OPINION: A missed opportunity for leadership

According to his Facebook campaign page, Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman is “feeling frustrated” about being called out for not disclosing some relevant campaign donations made to his mayoral campaign nearly two years ago.

Apparently, Marty still doesn’t get why I mentioned his failure to disclose those donations in my story about a large-scale development that was approved by the city council during its June 17, 2025 meeting.

Allow me to explain.

Just a few weeks ago, Biddeford Planning Board Member Susan Deschambault made a point of offering a public disclosure even before the planning board was set to begin considering an application from the University of New England to build a controversial pier on the Saco River.

Deschambault knew that the project had created controversy. She knew that both opponents and proponents of the project were sitting in the room, all waiting to see how the board was going to tackle the issue.

She began the meeting by saying she thought it was important for everyone to know that she had been a student at the university, even though it was many years ago – back when the school was then called St. Francis College.

Does anyone really think that Deschambault may be biased about the pier project simply because she went to college at the Biddeford campus nearly 50 years ago? No. Of course not.

But to her credit, Deschambault just wanted to make sure that everyone at the table was aware of a fact that was already a matter of public record.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past year, most people know that Biddeford has been facing some serious “red-flag issues” at City Hall. Public confidence in local government is not exactly overflowing.

Just minutes before the mayor provided his tie breaking votes regarding the proposed development project, the council and public heard a scathing report from an independent accounting firm about the city’s two-year overdue audit.

The accounting firm said they found “several serious deficiencies,” including how the city handles cash reconciliations and federal grant monies.

Furthermore, Mayor Grohman stalled this reporter, only reluctantly confirming information about the former city manager and his lawsuit against the city, not to mention the city’s counter claims.

This is all stuff that has come to light in just the past 30 days, never mind the upcoming stories or the last several months of various problems at City Hall.

Let’s be real. Grohman only received about $391 from the developers who came before the council on June 17. Those donations happened two years ago. There was no way for the developers to know that Grohman would be in a position to break several tie votes.

There is no criminal conspiracy here. After selling his company several years ago, Grohman is financially speaking quite comfortable. To think that his votes could be bought for less than $500 is laughable.

But that’s not the point.

There was absolutely NOTHING wrong about Marty accepting those donations. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong in how the mayor chose to exercise his rare voting power. Honestly, I would have probably voted the same way.

Marty’s mistake was one of poor leadership.
If he had just briefly mentioned
the small donations he had received
two years ago, we would not
be having this conversation today.

Marty’s mistake was one of poor leadership. If he had just briefly mentioned the small donations he had received two years ago, we would not be having this conversation today.

Maine voters are vigilant about government transparency. We have a “clean elections” law and rigorous reporting requirements even for local candidates.

Campaign finance reports are not intended to just “check the box” and then reside in the bottom of a dusty file cabinet. Sure, they are public records, but the public relies on the media and other observers to stay on top of those issues.

Given the current atmosphere at City Hall; given the magnitude and benefits of the development project, Grohman should have simply disclosed that he received donations from the very same developers sitting in the room.

Susan Deschambault understood the importance of integrity and leadership. Sadly, Mayor Grohman missed this point.

I think we’re all “feeling frustrated.”

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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