I first met mayoral candidate Ben Chin at a young-professionals gathering at Baxter Brewery. His friendly manner and speech impressed me. It was obvious that he cares very much for this community and will tackle the tough problems that Lewiston faces.

Recently, he was in my neighborhood knocking on doors and my grandfather and I had the chance to talk with him. He is a good listener and shared his ideas.

Chin is committed to changing Lewiston’s bad image, tied to its dilapidated buildings and littered vacant lots downtown. As mayor, I believe he will keep his word and work to give incentives for owner-occupied rental housing.

Tearing down vacant buildings cannot be Lewiston’s only solution. Instead, we need a positive attitude and work together to improve the city’s image and downtown neighborhoods. That is so important for every Lewiston resident, not just the families who live downtown.

Tracy Hall, Lewiston