The former outspoken Auburn mayor will be the new executive director of the Maine TREE Foundation after going silent for the last two years.
Jonathan LaBonte
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
There are many solid reasons to vote against cities’ merger
This fall, voters are being asked to cast their vote on the proposed charter and consolidation agreement as recommended by the Joint Charter Commission. To date, most coverage has been emotional talking points in support of a “yes” vote and lacking severely in substantive debate. For those who want emotional reasons to vote “no,” I […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
What if there were one Lewiston-Auburn School Department?
Competing Lewiston and Auburn merger signs on the rotary in Auburn. If Lewiston and Auburn voters approve merging the two cities Nov. 7, it would mean that in 2020 L-A would have the largest school district in Maine. Portland schools have about 6,790 students. A combined L-A school district would have more than 9,000, giving […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
LaBonte’s tenure marked by strong leadership
Following Mayor Jonathan LaBonte’s announcement that he will not seek re-election this November, Auburn officials who worked with him during his three terms in office discussed his leadership style, and where it helped, or hurt, the city.
Posted inLetters
An apparent conflict of interest
Jonathan Labonte holds two political positions, one state and one municipal. He is the appointed director of the governor’s Office of Policy and Management, “established … in 2012 to help implement the positions of the Executive Branch” for the LePage administration. As the elected mayor of Auburn, it is his duty to promote the city’s […]
Posted inLetters
Hayes’ diatribe unwarranted
In his letter (May 4), former Auburn Councilor Bob Hayes criticized Mayor Jonathan Labonte for “a flood of e-mails” to recent city managers. Having personally tried to get those former employees to work for Auburn taxpayers, I am confident that the mayor’s e-mails were warranted. While weak mayors historically are typical of the manager-council form […]
Posted inBusiness
New program for business loans
AUBURN — The city of Auburn and Community Concepts Finance Corp. have finalized an agreement which will provide new financing options for Auburn-based businesses. The result is a new loan pool funded equally by CCFC and the city of Auburn that is earmarked for businesses based in the city, with a concentration of effort being […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Auburn council restores some funding to budget
AUBURN — Efforts to add back budget cuts for the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council and the Citylink bus system failed Monday night as the Auburn City Council approved a $39.8 million spending plan. But councilors did add back $345,724 initially cut from City Manager Howard Kroll’s budget, created two new city positions and agreed to […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston, Auburn councilors agree on value of 911 agency, not how to pay for it
Lewiston and Auburn councilors ended the two-hour joint meeting by pledging their support for the Lewiston-Auburn 911 service and promising to work together to settle the issue. “We don’t need to blow the system up. I like what we have,” Lewiston Councilor Tim Lajoie said. “When people call 911, they want to talk to someone […]