Levesque is “a bad guy,” said Jim Wellehan, the CEO of the shoe store chain Lamey-Wellehan. “He’s obviously had a lot of accomplishments over the last few years.”įor all the nuanced zoning issues at play, numerous Auburn residents said Wednesday in interviews outside their homes they simply want a new face in the mayor’s office. “With, I think his experience is key,” Klimek said. Stable Ridge developer Jessica Klimek, an Auburn native, said the challenger is “putting the better interests of the community aside” and is among a group of older residents who “just don’t want change.” Levesque’s allies see a not-in-my-backyard tinge to Harmon’s activism. Jared Golden, Auburn, Mayor Jason Levesque, Sen. President Joe Biden signs an executive order to encourage companies to manufacture new inventions in the United States at Auburn Manufacturing Inc., in Auburn, Maine, Friday, July 28, 2023. The candidate himself has challenged the second phase in court, arguing the city did not follow its zoning ordinances in approving the plan. Harmon’s backyard abuts an expanse of land used for the Stable Ridge Apartments, which feature 60 market-rate multifamily units completed this year and a second phase of 60 units that are slated for completion by next year. The challenger is a member of groups that oppose development changes pushed by Levesque and the Auburn City Council, particularly the rezoning of the Gracelawn gravel pits area to allow more home and business construction near Lake Auburn as well as the potential construction of a filtration plant for the lake that some fear would lead to higher taxes and water bills. Harmon, 64, a former Maine State Police deputy chief and Auburn police officer who is retired, has risen in local politics by resisting it, setting the stage for a competitive nonpartisan November race, though Levesque and Harmon are a Republican and Democrat, respectively. Levesque is in another fight this year, facing pushback from some residents for his hard-charging, pro-development agenda. He also welcomed President Joe Biden to an Auburn manufacturing facility in July and was praised last year by a libertarian-leaning outlet for leading the “YIMBYest city in America.”įor all of those accolades, the former Republican congressional candidate and businessman barely prevailed in 2017 to first take charge of Auburn. On Thursday, Levesque headed to Boston to receive a regional award for urban innovation. Jeff Harmon, a retired Maine State Police deputy chief and Auburn police officer, is running in the 2023 Auburn mayoral race against Mayor Jason Levesque.
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