NEWSLETTER | Paradise City

March 1, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

It’s been an interesting, busy and somewhat exhausting week here at the Biddeford Gazette.

In fact, I was moving in some many directions that I forgot to send out this newsletter on Saturday.

My former boss David Flood always used to say there’s a lot more to running a newspaper than just writing and publishing news stories. I never appreciated that fact until I decided to launch my own publication.

Spreadsheets, meeting with our attorney, tracking expenses, insurance, content distribution, reviewing analytics and coordinating other people’s work.

It’s a lot. And I’m not getting any younger. More about that in a moment.

*Running a news organization involves a lot more than writing news,*

Beyond all the tedious business stuff (all of which is well outside of my comfort zone), our news and editorial content is growing by leaps and bounds.

Consider this: In February 2025 – about three months after the Gazette was created – we published 14 items on our website, not including our weekly obituaries.

Flash forward one year, and we have seen an increase of more than 300 percent! During the month of February 2026, we published 49 items on the Gazette’s site.

The good news is that nearly 40 percent of that material was generated by the community, not by us.

These community contributions include several letters to the editor, guest columns and high-quality news and feature pieces, such as last week’s story from Tammy Wells about a new partnership between the Catholic Church and the York County Jail, allowing inmates to celebrate weekly Mass.

When Rep. Ryan Fecteau – Speaker of the Maine House — wanted to share his thoughts about recent ICE enforcement efforts in Maine, he asked the Gazette to publish his column.

State Rep. Marc Malon and State Sen. Henry Ingweresen also publish their regular monthly columns in the Gazette. Former mayor Marty Grohman submitted his own op-ed last month in the Gazette.

We are honored that so many people in the community regard the Gazette as a reliable and trusted source for community news and information.

Getting older; Biddeford Primary School Fun

On a personal note, this is my last day of being 61, and tomorrow (March 2) will be the first birthday that I wanted to avoid.

Every Sunday morning for the past 14 months, I spend a few hours editing, formatting and publishing local obituary notifications.

With increasing frequency, I am posting the obituaries of people who were younger than me at the time of their passing.

Statistically speaking, the average life expectancy of an American man is 76 years.

That means I likely have only 14 years or fewer remaining — for the rest of my life.

I remember clearly where I was 14 years ago today. It goes by really fast. Really fast.

All the advice from my friends, family and the expert gurus suggests that you should live each day to its fullest and focus on the things that make you happy.

So, I am pleased to announce that I have once again been invited to read to students in Ms. Jillian Palladino’s second-grade class at Biddeford Primary School. It’s the one part of my upcoming birthday that I am actually excited about.

Coincidentally, March 2 is also the birthday of Theodore Geisel, more commonly known as Dr. Seuss . . . what a wonderful confluence of events!

Quick recap and preview

*Ward Five City Councilor David Kurtz (Seaver photo)*

My favorite story this week comes from my thoroughly enjoyable interview with City Councilor David Kurtz. I will be doing similar interviews with each member of the city council over the next few weeks. (Chatting with City Councilors)

Our goal is to peel back the perfunctory layers to give our readers some deeper context about the men and women running our city.

Our most popular story this week – by far –was our exclusive coverage and tour of the Adams Point Family Housing project that is scheduled to open in April. That story blew up our email and social media accounts, underscoring Biddeford’s pressing need for more affordable housing.

What’s coming up?

I will cap off my birthday celebration tomorrow (March 2) by attending the first public hearing for the Institutional Zone Review Committee, which will be making recommendations about ongoing development at the University of New England’s Biddeford campus.

That meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Biddeford City Hall.

Hope to see you there! Have a great week!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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Angers considers run for county commission

February 16, 2026February 16, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

A longtime fixture at City Hall, Roch Angers tells the Gazette he wants to follow in Richard Dutremble’s footsteps at the county level

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

Roch Angers – a longtime former Biddeford city councilor and a current planning board member – told the Gazette Sunday that he is seriously considering a run for the District Two seat on the York County Board of Commissioners.

The county’s District Two seat is being vacated this year by Richard Dutremble of Biddeford who announced in January that he will not seek reelection after 20 years of service on the board.

Last week, former Biddeford City Councilor Doris Ortiz formally announced that she is hoping to replace Dutremble as the county commissioner representing Biddeford.

Angers, 73, is a well-known politician in the city of Biddeford. For many years, his family ran a small grocery store on South Street. He attended St. Louis High School and then graduated from Biddeford High School in 1971.

Angers has been a fixture at City Hall for more than three decades. His brother Luc was Biddeford’s city clerk in the 1980s.

*Former Biddeford City Councilor Roch Angers (Contributed photo)*

Roch Angers has served on the Biddeford City Council under four different mayors, including Lucien “Babe” Dutremble, Roger Normand, Donna Dion and Alan Casavant.

“I guess you could say that I have been around for quite a while,” he laughed during a telephone interview. “I still enjoy public service.”

Angers, a self-described moderate and fiscal conservative, said he wants to follow in Dutremble’s footsteps.

“I think he [Dutremble] is an outstanding commissioner,” Angers said. “When I learned he was stepping down, I picked up the phone and begged him to stay in the seat.”

Angers has served nearly a decade on the Biddeford Planning Board, and he became the center of controversy last year when he personally appeared before the Biddeford City Council to express his concerns about a controversial research pier being proposed by the University of New England.

In August – only days before the planning board narrowly voted 3-2 to approve the project — Angers told the council he was troubled by the review process.

“Something about this seems fishy,” Angers told the council. He was one of two planning board members who later voted against the proposal.

Planning Board member Roch Angers shares his concerns about UNE’s controversial plan to build a research pier on the Saco River during an August 5, 2025 council meeting. “Something about this feels fishy,” he said. (Seaver photo)

Former Mayor Marty Grohman was incensed by Angers’ move to speak publicly about the project while also serving as a member of the planning board.

Grohman later attempted to remove Angers from the planning board but got almost no support for that effort from the city council.

When Grohman brought the issue forward, the council remained silent and stone-faced. No one would second a motion offered by former Ward One City Councilor William Emhiser.

After several seconds of silence from the other eight councilors, City Attorney Harry Center advised the mayor that the issue was dead on arrival.

Grohman later told the Gazette that he would continue his efforts to remove Angers from the planning board. That never happened.

Today, Angers is enjoying his retirement after working many years in various management positions for Shaw’s supermarkets across Maine.

“I think I have something to offer,” Angers said, pointing out that he is concerned about the growing county budget and its impact on Biddeford and the city’s neighboring communities of Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport.

Angers said he hopes to make a final decision about running in the next few days. He said he has been calling several people throughout the community.

“Many people have told me that they would support me,” Angers said. “I am honored and truly appreciative of that support, but I want to make sure that I dot my I’s and cross my T’s,” he laughed.

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CORRECTION: This story contained an error, stating that Angers retired as a butcher from the Shaw’s supermarket in Saco. In fact, Angers retired from Shaw’s after many years of working in various management positions for Shaw’s supermarkets across the state. We have corrected the story, and apologize for the error.

