I was very pleased to hear recently that John Partridge is running for Auburn mayor.

It’s time to make a cultural change in our city government, and he will make the right difference.

Four years ago when Partridge ran for the City Council he faced an uphill battle against entrenched interests that required a self-serving status quo. He stood up to his adversaries respectfully, was elected by the voters of Auburn to the City Council and went on to obtain an outsider’s knowledge of the City’s operations and demonstrate positive leadership skills in the process.

We all know that “the way we always do things,” may not be the way important things will get done. Currently some things are simply not getting done because they are outside the current establishment’s vision of priorities. Things like potential crime problems arising from poor decisions concerning our courts and jails threaten serious crime problems to our communities. Excessive reliance upon outside sources of funds and the deal making that is attached can unbalance important priorities. Many of our roads are crumbling and our city owns businesses it has no place owning.

John is ready to be our mayor. He actually listens to people and then does what he says he will do. Rather than dividing them through an establishment oriented mind-set, he forms partnerships and brings people together. In my book that is the hallmark of real leadership, and it will be a great thing for our city of Auburn government.

– Bob Jones