Mayor can blame self for AIDA's shortfalls

For months, Auburn Mayor Timothy Lattimore has continually harangued his nemesis on the city council, Auburn Industrial Development Authority chairman and city councilor David Dempsey, about what AIDA has been doing on the economic development front. The mayor has asked for reports and other information, as an excuse to delay not appointing new or re-appointing existing members to the nine person board. It is time for the mayor to stop his endless queries and recommend a slate of nominees.

With the exception of getting himself nominated and approved in January, the mayor has used the appointment process (terms of five members expired in December) as a way to continually stick and jab at Dempsey. Yet, while this may make for entertaining political theater #- it does not serve the city's interest.

There may be little question that part of the issue with Lattimore making appointments is that Dempsey's term is also up. Lattimore, who has been a critic of the authority under the Democratic councilor, may nominate someone else if he chooses to not go with Dempsey. No one would be surprised if he chose someone else. It would then be up to the city council, which includes a majority of Democrats, to either accept the mayor's slate, collectively or individually, or reject them. If Lattimore believes that Dempsey has not done a good job leading AIDA, and that may be the case, Lattimore can argue that prior to a vote on nominees and a new chairman, should he desire. If a majority of the council disagrees then that would be a clear message to the mayor.