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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE |A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism

Our editorial standards and policies: Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

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NEWSLETTER: Can’t touch this

February 14, 2026February 14, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Wow! What a week it’s been.

Let’s get right to it. Things have been pretty much non-stop here at the Gazette since the beginning of February.

We set some new records, broke some big stories and had some fun along the way. More about all that in just a moment.

Our promise to you:

A lot of media outlets – large and small – often brag about their commitment to local, community journalism.

At the Gazette, community journalism is much more than just a slogan. It’s a proven track record of being embedded in the community; a promise to always be accessible to everyone on both our website and on the Biddeford Gazette’s social media pages, including our Facebook page.

Never a charge or fee for subscriptions.

We are the only news outlet in southern Maine that actively shares and promotes news about Biddeford from other professional media outlets, including Saco Bay News, the Portland Press Herald, MaineBiz, WGME-TV or WMTW-TV.

Why do we do that? Because we care more about you than about silly competition with other news outlets. That philosophy is embedded in our mission statement.

We want to make it as easy as possible for you to find news and information that impacts Biddeford, no matter where that news is generated.

And when we do share items from our news partners, we make sure those stories are clearly labeled and linked to their originating source.

Speaking of slogans:

A couple of weeks ago we asked our readers for suggestions regarding a potential tagline for the Gazette. We were looking for something unique, something that defines our mission and principles – what sets us apart.

We received dozens of suggestions from our readers: some funny, some serious. But each one of them showed that readers were willing to take time to connect with us for nothing more than the possibility of scoring a dozen donuts from Reilly’s Bakery.

I am pleased to announce that we have a winner. It was me.

Don’t worry, we’re still going through the suggestions to determine who was the runner-up, and who will get to enjoy the tasty treats we promised from Reilly’s.

In fact, it was thoughts about Reilly’s Bakery that inspired what will be our tagline going forward.

Reilly’s is a Biddeford institution built on a legacy that stretches over decades. It is a small, independent bakery focused on quality and customer service.

What sets the Gazette apart from all the others? Simply this: Experience and the community’s trust that has been developed over decades of covering Biddeford news and politics.

I have been covering Biddeford longer than any other journalist actively working today. Nearly 30 years of climbing those wooden creaky stairs at City Hall. No one else even comes close.

Hence, our new tagline:

THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE | A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism

A media partnership with . . . you

Between Feb. 1 and Feb. 12, we published a total of 22 items on our website, including news and feature stories, guest columns and two weekly obituary updates. That’s more than a 250 percent increase over the same time period last year, and does not include things such as our EVENTS page and BUSINESS listings

But here’s the really exciting part: 40 percent of that recent news and feature material was generated by people in the community, not us.

The community is engaging with the Gazette, and that’s the way we want it. I am excited about this, very excited. All indicators show that we’re on a good trajectory, including our growing list of subscribers and increased traffic on our website.

Some irony, a political shakeup and what’s next

Most journalists go through their whole life without ever being able to write a headline like the one I wrote yesterday: Firefighters fight fire at fire department

Fortunately, no one was hurt but the smoke damage was extensive.

We were honored that the Speaker of the House, State Rep. Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford asked the Gazette if he could submit his column about recent ICE activity in Maine for publication on our site.

On a similar note, former mayor Marty Grohman asked us to publish his recent op-ed about artificial intelligence and its potential benefit for Maine communities. Both State Sen. Henry Ingwersen and State Rep. Marc Malon publish their monthly columns in the Gazette.

We sincerely appreciate their trust and confidence.

And in this corner . . .

Speaking of Marc Malon, it looks like he may face a challenge in his reelection bid for a third term as Biddeford’s District 133 representative. Veteran City Councilor Marc Lessard told us he is giving serious consideration to running for the seat as an unenrolled candidate. This could be the first time that Malon is challenged for his seat.

I think that’s good news. I like Marc Malon. I think he does a decent job and truly cares about the people he represents, but it’s always better for voters if they have options. And we care more about the voters than the politicians.

Two good guys going toe-to-toe. Could be interesting.

I’m outta room. Good stuff coming down the pike! Kiss someone today and celebrate Valentine’s Day!

P.S. I talked a lot about journalism in this week’s newsletter. If you’d like to see a list of my 12 all-time favorite journalists, hop over to my personal blog Lessons in Mediocrity and check out The List. You will probably recognize some of the names and faces.

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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He has been covering Biddeford news and politics for nearly three decades. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE |A Legacy of Trusted, Independent Journalism

Our editorial standards and policies: Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

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NEWSLETTER: Warm thoughts on a cold day

February 7, 2026February 8, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

Feedback from our readers reinforces the Gazette’s mission statement

Wow! What a busy week it’s been.

In a few moments, I’ll be headed out the door and on my way to this year’s WinterFest activities in downtown Biddeford.

WinterFest is so much than just a giant man-made sledding hill on Adams Street. It is now three-days of various activities and fun for people of all ages. Over the last 14 years, WinterFest has grown and become one of Biddeford’s most notable community events.

But none of it would be possible without dozens of volunteers and community sponsors. Go here: to learn more about this year’s WinterFest celebration.

*Good times return to Biddeford for annual WinterFest celebration. File photo: Devin Wright*

A peek behind the scenes at the Gazette

Speaking of celebrations, Laura and I — and some of our closest friends and supporters –celebrated a few milestones achieved this week by the Biddeford Gazette.

It’s mostly some little, housekeeping things — but they all reinforce the idea that the Gazette has grown from just a simple concept to a full-fledged media outlet.

This week, we received our registration papers as a non-profit media company and secured a PO Box for the Gazette. We also opened a business bank account at PeoplesChoice Credit Union. Things are getting real!

We also updated our website with a few new static pages, most notably a section that details our Standards and Policies and a page that describes our history, but there is another new page that leaves me almost speechless and close to tears each time I look at it.

Support from the community

If you get a chance, please check out our READER FEEDBACK page. We have archived some of the comments we have received from the community over the last few months.

If you want to know why I do this, what motivates me and keeps me going — check out some of the feedback we have received from our readers. From my perspective, these comments are more valuable than gold. Thank you so much!

Speaking of gratitude, last week we asked readers for their suggestions about a possible tagline for the Gazette. The suggestions are still coming in, and we will ask our advisory board to help us select the winning entry.

If we pick your suggestion, you will score a $20 gift certificate to Reilly’s Bakery on Main Street. Talk about motivation.

What’s ahead?

It’s election time again, and the Biddeford Gazette will soon begin our coverage of local legislative and York County races with the comprehensive approach that our readers have come to expect.

We also plan to do a deeper dive on several issues now brewing just beneath the surface in Biddeford. Stay tuned! We have some good stuff in the pipeline!

*The Biddeford City Council discusses a controversial downtown parking plan that has been discontinued.*

A quick review

During the past week, the Gazette has published several items, including news about Monday’s fire near the Hannaford grocery store and the former Sleepy Hollow motel.

We also updated our coverage regarding a controversial downtown parking plan; and provided our readers with a deeper look at how Biddeford is using its Opioid Settlement Funds. We also had some fun with City Manager Truc Dever – a transplant from the Seattle area – about who she is rooting for in this year’s Superbowl contest.

