Partridge would be breath of fresh air as mayor

Published 4:48 pm Wednesday, July 17, 2013

While I appreciate the many letters Nancy Backus supporters have written, all focus on Ms. Backus’s independence on Auburn’s City Council and as deputy mayor. However, any reader with a sense of curiosity would wonder where the evidence is that would support such claims.

One writer, Mr. Hiller, claims that Ms. Backus had a record of “making objective decisions that are the best for Auburn.” However, he failed to provide even one example of such a decision.

It appears to me that the deputy mayor’s “objective decisions” have consistently supported the mayor in whatever decisions he has made. I would argue that those decisions are neither always objective nor always best for all of Auburn’s diverse community.

Another writer, Ms. Cutler, claims she “is her own person, with strong convictions, (and) the great ability to listen to all sides.” In fact, if she indeed listens to all sides, then why does she vote with the mayor virtually 100 percent of the time, rather than go with what the writer calls “strong convictions?” If she is indeed a “decisive leader,” then one would hope that her decisions would not always be in sync with those of the mayor. I also wonder what “fresh ideas” Ms. Backus has brought to the table, as Ms. Cutler writes.

It is my belief that it is any leader’s paramount responsibility to listen to its “clients,” that is, the citizens of Auburn’s diverse community. Only then can our elected leaders truly gauge what the community wants and fight for its interests. I expect our City Council members to embrace this kind of leadership, rather than “go along to get along,” which is, no doubt, easier.

The deputy mayor, along with the mayor and Councilman Wagner, support the $12.7 million community center that is in the planning stages for Les Gove Park, based on an outdated survey eight years ago. A great example of independent leadership would be if the deputy mayor supported a new survey to find out whether our community still wishes to spend this kind of money of the project. Clearly, much has changed since then, Auburn’s demographics included.

In contrast, when Councilman Partridge questioned whether that project was still a priority for Auburn and suggested an updated survey, Ms. Backus, the rest of the council and the mayor proclaimed that they were elected to make decisions for the public, regardless of public opinion.

Aren’t independent thinking and questioning exactly what we look for in our leaders? Real independence is a reflection of a willingness to talk to community members, to speak up for them, to vigorously question the “deciders,” and yes, to sometimes stand up against arbitrary decision-making – on principle, rather than to win a popularity contest.

I strongly disagree with Ms. Cutler’s claim that “the best choice the citizens of Auburn could make is to elect Nancy Backus … and that we will all be the better for it.” I have seen no evidence that this would be true. In contrast, by electing her, we will vote for four more years of Mayor Lewis’s “same old, same old.” My vote is for a breath of fresh air, new ideas and a thoughtful independent thinker who is excited about Auburn’s future. That is why I support John Partridge for mayor of Auburn. He listens. He questions. He debates. He is the one candidate who will truly help Auburn become “More than you Imagined.”

– Regina Hauptmann