This past year, I attended several meetings of the Auburn City Council, Planning Board and other organizations. I was shocked to witness, behind the scenes, behaviors not seen since grade school.

It was disturbing to see questionable changes bullied through despite well-documented arguments and pleas to the contrary of hundreds of Auburn residents, like Ryan Smith, a local business owner and contractor who often challenged what we were told.

On the surface it might look as though democracy is working, but the reality is that a small tight group holds the power, outvotes the others and knows the many ways to avoid sharing that power.

Ryan Smith wants to change that. He’s smart, knowledgeable and gutsy.

He’s running for a City Council at-large seat because, he says, he’s encountered too many residents who felt that “their concerns had been unheard or disregarded.”

He’s right. He has my vote.

Celia McGuckian, Auburn