We were also honored to receive an op-ed this week from former Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman about the benefits of using artificial intelligence and a thought-provoking column about U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner.

From the “Very Good News” department: we posted an update this week, letting people know that the IRS has opted to waive more than $700,000 in penalties and fees dues to some missing health insurance forms on the city’s 2021 tax return.

The Gazette first broke that story last year, and it’s nice to see that it was resolved with a positive outcome.

Okay, now it’s off to WinterFest! We’ll be posting some photos of this year’s celebration later today.

Be safe! Stay Warm! Have fun and . . . Go, Patriots!

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

You may view and learn more about our editorial standards and policies here:

Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

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Council debates controversial parking plan

February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

The Biddeford City Council finally got the chance Tuesday to discuss a controversial parking plan that has raised questions and eyebrows about city spending procedures.

One councilor described the project as a significant breach of city procedures, but another councilor described the $20,000 project as “small potatoes,” when compared to other issues facing the city.

*The Biddeford City Council took up several issues Tuesday night, including discussion about a controversial parking program that was launched last year (Seaver photo)*

The temporary parking plan is no longer in place. It was designed to help struggling downtown businesses by providing them and their employees free parking during a major sewer construction project last year in the downtown area.

The city spent roughly $20,000 over a five-month period to fund the program. It was designed to be “net neutral,” transferring money from an account the city uses for subsidizing bi-annual payments to the company that operates the Pearl Street parking garage.

Councilor Brad Cote blasted the program and the city’s former mayor, saying he was outraged about how it was funded and implemented.

“This was done without the approval or knowledge of the Finance Committee or the city council,” Cote said. “This was a one-man show, and it was shooting from the hip. I think it’s awful and insulting to taxpayers.”

In December, Mayor Liam LaFountain – the former council president and chair of the finance committee — said he was flabbergasted when he first learned about the program months after it had been launched.

LaFountain then asked City Attorney Harry Center to investigate the issue. In his Jan. 3 memo to the mayor and city council, Center raised concerns about the program’s “process.”

But Councilor Jake Pierson said the issue is relatively benign.

“I think we’re making a mountain out of a molehill here,” Pierson said. “I guess I don’t understand the outrage. I see this as a waste of our energy and city resources.

“When we look at all the other issues facing the city, I see this as small potatoes,” Pierson added.

Councilor Marc Lessard – an outspoken critic of former mayor Marty Grohman – said his concerns were rooted in the process used behind the program’s funding.

“It was incorrectly done,” Lessard said, pointing out that the former mayor “lobbied hard” last year for a 35 percent increase to the Heart of Biddeford’s annual funding request.

The Heart of Biddeford – a non-profit downtown booster organization – coordinated the parking program, providing outreach and information to downtown businesses.

“This is yet just another example of mismanagement,” Lessard said. “It was swept under the rug, and it should have never happened.”

In order to reconcile the city’s accounting ledgers and prepare for future financial audits, the council voted 7-1 (Cote) to retroactively approve the project and redirect the expenditures from a different account in the city’s budget.

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

You may view and learn more about our editorial standards and policies here: Biddeford Gazette | Standards & Policies

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OPINION: Supporting our municipal workforce; how AI can help cities serve better

February 3, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 3 Comments

By MARTY GROHMAN, Special to the Gazette

Our municipal employees are the backbone of our communities. They plow our streets at three in the morning during snowstorms. They respond to service requests, maintain our infrastructure, and keep our cities running smoothly day after day. These dedicated public servants often work with limited resources, facing growing demands while dealing with staffing constraints and aging technology systems.

We owe it to them to provide every tool that can make their jobs easier, safer, and more effective. Artificial intelligence isn’t about replacing these hardworking people—it’s about giving them support so they can focus on what matters most: serving our residents.

Starting Small: Meeting Minutes and Administrative Tasks

The simplest place to start is often the most impactful. Consider the countless hours municipal employees spend transcribing meeting minutes, summarizing discussions, and producing reports. In Gray, Maine, Communications and IT Director Kyle Hadyniak has embraced this exact opportunity.

Gray uses Microsoft Copilot to create meeting recaps of Town Council sessions much faster than manual transcription would allow, with the AI automatically generating timestamps and natural language summaries that help Hadyniak turn around news articles in just an hour or two. This means residents get information about their local government faster, and it means one less tedious task weighing down a small municipal staff.

Gray adopted a formal AI policy in the summer of 2025 that requires staff training before receiving access to AI tools and emphasizes that AI outputs must be treated as draft material requiring human review. This responsible approach recognizes that technology should augment human judgment, not replace it.

The impact goes beyond time savings. When communications staff can produce meeting summaries quickly, they have more time for community engagement, answering resident questions, and improving accessibility. Hadyniak noted that small municipalities in Maine with fewer than ten full-time staff members would particularly benefit from AI tools to handle smaller administrative tasks.

Making Our Streets Safer and More Efficient

Syracuse, New York, demonstrates how municipalities can use technology to enhance essential services while maintaining transparency and community oversight.

For snow removal operations—a critical service in upstate New York—Syracuse’s Department of Public Works has implemented GPS fleet tracking and AI cameras on trucks. These systems don’t just monitor employees; they protect them. Cameras provide visual documentation of road conditions and can help verify crew safety and accountability. Real-time GPS tracking allows operations superintendents to optimize routes, respond to service requests more effectively, and ensure no streets get missed during storms.

Think about the worker driving a plow truck for twelve hours straight during a blizzard. That technology means their supervisor knows where they are, can send help if needed, and can verify their route is safe and efficient. It means fewer callbacks to streets that were already plowed and better coordination across the entire fleet.

Looking Forward: Smarter Services, Better Communities

The next generation of municipal AI applications will transform how cities deliver services:

Route Optimization for Waste Collection: AI can analyze traffic patterns, construction zones, and historical data to create more efficient garbage and recycling routes. Drivers spend less time in traffic, trucks use less fuel, and residents get more consistent service.

Predictive Infrastructure Maintenance: Machine learning can identify patterns in service requests and sensor data to predict when a water main might fail or when a road needs repaving—before it becomes an emergency. This helps cities budget more effectively and prevents those frustrating situations where the same street gets dug up multiple times.

Intelligent Website Navigation: Many municipal websites are difficult to navigate, especially for residents who aren’t familiar with government terminology. AI-powered search and chatbots can help residents find the right form, understand a regulation, or get connected to the correct department without spending hours clicking through menus or waiting on hold.

Smart Permitting Systems: AI can review permit applications for completeness, flag common errors, and route them to the appropriate reviewers automatically. This speeds up processing times for residents and businesses while freeing up permit staff to handle complex cases that need human expertise.

A Commitment to Our Employees

Our municipal employees didn’t sign up for endless paperwork and administrative burden. They chose public service to make a difference in their communities. We need to innovate to keep our taxes down, and every minute we can give back to our hardworking employees through smart automation is a minute they can spend on more meaningful work—and providing the personal touch that no algorithm can replicate.

