NEWS | Dutremble endorses Angers in county race

The chair of the York County Commissioners said his endorsement is based upon who he thinks will be a more fiscally conservative commissioner

By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

Richard Dutremble, chair of the York County Commissioners, publicly announced this week that he is endorsing Roch Angers of Biddeford to replace him on the county board.

Dutremble, a well-known Biddeford Democrat from one of the city’s most prominent political families, has been a county commissioner for nearly 20 years after being appointed to fill a vacancy by former Gov. John Baldacci in 2007.

Dutremble, 78, said he believes Angers is the better choice to take over the Dist. 2 seat on the Board of Commissioners.

**RICHARD DUTREMBLE** addressed the Biddeford City Council in March of this year regarding his concerns about a move by the Legislature that would have reduced county jail funding | *File Photo, Seaver*

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Angers and fellow Democrat Doris Ortiz – both former Biddeford City Councilors – are each hoping to win their party’s primary election next Tuesday, June 9.

Without a Republican candidate in the race, the winner of Tuesday’s Democratic primary will likely be the next county commissioner representing the city of Biddeford at the county level.

Dutremble told the Gazette that his endorsement is based upon who he thinks will be a more fiscally conservative commissioner, pointing out that when he first became a commissioner in 2007 the county was essentially bankrupt.

“We had a $1.2 million deficit fund balance, Dutremble said. “It took a lot of work and effort, but we were able to turn things around in a relatively short period of time.”

Dutremble, the son of former Biddeford Mayor Lucien ‘Babe’ Dutremble and brother of former State Senator Dennis ‘Duke’ Dutremble, said he is looking forward to his retirement from public office.

“I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish, and I want the county to continue that positive movement,” Dutremble said, noting that the county now has professional administrative staff overseeing operations and finances.

Dutremble’s endorsement of Angers comes as no surprise. The two men have long been friends and political allies.

“I firmly believe that Roch is going to be an asset for the county,” Dutremble said. “We need someone who is willing to dig into details and ask hard questions. Everyone knows that Roch is willing to ask hard questions.”

Ortiz, 58, is a former Biddeford resident now living in Arundel. She served as an at-large representative on the Biddeford City Council from 2019 to 2025.

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