A little more than two weeks ago, Biddeford voters sent a clear message that they wanted change and more accountability from City Hall.

In fact, nearly two thirds of the people who cast ballots in the Nov. 4 municipal election chose candidates other than incumbent Mayor Marty Grohman for the city’s top job.

Biddeford City Council President Liam LaFountain was able to tap into that voter discontent, but he was also a late entrant — and a somewhat unlikely candidate — in the three-way mayoral race.

Skeptics said LaFountain, 28, was “too young” for the job. Others questioned his experience and his ability to effectively lead the city because he has a full-time job.

But many other voters saw LaFountain’s candidacy as a breath of fresh air, and his youthful energy appealed to younger voters in a city that has become Maine’s youngest municipality.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median age of all Biddeford residents is 35, and it’s even younger — just 29 — in the city’s downtown area.

Typically, only 30 percent of registered voters participate in Biddeford’s off-year municipal elections. And those consistent voters are typically over the age of 50.

But this year saw a marked change and an elevated level of interest in local elections, especially among younger voters. In fact, turnout exceeded 43 percent for the first time in the last 30 years.

Many younger voters said they came to vote because of their concerns about a statewide referendum regarding voter identification and absentee voting. One woman waiting in line said, “We can’t let [President] Trump and his supporters eat away at our democracy. I felt it was important to take a stand.”

LaFountain says he is honored and humbled by the support he received, but he is quick to point out that 57 percent of voters did not choose him to be the next mayor.

“I am honored by the support I received but my job now is to lead the entire city, and that includes everyone, not just those who voted for me,” LaFountain said. “It was not a landslide. I won the race by only 210 votes.”

As is usually the case, LaFountain was eager to share his thoughts and opinions with us. During our interview, he was simultaneously self-deprecating and equally passionate about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Biddeford.

Has the reality of being Biddeford’s next mayor set in yet?

“Oh yeah. I quickly went from being excited about the results and then had a sense of dread wash over me. You spend so much time on the campaign trail that you don’t give a lot of thought to what will happen if you win. (Laughs)

“That night – while we were celebrating at Pizza By Alex – the reality set in pretty quickly.”

You are not only going to be the city’s youngest mayor in recent memory but also the first mayor who will simultaneously hold a full-time job. Is your employment going to impact your leadership of the city?

“I don’t think it’s going to be much different than how I handled serving as council president and a city councilor.

“Most people in Biddeford have full-time jobs, and I think it helps my perspective about many issues through the lens of someone who is still working and facing many of the same challenges.

“As mayor, my top priority is to the people of Biddeford. I want to meet people where they are. I’m thinking about things like holding open hours at City Hall so constituents can meet with me informally. Being accessible and accountable will continue to be my focus.”

During your campaign, you talked a lot about accountability, accessibility and affordability. How do you plan to put those goals into action?

“The talking points I used during the campaign primarily came from the people I was talking with as I was campaigning. We need to make sure that residents are able to access the services they need and get information and news that is important to them.

“We need budgets that reflect both the values and needs of the public. We heard a lot about transparency this year.  We need to make sure people are aware of what is happening in city government and how those things may impact them, and how they can be part of the process.

“The affordability issue stretches across the spectrum of Biddeford residents, whether you’re a property owner worried about tax increases, or a tenant who is seeing your rental payments increase each year – even downtown business owners are experiencing rapidly increasing lease payments.”

Voters also approved a $6 million bond for upgrades and repairs to the city’s recreational assets. That money is not going to cover all of the city’s needs. How do you propose those funds should be allocated?

“That is going to be one of our top priorities in the coming year. I think we’re going to need a process that includes a lot of public input, working with the Recreation Commission and the [city] council to identify how we use those funds because Biddeford residents wanted us to use that money to improve recreation opportunities.

“Obviously, we cannot fix everything, so we need a good process to identify the priorities from the public’s perspective and look for ways to capitalize on our existing resources.

“As an example, we still haven’t made any decisions about what to do with the JFK School. When we think about all the challenges we have, it’s going to involve looking at how we can use existing resources to make sure we’re addressing challenges without missing existing opportunities.”

What do you consider as the challenges facing the city of Biddeford?

“We really need to get back to basics. Our finance department is making good progress on correcting some of the things that caused a variety of problems. We need to make sure that we have adequate reporting, timely audits and reconciliations. We need continuous improvement because our financial position impacts everything the city does.

“I also believe we need to pursue a regional approach when it comes to addressing the needs of our unhoused population. My basic perspective on that issue is rooted in providing dignity for all residents, whether they live in a home or not.

“It’s a regional issue, and I want us to work closely with county officials and the state of Maine because we cannot do it all on our own.

Have you spoken yet with Saco’s mayor about opportunities for collaboration between the two cities?

“Yes, we had a good conversation, and I’m excited about how we can work together and leverage our shared strength when it comes to advocating on both a regional and state level.

“We have a new city manager, and they are about to welcome a new city manager so I think we have a nice, clean slate to work from.”

What do you think about the new council that you will be working with?

“I am really excited about the council. I think we have a really good mix, including experience and fresh perspectives. I think Lisa Vadnais will bring a valuable perspective about our city’s schools to her new role on the council. We also have three councilors who will be serving for the first time.

“I really look forward to working with them and our new school committee as we collectively chart the city’s future.”

What will be your mantra as Biddeford’s mayor?

“My primary goal will be focused upon putting the public interest at the center of all our decisions. That means making decisions that primarily benefit Biddeford residents.

“We need a data-driven decision-making process, and we also need to listen to Biddeford residents to reflect their goals, needs and wants when it comes to policies, budgets and ordinances that we pass.

“I want to be accessible and available to listen. I will readily admit that I don’t have all the answers, but I am ready to work with residents, city staff and the council to address our direction going forward.”

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

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