As we move forward, the question shouldn’t be whether to embrace AI in municipal operations, but how to implement it responsibly in service of the dedicated people who serve our communities every day. They’ve earned our support, and technology is one more way we can show we value their contributions.

The future of municipal service isn’t about choosing between people and technology—it’s about using technology to empower people to do their best work. Our employees deserve nothing less.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Marty Grohman of Biddeford is a former Maine State representative and former mayor. He has served as the Executive Director of E2Tech, a clean energy trade association, and built a successful manufacturing business in southern Maine.

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NEWSLETTER: Help us with a tagline, score some goodies from Reilly’s Bakery

January 31, 2026February 1, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 10 Comments

According to blogger Mat Zucker, it is becoming more and more important for news outlets to have a pithy, clever tagline that differentiates them from an overflowing pot of news sources and media sites.

“The motto of a news organization is more than just marketing,” Zucker writes. “It’s a declaration of journalistic purpose. These short phrases encapsulate an outlet’s mission, values, and unique approach to reporting.”

Help the Gazette create a tagline, get a gift certificate to Reilly’s Bakery *File photo*

As the Biddeford Gazette begins its second year, I’m asking our readers for suggestions and ideas about a possible tagline for our humble, hyper-local organization.

To get your creative juices flowing, here are a couple of ideas that have been rattling around in my mind.

We could co-opt the New York Times famous tagline: “All the news that’s fit to print,” how about this?

The Biddeford Gazette — All the Biddeford news that’s fit to publish on the internet.

Or maybe we could bend this oft-mentioned piece of writing advice:

Biddeford Gazette — An economy of words; a wealth of Biddeford information

One of my favorite potential taglines came to me last year while talking with former mayor Marty Grohman:

The Biddeford Gazette — We’re free, and we’re worth it!

Of course, we could always take the serious and boring route:

The Biddeford Gazette — Your trusted source for Biddeford news and information;

According to the experts, your tagline should really describe your brand and reputation. So, how about:

The Biddeford Gazette — There’s no such thing as a day off in our newsroom?

But my all-time favorite has to be this one from a former colleague who wished to remain anonymous:

The Biddeford Gazette — Where cranky, old-school journalists go to die in southern Maine.

What do you think should be our motto? Send your suggestions to biddefordgazette@gmail.com

If we pick your original suggestion, you get a $20 gift certificate to Reilly’s Bakery. Yum!

A busy week!

It’s been a busy week here in the Biddeford Gazette’s newsroom.

We started off the week with a rather interesting story featuring local author Susan Graham’s new book about the “Great Fires of 1947” and how that disaster impacted several Biddeford neighborhoods.

That story was one of the most popular pieces we have published. Dozens of people emailed me their own recollections and the stories that were passed down from generation to generation.

Speaking of fires, we also published an exclusive interview with Biddeford Fire Chief Lawrence Best about the city’s ongoing discussions about a potential substation that would be located in the eastern part of the city.

Of course, we updated a story we first published last year about more than $500,00 of fines the city of Biddeford is facing in IRS penalties for failing to submit employee health insurance records in 2021.

Our original story about the city’s financial problems – including the city’s IRS exposure — was first published in the Biddeford Gazette on March 10, 2025.

All I can say is that I am happy that we now have a new city manager, a new finance director, a new mayor and a relatively new city council.

Our exclusive reporting continued this week on an updated story about a complaint the city filed against the University of New England in York County Superior Court.

Finally, we received a press release a couple of weeks ago from State Rep. Marc Malon of Biddeford about a new bill he introduced.

We could have just copied and pasted Malon’s press release, but we decided to dig a little deeper about his proposal to prohibit the use of credit cards for online sports gambling.

At first blush, I considered Malon’s proposal to be yet another example of government overreach into private affairs, but he convinced me otherwise.

In closing, a funny story about the power and benefit of local news, the flexibility of the internet and accessible reporters. Malon really liked the story, but he was a bit uncomfortable with our original headline: “Online gambling addiction troubles Biddeford lawmaker.”

When Malon texted me to ask if we could change the headline, I was more than happy to oblige. Some people were inferring that Malon was having personal problems with a gambling addiction.

One of my old editors – Harry Foote – was likely rolling in his grave. I had forgotten the most basic fundamentals of headline writing: Short, clear in subject-verb-object order.

And that’s a wrap! Stay warm and be safe!

P.S. Oh, yeah. . . . almost forgot to mention: The Biddeford Gazette is now a registered and incorporated as a non-profit entity in the state of Maine!

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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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City investigating use of taxpayer funds for a parking plan launched by former mayor

January 19, 2026January 20, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 3 Comments

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

According to documents obtained by the Biddeford Gazette, the city of Biddeford is now investigating why more than $16,000 was spent on a downtown parking plan that was never reviewed or authorized by the city council or its Finance Committee.

At Mayor Liam LaFountain’s request, City Attorney Harry B. Center was asked to investigate questions about a temporary program that used various budget lines to fund a free parking program for downtown merchants during last year’s downtown sewer construction project.

The parking project, according to Center’s memo, was allegedly initiated by former Mayor Marty Grohman roughly 90 days before the city’s biennial election. The program was disbanded in mid-November just days after Grohman lost his reelection bid.

*The municipal parking garage on Pearl Street (City photo)*

When contacted by the Biddeford Gazette on Sunday, LaFountain confirmed that neither he nor any other elected official was told about the parking program.

LaFountain said he asked Center to investigate how the parking program was launched, operated and funded.

“It appears that it was kept within a small circle of people,” the mayor said. “Unfortunately, no one bothered to tell the council or the Finance Committee.”

LaFountain said he only found out about the project when City Manager Truc Dever asked if he wanted the program to continue.

“I didn’t even know the program existed,” LaFountain said. “It’s certainly troubling. The public expects us to be diligent and careful with public monies. Any major expenditures should be approved by the Finance Committee and then the full city council.”

______________

“It appears that it was kept within a small circle of people”

— Mayor Liam LaFountain

_____________

According to Center’s memo, the parking plan was initiated just weeks before City Manager Truc Dever began her new position with the city.

As part of his investigation, Center spoke with Finance Director Gerry Matherne.

“There was no council approval,” Matherne told Center. “Marty [Grohman] just did it.”

According to Center, Matherne confirmed that the funding source came from the Route 111 TIF (Tax Increment Finance) fund. under a line item known as “Other Professional Consulting Services.”

The funds were disbursed to Premium Parking, the private company that operates the city’s parking garage and several surface lots throughout the downtown area.

The funds were used to offset the cost of parking for vehicles with certain license plate numbers and designed to make street parking downtown much easier during the sewer construction project.

_____________

“There was no council approval. Marty just did it.”

— Finance Director Gerry Matherne

_____________

LaFountain told the Gazette that he was “troubled” by the situation, and said it only further erodes public confidence in City Hall.

Last year, during a review of the city’s FY 2023 audit, the city received a blistering report from its professional auditors who raised concerns about possible mismanagement of federal grant funds and a sloppy cash reconciliation process.

Matherne was hired in February and is continuing her work to address prior problems in the city’s Finance Department.

“Director Matherne is being asked to clean up and reconcile numerous issues that took place before she was hired,” said LaFountain. “Her professionalism and hard work are exactly what the city needs as we try to sort things out.”

