housing at 104 Park St. and at the Ramada. In neither case was a single indigent helped.

What do you want voters to know about you?

I am a professional engineer who, by nature and by training, has always approached problems analytically. Our move to Lewiston was a practical decision two months after marrying in 1977. Since then, we have come to love the authenticity and diversity Lewiston offers and could never be “home” anywhere else.

 

Name: K. Lee Clement

Age: 74

Occupation: Retired law enforcement and public safety executive

Political experience: Two terms as Ward 6 city councilor

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

I have over 50 years’ experience in municipal and county government and two terms as a Lewiston city councilor. I’m all about what’s best for Lewiston, an advocate for common sense and constituent service. As an incumbent, I am ready to hit the ground fully trained and able to represent my ward.

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

1. Crime, including the drug epidemic and violent crime with the use of guns, especially among our younger residents. We need to support our police and criminal justice system and demand solutions to eliminate this scourge. Our prosecutors and judiciary need to know we are watching and keeping track of their performance. Our Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies’ accredited Police Department is now back to strength due to actions taken this term. They are back to proactive policing, which will have positive results.

2. Economic development. This past year, the majority of the council passed zoning amendments rezoning the major arterials in the city, which will allow for commercial development that is sorely needed. In addition, we are asking staff to be more user-friendly. I believe that our staff should be asking “what can we do to help you?” instead of using onerous regulations to bury them in bureaucratic red tape, which slows development and causes resentment when we should be assisting those to lawfully develop their projects. We need to investigate ways to mitigate the impact of new businesses on the need for city services.

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

I will continue to advocate for housing (market rate), to raise our median income. I will seek commonsense regulations to  encourage new business and require staff to be user friendly. About one quarter of all property in Lewiston is tax exempt. This is an enormous amount of revenue that is not available; property owners use city services paid for by the 75% of property owners that do pay taxes. We need a Payments in Lieu of Taxes program to reduce the tax burden for them and make sure all service users are contributing to the cost of municipal services.

What solution do you support to address homelessness in Lewiston?

I don’t have all the answers to a complex, universal problem. We can’t engage in anything that will encourage additional folks to come to us. We do not have the capacity to support them. A large percentage of the unhoused population resists help due to such things as mental health and substance abuse problems. We offer services and are met with a demand for conditions. This is not acceptable. If we are to offer housing it must be on our terms. Encampments must be eradicated for reasons of safety alone. Solutions will be expensive and won’t come easily.

What do you want voters to know about you?

We chose Lewiston for retirement. My wife is a native and we saw Lewiston as having promise and opportunity. I believe in service as is evidenced by my entire adult life. Lewiston is our home; we want everyone to take pride in our great city. Remember: It’s all about Lewiston.

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Four candidates vie for two at-large seats on the Auburn City Council