Belanger explains why he wants to be mayor

By NORMAN BELANGER, Special to the Gaztte

I want to thank the Biddeford Gazette for giving each candidate an opportunity to address the voters and explain why they are running for mayor. Giving voters information so they can make an educated decision is crucial to our democracy.

Voters need to know what motivated me to run and why I believe I am the best suited person for the job. I’ve had the pleasure of serving on the City Council for the last nine years and have played an instrumental part in the city’s renaissance. Biddeford is a much better place than it was when I began my service in January of 2017.

However, in the last couple of years a few things have occurred which has spurred me on to enter the race. First, taxes have increased each year at a percentage rate that is simply not sustainable. During my first six years on the council, we managed to set priorities on our spending that kept tax increases within a manageable level that was at or below inflation. That has been lost of late.

I tried hard during the recent budget cycles to prioritize what we spend money on with the understanding that I’m spending other peoples’ hard-earned money.

Second, there has been an increased level of distrust in local government. Distrust in the council, the mayor and the staff. Collegiality and cooperation seems to be slipping away.

I have spent my entire legal and political career working to bring people together to try to find approaches and answers that create the best result by considering diverse opinions. Politics should not be a zero-sum game that I only win if you lose. Compromise is not only necessary; it generally results in the best solution. I want to work hard to make sure all stakeholders (the council, the mayor, staff, voters and local businesses) have a seat at the table and are able to be heard and participate in the process.

“Politics should not be a zero-sum
game that I only win if you lose”

— Norman Belanger

There’s been much discussion in this race about the need for change. But that begs the question of what does change look like? We achieved much good change in the last decade, and we need to keep those ideas and action going and build upon them. Change can and should be additive. Inclusiveness and teamwork should be our goals. The city does not benefit from pitting the old against the new, the landlords against the tenants, or the businesses against the residents.

Real leadership builds bridges between competing interests and does not set them against each other. My entire time on the council, and frankly over my whole adult life, has been committed to such bridge building.

I want to continue to use those leadership skills as Biddeford’s mayor, if I’m fortunate enough to be elected.

________

NEVER MISS ANOTHER UPDATE! SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TODAY!