Former mayor defends program

Former Biddeford mayor Marty Grohman told the Gazette that he was “unaware” that the city was giving money to Premium Parking to offset costs and provide free parking for certain downtown merchants and their employees.

Grohman said the plan was intended to be “revenue neutral,” and said he never authorized any extra payments to Premium Parking.

Grohman says the paid parking plan came from an idea first discussed during his weekly meetings with downtown merchants and others who were struggling with snarled traffic.

“I didn’t set it up,” Grohman said. “It was Brad Favreau (from the city’s economic development office) who set it up.”

Because of the holiday weekend, City Hall was closed and Favreau was unavailable for comment.

Although Grohman said he thought the program would be revenue neutral, he later said he did “not recall the source of the funding” that would be used.

Grohman said the idea behind his plan was to simply reconfigure spaces and designations of certain downtown parking lots.

Grohman described the plan as a “goodwill agreement” between the city and Premium Parking.

“They (Premium Parking) must have misunderstood the intent of the program,” Grohman said, when asked why the company billed the city an extra $3,170 every month between August and November 2025.

More than two years ago, Grohman was a city councilor and hoping to become the city’s mayor.

Grohman pledged then to “get tough” on the privately operated garage that is still subsidized by the city.

During a May 21, 2023 interview with this reporter, Grohman said the city should not be using TIF funds to make its subsidy payments to Premium Parking.

Grohman then said he considered the use of TIF funds to continue funding revenue shortfalls at the garage as “galling.”

“Our debt service is more than $4 million a year,” Grohman said during that 2023 interview. “I don’t think this [funding of garage revenue shortfalls] is the best use for the TIF funds.”

Next steps

Center’s memo about the parking plan is expected to be addressed during Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting, which begins at 5 p.m. in the council chambers.

From Center’s memo: “In summary, the former mayor on his own initiative –without City Council or Finance Committee vote — directed that the payments be made to Premium Parking for private downtown business employees to park in the parking garage as well as surface lots during the Elm Street sewer construction project.

“Following an initial payment on August 26, 2025, in the amount of $3,690, four additional monthly payments of $3,170 were made from the “Route 111 TIF Fund” totaling $16,370. The payments were for parking but were made from a line item designated “Other Professional/Consulting Service Expense.”

The Gazette has filed a Freedom of Information request for emails that were circulated between July and October between the mayor’s office, Favreau’s office and Delilah Poupore, executive director of Heart of Biddeford.

“This situation is outrageous,” said At-Large Councilor Marc Lessard. “You can’t just spend taxpayer dollars to make people feel warm and fuzzy. Our ordinances spell out a process.

“Citizens expect us to adhere to those processes and follow the city charter,” Lessard added.

This story will be updated.

Editor’s Note: The Biddeford Gazette has filed a FOIA request related to this developing story. You may view/download our request by clicking on the link below:

Jan. 19, 2026 FOIA request (2)Download

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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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How much does it cost to become mayor?

December 17, 2025December 18, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

According to campaign finance reports, a total of more than $14,200 was spent by the three mayoral candidates in Biddeford’s Nov. 6 municipal election.

Yesterday (Dec.16) was the deadline for filing those reports with the city clerk.

*Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain (City of Biddeford photo)*

Former Mayor Marty Grohman spent the most money in his campaign for a second term, a total of $6,539.31.

Mayor Liam LaFountain spent a total of $4,957.13, and former city councilor Norman Belanger spent $3,135 on his campaign.

In terms of votes, LaFountain edged Grohman by a margin of just 212 votes (2,626 – 2,414). Belanger finished in a distant third with 1,273 votes.

Based on data from the finance reports, Grohman also spent the most on a per-vote basis, roughly $2.71 per vote; Belanger spent $2.46 per vote and LaFountain spent the least on a per-vote basis at $1.89 per vote.

As required by state law, all candidates are required to file two reports regarding details about their campaigns, contributions and expenses. The first report must be filed in mid-October.

The second cumulative report is due no later than 42 days after the election. The city maintains public records of all campaign spending by municipal candidates, including city councilors, school committee members and mayoral candidates.

You can view or download the final reports submitted by the mayoral candidates below.

Candidates are required to detail line-item totals for all money contributed to their campaigns by specific individuals or businesses.

Each candidate must also provide details about how they spent their money during the campaign.

All three mayoral candidates had similar expenses, including direct mail, lawn signs, website design and social media advertising.

*Campaign signs are a major expense for most local campaigns.*

Candidates are allowed to donate an unlimited amount to their own campaigns.

To obtain copies of other campaign finance reports, please contact the Biddeford City Clerk’s office.

Please find the final reports below (in alphabetical order).

BELANGER:

CFR Belanger Download

GROHMAN:

CFR Marty Download

LaFOUNTAIN:

CFR LaFountain4 Download

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story contained inaccurate information regarding former city councilor Norm Belanger’s mayoral campaign. Belanger spent a total of $3,135. His per vote total was $2.46. We apologize for the error. The story has been amended with the correct information.

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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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2025: A year of big changes in Biddeford

December 10, 2025December 11, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

There is little doubt that 2025 was a year of substantive change for the city of Biddeford. From political fallout to major infrastructure improvements and new business openings, this year featured a plethora of news stories about change.

In fact, even the news/media landscape changed as a new digital news source began operations, and a 36-year-old weekly newspaper ceased printing.

Like all other years, there was good news and bad news. Highs and lows.

So now we invite you to look back on what we believe were the Top-10 news stories in Biddeford during 2025. (Listed chronologically)

City Manager terminated

In February, the city council placed longtime City Manager James Bennett on “paid administrative leave.” Bennett, hired 10 years earlier, found himself embroiled and at the center of several controversies at City Hall over the last few months.

Bennett had announced his “phased retirement” in Oct. 2024, saying that he would leave his position in April 2025, with more than a year remaining on his contract.

Bennett subsequently filed a lawsuit against the city. The city opted to approve an out-of-court settlement of roughly $90,000.

Newspaper ceases publication

Like many other weekly newspapers in southern Maine, the Biddeford-Saco Courier – owned by the Portland Press Herald’s parent company – ceased publishing its print publication in early March.

Though the Courier is no longer published, its parent company now publishes a weekly, digital only newsletter.

The Courier was originally owned and operated by David and Carolyn Flood, Saco residents who later moved to Biddeford. David Flood was elected to and served briefly on the Biddeford City Council.

Major road construction project begins

In April, the city began an extensive sewer separation project on lower Elm Street (Route One). The project would last more than seven months and disrupted traffic flow throughout the city’s downtown area.

The project had an adverse impact on many downtown merchants and was jokingly dubbed as “The Nightmare on Elm Street.”

The mandated project faced intense criticism on social media sites, but was ultimately completed just a few days after the expected finish date.

Chamber hires, fires and hires new director

In May, the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce hired Matt Lewis as the agency’s new executive director after Jim LaBelle’s announced retirement. Just six months later, the Chamber fired Lewis and decided to hire Alex MacPhail as the organization’s new executive director.

