With Auburn’s mayoral campaigns getting a lot of attention lately, I’ve noticed some differences in the campaigns of Nancy Backus and John Partridge.

Backus has spent an awful lot of money on advertising and many people are writing letters to the editor, urging people to vote for her. Though often lengthy and complementary, the letters fail to mention anything she has done to make her City government more efficient and Auburn a better place to live.

Nancy was on the finance committee when decisions were made that proved to be a financial liability for the City regarding the Municipal Golf Course. She was on the same committee when millions of dollars were spent on a downtown redevelopment project that forced numerous small businesses to relocate or close. Before she announced her decision to run for mayor, she conveniently left the committee she had been chairman of for several years.

Serving on the committee that oversees the operation of the golf course, Partridge saw clearly the liability a new clubhouse and changeover from private management to a City-run operation created. As a member of that same committee he also saw a need for effective animal control services. As a frequent visitor to Auburn, I no longer see dogs running loose on city streets, and the animal shelter project he initiated seems to be a success.

John’s service on the finance committee does not appear to have influenced the fact that Auburn, like many cities, has spent too much money on things that don’t benefit most of its residents. As a former resident who visits Auburn often and continues to follow Auburn politics, I would be very happy to vote for John Partridge for mayor of Auburn.

– Lois Blackman