BONNIE POTHIER:
Bonnie is a well-known Biddeford native who became the city’s first female mayor in 1989.
She graduated from Biddeford High School in 1971, then earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine Farmington and did graduate work at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Bonnie was once a downtown business owner when downtown was facing very challenging times. She also served as president of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce.
Bonnie spent many years working as a teacher in local schools and was once the branch manager for Key Bank in Saco.
She retired last year after working many years as a regional representative for U.S. Senator Angus King.
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KELSEY CUMMINGS:
A native of western Massachusetts, Kelsey moved to Biddeford roughly six years ago. During that time, she has immersed herself in her new hometown, as a resident, a downtown enthusiast and most recently as a new business owner.
Kelsey, 31, and her partner Evan opened Offhand Clothing and Ceramics, a boutique store that features carefully curated vintage clothing and accessories.
Kelsey says running a small business on Main Street has helped her understand more about her adopted hometown.
“This is such a great community, and I love being part of it,” she said. “There is a fresh and dynamic sense of energy brewing here. I believe that feedback and public participation are essential parts of living in a community.”
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CRAIG PENDLETON:
A native of Saco, Craig was raised by a well-known family in the tight-knit Camp Ellis neighborhood, where he developed a deep love of the ocean as a young boy.
He graduated from Thornton Academy in 1978 and then graduated from the University of Rhode Island, earning a degree in Commercial Fishing and Marine Technology.
In addition to working many years as the captain of a commercial fishing trawler, Pendleton was also co-founder of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, a non-profit organization focusing on collaboration between fishermen, government regulators and researchers.
Craig also served many years as the executive director of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce; and also served as transportation director of the Biddeford-Saco Transit District. Today, Craig continues to serve on the PeoplesChoice Credit Union board of directors, a position he has held for nearly 30 years, including 20 years as board chair.
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VICTORIA GORDON::
Victoria Gordon is a Maine-based graphic designer and longtime participant in the Biddeford arts community.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Lesley University and works in automotive marketing. Outside of work, she loves reading, writing, painting, playing music, spending time with her two cats, and overthinking various topics beyond reason.
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BILL SOUTHWICK:
Bill Southwick is now retired from a management career that had him moving all over the northeastern United States before returning to Maine.
Born at the former Trull Hospital in Biddeford, Southwick was raised in Old Orchard Beach before joining the U.S. Navy in 1967.
Southwick has dabbled in local politics, most notably a failed bid against Mayor Jim Grattelo’s quest for a second term in the mid-1990s. Since then, Southwick has remained active in his adopted hometown of Biddeford, serving on various committees and boards, including three terms on the Biddeford Planning Board.
Bill is also known for his volunteer work with both the Salvation Army and a local non-profit organization that was established to help people who were impacted when a local fuel oil dealer unexpectedly closed their business, leaving many of their pre-paid customers in the cold.
Bill was also a founding member of Biddeford Tomorrow, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing a calming, positive and professional atmosphere back to City Hall, where personality clashes and chaos often boiled over during the mid-1990s.
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VASSIE FOWLER:
For more than two decades, Vassie Fowler of Biddeford has been an outspoken advocate and champion for those who find themselves struggling with food insecurity, housing and mental health problems.
Today, Fowler serves as executive director at the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center on South Street in Biddeford, a community resource for those who are struggling with homelessness, hunger and other issues.
Fowler has a long history of community service that dates back to when she and her husband owned and operated Union House Pizza in one of the former downtown mill buildings.
Over the years, Vassie has served on several boards and commissions, including the Joyful Harvest Neighborhood Center, Toys for Tots in Northern York County, and she was elected to serve on the Biddeford School Committee.
She is also a member of the Biddeford-Saco Elks Club and served two terms as the ‘Exalted Ruler’ of the local Elks lodge. At the state level, she was named officer of the year in 2023.
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BEN NEVEUX:
Ben Neveux is a proud Biddeford native and a 1981 graduate of Biddeford High School. After attending the University of Southern Maine, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources from New School University.
Following a 21-year Air Force career, Ben pursued graduate studies in Government and Globalization at Harvard University Extension School while working for a Cambridge-based government contractor.
In 2007, he returned home to Maine and, within two years, settled back in Biddeford. After a career transition in 2012, he joined the Maine Department of Labor, where he managed programs to help employers in York and Cumberland Counties recruit, train, and retain their workforce.
Since leaving state service in 2020, Ben has published a career advice blog and provided résumé services for job seekers and career changers.
Proud of his hometown and passionate about photography, Ben created the Facebook photo blog Biddeford, My Hometown to showcase his street and landscape photography and celebrate the city he calls home.
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SAM PECOR:
One of Biddeford’s newer residents, Sam says supporting local journalism is more important now than ever before. “I intend to push back – hard – against any attempts to influence or censor, protecting journalistic integrity as the Gazette’s reach grows,” he says. “With public media funding under attack and our free press increasingly undermined, supporting our local press is essential now more than ever.”
Pecor is a born and raised Mainer whose experience ranges from blue-collar work (carpentry, painting, and just enough plumbing and wiring to be dangerous), to the service industry (rideshare and delivery), and into professional life as a real estate agent and small landlord. He says, “the highest compliment I’ve received is being called a Jack of all trades, and I try to live up to that every day.”
Pecor lives in and owns a four-unit apartment building in Biddeford, and regularly attends Biddeford City Council meetings.
Pecor says he is excited to be part of the Gazette’s Advisory Board, where he hopes to bring his range of experience to the table for the benefit of readers, and wants to make sure that the people of Biddeford are always “in the room” when decisions are made.
“I want to hear from the readers,” he said. “What’s working? What isn’t?
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AMY KEARNS:
Born and raised in Maine, Amy has spent her life rooted in the values and resilience this state is known for.
She moved to the Biddeford-Saco area for professional opportunities and says her life — both personally and professionally – has enhanced by making that decision.
Amy says that her most challenging and meaningful role is being a single mother to two incredible children. One of her children faces significant medical challenges, which has deepened her commitment to advocacy and strengthened her ability to navigate complex systems with persistence, compassion, and clarity.
Amy’s professional background spans both law enforcement and health care, where she has cultivated a strong foundation in crisis response, public service and supporting individuals during their most vulnerable moments.
“Through all of my work, I hold firm to the principles of transparency, communication, integrity, and honesty—values that guide my decisions and interactions every day,” she said.
Amy deeply believes in standing up for those who may not have the tools, voice or support to do it themselves.
Click here to LEARN MORE about the Biddeford Gazette’s Advisory Board
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