Boys’ baseball team wins state championship

In June, the 15-4 Biddeford High School Tigers defeated the 17-3 Mount Ararat High School Eagles in the Class A Maine State Championship baseball game.

The Tigers rallied from two three-run deficits to beat Mt. Ararat and win their first state championship since 1984.

Truc Dever hired as new city manager

Also, in June, the City Council voted to hire Truc Dever as the new city manager. Dever was previously serving as the director of public works in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, Wash.

In her previous position as public work director in Kirkland, Dever oversaw a staff of more than “170 employees across multiple divisions, including utilities, transportation and capital projects,” according to the city’s website.

JFK School closes after more than 60 years

The city’s JFK memorial elementary school dismissed its final classes in June. Voters previously approved a plan to expand Biddeford’s Primary School to accommodate JFK students.

School Supt. Jeremy Ray said that moving the city’s youngest students to BPS will give those children more stability and a less fractured learning experience.

“Going forward, students will be in the same building from Pre- K to second grade,” Ray said. “This way, the kids have four years in one building with lots of familiar faces.”

Planning board approves UNE’s pier proposal

*The Biddeford Planning Board held a site walk to review the University of New England’s proposed research pier (Seaver photo)*

In August, the Biddeford Planning Board narrowly approved a proposal by the University of New England to construct a large-scale research pier on the Saco River, adjacent to the school’s Biddeford campus.

The approval of the controversial project drew the ire of several residents who attempted to appeal the decision. The Biddeford Zoning Board of Appeals, however, voted unanimously (3-0) to stand by the planning board’s decision. The city — in November — filed a formal complaint about the project in York County Superior Court. A judicial review is pending.

Citizens organize grievance meeting

In October, more than 100 residents collected enough signatures to force a special “citizens’ grievance’ meeting before the Biddeford City Council.

During that meeting, residents raised concerns about how the city managed the review process of the University of New England’s controversial pier proposal. Residents’ concerns included the city’s decision to remove the harbormaster from the review process and unanswered questions about impacts on moorings held by commercial fishermen.

Voters choose new mayor, city councilors

*Liam LaFountain (foreground, wearing glasses) celebrates his win on election night with several of his supporters. (Seaver photo)*

Biddeford voters sent a clear message in November: They wanted a big change in city government.

In a three-way mayoral race, Mayor Marty Grohman was denied a second term by nearly two-thirds of those who cast ballots in Biddeford’s biennial, municipal election.

City Councilor Liam LaFountain narrowly won that three-way race, edging out Grohman with 210 votes, a margin of roughly three percent.

LaFountain campaigned and won on a platform of more transparency and accountability from City Hall.

Four new city councilors were also sworn into office, including Lisa Vadnais, Abigail Woods, David Kurtz and Jacob Pierson. Former councilors Patricia Boston and Brad Cote returned to the council after an extended hiatus of several years.

Other stories:

Of course, there were several other significant stories that took place over the last year, including a significant August fire that displaced two Biddeford families; a rather scathing report issued by the city’s financial auditors in August and the approval of two significant housing projects near the site of the former MERC trash-to-energy incinerator.

Several new businesses popped up in 2025, including an L.L. Bean outlet store, a Firestone Tire center and a new indoor recreation facility in the former Five Points shopping center.

And I’ll go ahead and toot our own horn. The Biddeford Gazette formally began its operations in January and now features a roster of contributing writers, expanded community-based news coverage and weekly obituaries.

When Laura and I started the project, we weren’t sure whether the endeavor would last six months. We exceeded all of our expectations, even after breaking my right arm in August.

I also want to note that our community lost Vincent Keely earlier this year. Keely, a former city councilor, was a beloved downtown business owner and reliably ensured the “raising of the Irish flag” at City Hall every year on St, Patrick’s Day. His restaurant – the Wonderbar – was a favorite hangout for city officials, reporters and others who wanted to keep updated about city news and events.

Now we’re looking forward to what 2026 will bring.

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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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OPINION | A change will do us good?

November 19, 2025March 7, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

On Tuesday, I sat in my usual seat in the Biddeford City Council Chamber — back row and closest to the door.

With my back against the wall, I can see and monitor almost everything happening in the room.

That perch also provides a quick exit in the event that the shit hits the fan.

I almost didn’t go to the meeting. I had a pretty bad headache, and Laura suggested that I could just stay home and watch the meeting online.

Nope, I said, reaching for my jacket. This would be the last meeting for this current group of city councilors.

It would also be the last council meeting for Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman.

*The last regular meeting of the 2023-2025 Biddeford City Council (Seaver photo)*

Tuesday’s council meeting was yet another significant moment in our city’s history. The transition process has begun. A new administration will take over the reins in less than two weeks, during the Dec. 2 inauguration ceremony at City Theater.

I am excited about the change, but I am also feeling some trepidation and even some sadness.

Over the last two years, this current council has become akin to a favorite chair that is a tad worn, a bit stained — but always a good fit and comfortably familiar.

Yes, it’s time for a new chair. But I am going to miss this one.

Waiting for the meeting to start, I began pondering all the ups and downs that this council and mayor have faced over the last two years.

There were some high points and some low points. There was anger and there was laughter. I suppose the same could be said for any governing body, but you simply cannot deny that this council was battle-tested during the last two years.

You simply cannot deny that
this council was battle-tested
during the last two years.

Change is an unavoidable part of life. We have to let go of the familiar in order to discover new opportunities. That is often easier said than done.

You say hello, and I say goodbye

The mayor seemed somewhat somber during Tuesday’s council meeting. He smiled and laughed during some of the meeting’s light-hearted moments, but you could almost feel his sadness.

And who could blame him? Marty put his heart and soul into the job. When he took over the reins two years ago, he was brimming with ideas and energy.

He was a fresh voice following a 12-year run by his predecessor and mentor, Alan Casavant.

*Mayor Marty Grohman (right) chairs the final city council meeting of his term while mayor-elect Liam LaFountain (left) reviews an agenda item during Tuesday’s meeting*

Marty pledged to hit the ground running. And he made good on that promise. So, naturally, it’s easy to understand why his loss for a second term stings – and will probably sting for a long time to come.

When Marty took over, he inherited some challenges that were not his fault. Former city manager James Bennett was acting like a petulant overlord at City Hall, and he would treat city councilors like a group of adolescents learning how to French kiss.

There were other challenges: a skyrocketing unhoused population, a finance department in chaos and the hemorrhaging of city staff.

Marty rolled up his sleeves and jumped immediately into the deep end of the pool. He never checked the water temperature or whether there were other swimmers in his path.

You have to go back more than 30 years to find another mayor who only served one term in office. Talk about a lonely-hearts club.

During a break of Tuesday’s council meeting, Mayor Marty Grohman invited the public and city councilors to join him for a ceremonial piece of cake to mark the last meeting of the 2023-2025 Biddeford City Council (Seaver photo)

The perfect storm

Two years ago, the city’s elections could easily be described as a “sleeper” affair. Only two city council seats were being contested. Every sitting councilor sought another term.

By contrast, this year’s elections saw contests in five of the seven ward council seats and a three-way contest for the two at-large council seats.

