Regarding City Councilman John Partridge’s trip to Washington, D.C. (letter to the editor, Auburn Reporter, March 22): Partridge is not the only member of our council who attended the National League of Cities meeting there.

Prior to 2000, very few trips were taken by city administrators. As I recall, requests for travel were approved by the mayor in general meetings of the council, thus giving the full council a chance to discuss the advantages of requested trips.

With open communication between our mayor, department directors, councilmembers and county, state and federal officials, plus our membership to the National League of Cities, and Suburban Cities Association, the City applied for and received a lot of grant money.

I would agree that Mr. Partridge better serves Auburn by remaining at home. But in the past three years, his travel expenses (per public record) have been very small compared to those of Mayor Pete Lewis.

When I consider the options I have on the Nov. 5 ballot for mayor, I consider myself fortunate, knowing John Partridge, Scot Pondelick and Nancy Backus will try to distance themselves from the political “mudslinging” that some people cannot resist.

At the same time, I hope when a new mayor is elected, he or she will do some “belt tightening” in the area of travel.

As for people who write about politics, it would be great to hear those folks speak at City Council meetings.

– Virginia Haugen