'We’re using a butter knife, when we should be using a chainsaw,' says Biddeford City Councilor Marc Lessard By RANDY SEAVER | Editor As the Biddeford City Council continues slogging through its review and recommendations for next year’s municipal budget, one particular issue has clearly become a contentious hot-button topic. Councilors seem extremely split on … Continue reading IN-DEPTH | Biddeford’s unhoused funding challenges
Tag: Lisa Vadnais
Council aims for ‘bare bones’ city budget
City Manager finds some significant savings while councilors consider deep cuts to social service funding requests; a public hearing will be held tonight By RANDY SEAVER | Editor At the start of the Biddeford City Council’s budget workshop meeting on Monday, City Manager Truc Dever walked members of the council through several pages of a … Continue reading Council aims for ‘bare bones’ city budget
School daze for new Biddeford city councilors?
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor Tomorrow night – Dec. 9 – the new members of the Biddeford City Council will be getting some required “training” for their new roles in city government. The city council workshop –-- ostensibly open to the public, but why? -- will feature four breakout sessions, including updates from City Manager Truc … Continue reading School daze for new Biddeford city councilors?
OPINION: Campaign predictions and a free lunch
We’re coming into the final stretch, and we’re now less than one week away from Biddeford’s municipal elections on Tuesday, Nov. 4. This is a busy time of year for journalists and for city clerks around the state. The work-load drops considerably on Wednesday, Nov. 5. That day – the day after the elections are … Continue reading OPINION: Campaign predictions and a free lunch
Talkin’ Biddeford Politics with Randy Forcier
Once again, I had a blast as a guest on the Randy Forcier Podcast. We talked about the upcoming municipal elections, my predictions on the various races and voter turnout. Randy is a Biddeford native and a former member of the Biddeford School Committee. You can find his podcast on several platforms, including YouTube, Spotify … Continue reading Talkin’ Biddeford Politics with Randy Forcier
At-Large candidates Lessard, Vadnais share concerns about UNE pier
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor The Biddeford Gazette asked the three At-Large city council candidates to share their thoughts and concerns about the controversial pier being proposed by the University of New England (UNE). Last week, we reached out to the two candidates vying for the Ward One seat, which represents Biddeford’s coastal neighborhoods, about their … Continue reading At-Large candidates Lessard, Vadnais share concerns about UNE pier
Mayor offers more selective endorsements
By RANDY SEAVER, Editor Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman is making more endorsements in some city council races but will not make any endorsements in the three-way at-large council race and in the Ward Six race. When asked why he will not make endorsements in those two races, Grohman said he has “strong relationships” with all … Continue reading Mayor offers more selective endorsements
Three vie for two at-large seats in Biddeford
Two well-known political heavyweights and one newcomer to the city’s political arena are each vying for one of the two at-large seats on the Biddeford City Council. Marc Lessard Nasreen A. Sheikh-Yousef Lisa Vadnais Incumbent Marc Lessard, 62, has served on the council for the better part of the last 30 years. School Committee Chair … Continue reading Three vie for two at-large seats in Biddeford
Lisa Vadnais, political powerhouse, seeks council seat
One of Biddeford's best-known and respected political leaders has decided that she is going to seek one of the two at-large seats on the Biddeford City Council. Lisa Vadnais, 64, has served on the Biddeford School Committee for 16 years, including four years as that board's chair. Over the last few years, Vadnais has demonstrated … Continue reading Lisa Vadnais, political powerhouse, seeks council seat
Old faces, new faces vying for office in Biddeford
Several potential candidates have taken out qualifying nomination forms for mayor, city council and school committee races in Biddeford. Some familiar names are hoping to make a political comeback, but there are also several people seeking office who have never served before. Former City Councilors Roger Hurtubise, John McCurry and Bobby Mills are all hoping … Continue reading Old faces, new faces vying for office in Biddeford