Moreover, Councilors William Emhiser, Scott Whiting and Neva Gross decided to step down this year. Councilors Norman Belanger and Liam LaFountain gave up their seats to run for the mayor’s chair.

There was some excitement in the air this year. Six political newcomers decided to run for council and three of them won their respective campaigns (Abigail Woods, David Kurtz and Jake Pierson).

This last election also broke records in voter turnout for off-year, municipal elections.

What was behind that groundswell of interest in Biddeford’s municipal affairs?

The short answer is: a lot.

But I think the real reason is a bit nuanced and somewhat complex. There is no denying that there has been a cloud of discontent hanging over Biddeford for almost two years.

There was some
excitement in
the air this year.

What’s the frequency, Kenneth?

Almost out of the gate, Marty and the current council were knocked on their heels by back-to-back resignations. Both former Ward Four Councilor Bobby Mills and then — two weeks later – former Ward Five Councilor Julian Schlaver resigned, both citing “personal reasons.”

Dyland Doughty won a special election to take over Mills’ vacated seat; and Neva Gross was appointed to serve the remainder of Schlaver’s term.

Only a few weeks ago, former at-large councilor Doris Ortiz announced her resignation because she was moving to a new home outside of the city.

Three resignations in one term? That seems like a record to me.

Two years ago, Councilor Liam LaFountain jockeyed to become council president, ousting Councilor Norm Belanger from that role in a 6-3 vote.

Affordable housing became the focus of the new administration.

Earlier this year, the council received a blistering report about its delayed financial audits from an outside accounting firm.

*Wade Goldthwait addresses the city council during a citizens grievance meeting about the University of New England’s planned research pier*

Former city manager James Bennett was finally ousted from his office and then filed a lawsuit against the city.

The city hired Truc Dever to become the new city manager.

A major sewer upgrade project along Elm Street drew the ire of residents and downtown business owners who were impacted by the seven-month construction project.

In the background – beyond the council’s purview – there was increasing tension and controversy brewing about a proposed pier that the University of New England hopes to build on the Saco River.

The city ramped up efforts to address the issues of homelessness, clearing out a large encampment near Mechanics Park.

Planning Board Member Roch Angers spoke at a city council meeting regarding his concerns about the UNE pier. The mayor then tried to have Angers removed from his position on the planning board.

Citizens circulated petitions and collected enough signatures to trigger a “citizens grievance” meeting about the UNE pier.

In July, residents saw one of the most heated and tense council meetings in recent memory, calling into question two major development projects on Pearl Street.

Of course, there were many other things that shaped this current council and Marty’s term as mayor but now it is time for us to turn and face the winds of change.

It’s time to recycle that old, comfortable recliner. Let’s see what the future brings.

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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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Veterans Day 2025

November 11, 2025November 11, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

Scores of people braved chilly temperatures and biting winds to celebrate the annual Biddeford-Saco Veterans Day Parade on Tuesday.

This year’s ceremony featured the unveiling of the Gen. Wallace H. Nutting Memorial Bridge.

*Gen. Wallace Nutting’s children attended the dedication ceremony of a bridge named in their father’s honor. (L-R) Sally Nutting Somes, John Nutting, Katherine Haughs and Elizabeth Hood.*

Nutting’s four children were on hand for the dedication of the bridge at the base of York Hill.

This year’s parade featured marching bands from Thornton Academy, Biddeford High School, and Saco Middle School.

*Members of the Biddeford High School marching band played Taps during the opening ceremony.*

*A small crowd on the Biddeford side of the bridge awaits the start of the annual parade*

Local leaders pose with members of Gen. Nutting’s family moments after the bridge was dedicated (L-R) State Rep. Marshall Alexander (D-Saco), Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail, State Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford), Katherine Haughs, John Nutting, Sally Nutting Somes, Elizabeth Hood and Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman (Randy Seaver photo)

*Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail and Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman attended the ceremonies.*

*Members of Boy Scout Troop 310 raised the American flag*

City will seek Attorney General’s advice about UNE pier

November 6, 2025November 6, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

The Biddeford City Council voted unanimously Thursday to seek guidance from the Maine Attorney General’s office about a new wrinkle that was recently discovered in the University of New England’s proposal to build a large, research pier on the Saco River.

In order to build their pier, the university needed approvals from multiple agencies, including the Saco River Corridor Commission, a quasi-state agency that has jurisdiction regarding development along the length of the river’s shoreline.

The Saco River Corridor Commission (SRCC) approved UNE’s project on Sept. 13, 2024. Biddeford’s representative on the SRCC abstained from the vote.

As the Biddeford Gazette first reported in October, the SRCC’s approval appears to contradict an earlier decision by that same agency.

In 2001, the university agreed to the creation of a 250-foot buffer zone as a compromise to build two dormitory buildings that would exceed a 35-foot height limit.

The university’s current proposal requires the construction of an access road for the pier. That road needs to accommodate large trucks, including rescue vehicles. The road would cut through the 250-foot vegetative buffer.

When contacted by the Biddeford Gazette in October, the SRCC’s executive director said the contradiction was an oversight.

“It does appear that there was an omission of relevant information provided to the commissioners before last year’s vote,” said Cherie Dunning, the SRCC’s executive director.

Following the Gazette’s story — Just two weeks before local elections — several city councilors said they want the advice of the state attorney general before the city issues any construction permits for the project.

“We want to make sure that we have done our due diligence” said Council President Liam LaFountain during a previous interview.

LaFountain won his bid Tuesday to become the city’s next mayor. His core campaign message focused on transparency and accountability.

Thursday’s resolution passed without any discussion or comments by council members.

LaFountain and Councilor Marc Lessard tried unsuccessfully to have an agenda item about the university’s proposal discussed at the Oct. 21 council meeting,

Mayor Marty Grohman said he did not realize the item was not on the agenda for that meeting.

A portion of Thursday’s resolve reads as follows:

“Questions have arisen as to whether the SRCC’s Permit #20-491 approval is consistent with, or in conflict with the SRCC Permit #20-209, and whether the existence of a vegetative buffer zone may affect the legal validity of the current pier permit.”

“This situation has created uncertainty for the city, the university, and the public regarding the . . . the city’s obligations under state law.”

Sarah Delage, a university spokesperson, said the school “does not oppose the council’s pursuit of clarification from the AG’s office.”

The full text of the council’s resolution may be viewed or downloaded here:

UNE AG RESOLVE Download

___________________

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

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Mayor will issue ‘formal apology’

November 5, 2025November 6, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

Just hours after losing the mayor’s seat, Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman said he will issue a formal apology to Mayor-Elect Liam LaFountain during Thursday’s city council meeting.

LaFountain narrowly won the three-way race with 42 percent of the vote (2,623). Grohman received 2,413 votes (38.3 percent).

After the polls closed Tuesday, I offered Gazette readers feedback I received from several voters, speculating that Grohman shot himself in the foot on Sunday by penning a vitriolic op-ed column that leveled attacks against LaFountain.

Grohman lost the election by only 210 votes. It was not a landslide election.

