AUBURN – Ward 4 residents have three men to choose from to finish out the remainder of former Councilor Bruce Bickford’s term.

Voters go to the polls Jan. 13 at Fairview Elementary School. That’s the only polling place for the special ballot.

The winner, if he chooses, will be up for re-election again in November, along with the rest of the Auburn City Council and Mayor John Jenkins. Bickford gave up his council seat when he won election to the state House of Representatives last fall.

Trying for the seat are: Kenneth Bellefleur of 100 Royal River Road; John E. Morin of 60 Danbury Drive; and David C. Young of 1167 Old Danville Road.

Absentee ballots may be picked up at the City Clerk’s office in Auburn Hall, 60 Court St. Voters may also call 333-6600 to request a ballot be mailed to them. They cannot request a ballot for another voter.

Residents of Auburn may register to vote at the City Clerk’s office or by obtaining a voter registration card from any Department of Motor Vehicle bureau in Maine.

Name: Kenneth J. Bellefleur

Address: 100 Royal River Road

E-mail: [email protected]

Family Information: Married, five daughters

Occupation: Local purchasing representative, Procter and Gamble , Auburn.

Education: Edward Little High School; Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute

Political Experience: None

Community Organizations: LAYSA soccer coach for about 14 years; serves on Auburn Comprehensive Plan Committee

Bellefleur thinks he’ll be able to push city departments to answer tough questions. Work he’s done on the city’s Comprehensive Plan has convinced him that’s what’s needed.

“We heard one report from the fire and police departments about having a joint building, but their plan lacked good data,” he said. “The data they did have seemed kind of wishy-washy, and they didn’t have a good plan about what to do with the old buildings.”

What should Auburn’s role be in relation to Lewiston? Should the cities combine once and for all, just share some departmental services or is it time to stop talking about this?

“Deep down, I think it’s really time for the cities to just get over it and combine once and for all. That’s my honest opinion, but I don’t expect it to happen right away.

“Part of the problem is that we don’t hold city departments accountable toward consolidation, and we need to do that if anything is going to happen. What we need to do is tell them they need to find a way to combine services, or face a 20 percent cut in their departmental budget. And that needs to happen on both sides of the river.”

School officials are considering spending up to $52 million for a new high school. What do you think?

“I think the school officials owe the taxpayers and the city council a better accounting of how they’re spending our money. That has to happen first.

“I find it hard to support building a new high school when we have declining enrollment and stagnant population. And I know, I have a stake in this. I have a daughter that’s at Edward Little now and a daughter in the middle school that will go there next year, so I know what the conditions there are.”

In your mind, what is the biggest issue councilors/mayor/staffers have not talked about? What’s the biggest looming issue the city is not facing?

“I guess what is not being talked about is budgetary accountability. When you look at the department budgets, there is no report from a staff when they go over a budget. I’d like to see that. If a department goes over the budget, I think the taxpayers should understand why. And we need to reward or praise departments that are able to come in under budget, or at least recognize them somehow.”

Name: John E. Morin

Address: 60 Danbury Drive

E-mail address: [email protected]

Family information: Married, three sons

Occupation: Recycling facility manager, Ecomaine Recycling, Portland

Education: Edward Little High School; attended University of Illinois, business management

Political experience: None

Community organizations: Provides education concerning Ecomaine to area schools and businesses

A political newcomer, Morin said he’s been encouraged to run by sitting councilors and the mayor. He doesn’t have a particular political ax to grind, but feels he can do good.

“I own rental properties, so I know taxes are a concern,” Morin said. “If they go up, you have to raise rents and that’s not good, either – especially with the economy not being good.”

What should Auburn’s role be in relation to Lewiston? Should the cities combine once and for all, just share some departmental services or is it time to stop talking about this?

“I think it should go a little farther, and we can put some more research and time into this to see if we can make it work. Ultimately, it can help us maximize services in the cities and save money on both sides.

“I think one more strong effort to see if we can make it work before we give up on it.”

School officials are considering spending up to $52 million for a new high school. What do you think?

“People talk about investments with the city, but that’s definitely a lot of money to put out and hold the taxpayers responsible for. Again, it’s something else we need to look into deeper to see what the paybacks are long term.

“I can see the needs in the school system, and I’m amazed at what they’re lacking. People always talk about cuts there, and you can’t. They are sacrificing there, right down to first grade. But I think the best thing you can do is to try to hold the line on the budget and not take anything else away from them.”

In your mind, what is the biggest issue councilors/mayor/staffers have not talked about? What’s the biggest looming issue the city is not facing?

“They are facing a lot of issues, and it’s taking time. For example, dealing with old Great Falls School and combining services with the city of Lewiston. They’ve touched bases on those things, but the answers are not there yet. But off the top of my head, I don’t think there is anything they haven’t touched.”

Name: David Colby Young

Address: 1167 Old Danville Road

E-mail address: [email protected]

Family information: Married, two daughters

Occupation: Works for Pioneer of Auburn

Education: University of Maine, Farmington, bachelor’s degree in education

Political experience: Auburn School Committee, six years

Community organizations: Past president of Androscoggin Historical Society, past president of Androscoggin Life Underwriters, past recording secretary of the Maine Genealogical Society, Maine author of a number of genealogical publications

The current crop of city councilors have a keen eye for details, according to Young. That’s one of his strengths, too, and he thinks he’d fit in well. He also hopes to inspire more public input in city affairs.

“I don’t know much about the people I’m running against, what they want to do or anything,” he said. “My opposition is really people in the community who don’t know or don’t care what the city does. That’s the group of people I’m going to try to reach.”

What should Auburn’s role be in relation to Lewiston? Should the cities combine once and for all, just share some departmental services or is it time to stop talking about this?

“When things get tough and there’s a budget crunch, people say ‘Let’s merge with some other entity because bigger is going to be better.’ But each city needs to look at how they handle the employees they have now, how departments can be efficient.

“There is the perception, too, that merging the two cities together will give us more clout. But why not consider doing things on a county level? Some states do that, let schools and fire departments be run by the county.”

School officials are considering spending up to $52 million for a new high school. What do you think?

“If we’re willing close a few of the older, less energy efficient or used schools, we might be able to qualify for more state aid to do something like build a high school. That’s how the game is played. You have to tighten things up if you’re going to qualify for something new.

“There may be some public support for building a new high school, but I think there is more opposition,” Young said. “That’s what I’m hearing from going to door-to-door. I agree that we need a new high school, but I don’t think we’re ready to do it on our own, without help from the state.”

In your mind, what is the biggest issue councilors/mayor/staffers have not talked about? What’s the biggest looming issue the city is not facing?

“The current councilors don’t see transportation as a priority and maybe that’s right. Maybe there is no need for a better bus service, routes and schedules. Maybe Auburn doesn’t need it or there’s no support. But I’d like to look into it and see why it is what it is.”