Yes, there are lots of reasons why LaFountain was able to defeat two older and more-seasoned candidates, but Grohman’s op-ed left a sour taste in the mouths of several voters.

Many voters told me yesterday that they are upset about skyrocketing property taxes, a lack of affordable housing and a sense of unchecked development.

Marty is not responsible for many of the things that motivated voter turnout, but he is the incumbent, and most people wanted change. Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of voters chose someone other than Marty to be the city’s next leader.

The analysis of yesterday’s election doesn’t matter much, but what does matter is the fact that Marty realized his mistake and says he will issue a “formal apology” tomorrow.

Grohman indicated that he will apologize in a comment he posted on my personal Facebook page.

“Let me use this thread to apologize to Liam,” Grohman wrote. “However you read the race, he ran an excellent, excellent campaign, extremely well run with a great team, and worked very, very hard.

“I will issue a more formal apology at Thursday’s Council meeting,” he added.

Grohman’s willingness to publicly own and acknowledge his mistake is an excellent example of leadership.

We all make mistakes. The first step in correcting those mistakes is to acknowledge and own them.

Marty is a smart, innovative thinker with lots of energy. I am not worried about his future.

The loss of Tuesday’s election will likely sting for a long time, but so will the never-ending list of opportunities for leadership and community service.

Thank you for your service, Marty. You are one of Biddeford’s loudest and most passionate champions. I hope you will continue to be involved in the community you love.

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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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Biddeford chooses new mayor

November 4, 2025February 11, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

Biddeford voters chose City Council President Liam LaFountain to be Biddeford’s next mayor.

LaFountain edged incumbent Marty Grohman 2,623 – 2,413. City Councilor Norman Belanger placed third with 1, 272 votes.

For the first time, the Biddeford City Council will include three women. Patricia Boston won her campaign in Ward One; political newcomer Abigail Woods will be the next Ward Two councilor; and School Committee member Lisa Vadnais will join the council as one of two at-large representatives.

*Mayor-elect Liam LaFountain (left) chats with supporters who gathered at Pizza By Alex*

Incumbent Marc Lessard will keep his at-large seat. Councilor Roger Beaupre was unopposed on the ballot and will return to represent Ward Three. Political newcomer David Kurtz was unopposed and will represent Ward Five.

In Ward Six, Jake Pierson won his race against Roger Hurtubise. Former councilor Brad Cote edged out challenger Sam Pecor in Ward Seven.

Biddeford voters also approved two local bond questions for sewer separation projects and recreational facility upgrades,

“I am honored to have the support of so many people.” LaFountain told his supporters during a campaign party at Pizza By Alex.

*Bobby Mills (right) congratulated his opponent Dylan Doughty who won the Ward Four race, 430-340 (Seaver photo)*

Detailed results from the City Clerk’s office are included below:

Question 1: “Shall the the Order of the Biddeford City Council entitled “Order Authorizing Issuance of $20,000,000 of the City’s General Obligation Bonds for Separating and Improving the City’s Storm and Sanitary Sewer Systems in accordance with the signed Administrative Consent Agreement with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection” be ratified and approved?”

Yes: 4708

No: 1497

Blank: 396

Total: 6601

Question 2: “Shall the the Order of the Biddeford City Council entitled “Order Authorizing Issuance of $6,000,000 of the City’s General Obligation Bonds for Improvements to the City’s Recreation Facilities” be ratified and approved?”

Yes: 3984

No: 2221

Blank: 396

Total: 6601

Question 3: “Shall a Charter Commission be established for the purpose of revising the municipal charter?”

Yes: 3457

No: 2305

Blank: 839

Total: 6601

Mayor

LaFountain, Liam: 2626

Grohman, Martin: 2414

Belanger, Norman: 1273

Blank: 288

Total: 6601

Councilor at Large

Vadnais, Lisa: 3766

Lessard, Marc P.: 3005

Sheikh-Yousef, Nasreen: 1897

Blank: 4532

Total: 13200

Ward 1 Councilor

LaBelle, James: 217

Boston, Patricia: 610

Blank: 73

Ward 1 Total: 900

Ward 2 Councilor

Woods, Abigail: 381

McCurry Jr., John: 289

Blanks: 115

Ward 2 Total: 785

Ward 3 Councilor

Beaupre, Roger P.: 850

Blank: 220

Ward 3 Total: 1070

Ward 4 Councilor

Doughty, Dylan: 430

Mills, Bobby, J.: 340

Blank: 105

Ward 4 Total: 875

Ward 5 Councilor

Kurtz, David: 553

Blank: 211

Ward 5 Total: 764

Ward 6 Councilor

Pierson, Jacob: 562

Hurtubise, Roger: 381

Blank: 189

Ward 6 Total: 1132

Ward 7 Councilor

Pecor, Samuel: 375

Cote, Brad: 581

Blank: 119

Ward 7 Total: 1075

School Committee

Amy E. Clearwater: 2718

Meagan E. Desjardins: 3242

Andrew Chad Barrs: 1970

Stephanie C Edwards: 2360

Michele L. Landry: 2799

Marie E. Potvin: 3175

Timothy P. Stebbins: 3044

Jessica A. Cinquegrano: 1971

Karen S. Ruel: 2486

Henley, Emily L: 2667

Blank: 19757

School Total: 46189

Wardens and Ward Clerks for Wards 1-7 are all blanks, as there were no candidates listed on the ballot for these races.

Statewide Referendum Return of Votes Cast

MUNICIPALITY: BIDDEFORD – 1 (1-1)

Total Number of Ballots Cast: 6591

Question 1: “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”

Yes: 1608

No: 4940

Blank: 43

Question 2: “Do you want to allow courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger of causing physical injury to themselves or others?”

Yes: 5013

No: 1540

Blank: 38

OPINION: Mayor Marty reveals his true character, and it’s not pretty

November 2, 2025November 2, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 3 Comments

I have to break a promise.

A few weeks ago, Dennis “Duke” Dutremble invited me to join him for lunch. I seized that opportunity.

If you’re into local politics, you already know that the Dutremble name is legendary and highly respected in the community. Duke’s father, Lucien ‘Babe’ Dutremble, served three terms as Biddeford’s mayor and 15 terms in the Maine House of Representatives.

Duke followed in his father’s footsteps and served seven terms in the Maine Senate, including one term as senate president.

When Duke Dutremble talks, you listen.

*Duke Dutremble and I seem to be channeling Marty Grohman’s insatiable need for selfies.*

In 1994, Duke almost won a U.S. Congressional seat. Almost.

Duke lost his race against Republican James Longley, Jr. by less than two percentage points. Dutremble says that — more than 30 years later – the loss still stings.

During our lunch meeting, Dutremble shared his theory about why he lost that campaign. “I refused to go negative,” he said. “Most of my supporters and campaign staff were saying I needed to go after Longley because it was such a tight race. But I refused.”

Dutremble narrowly lost that election because his integrity and principles meant more to him than winning an election.

A new low for Biddeford?

Duke offered me some sage advice two months ago: Between now and Election Day, do not write any opinion pieces about the candidates, he advised.

Duke’s advice made good sense — right up until this morning when I received Mayor Marty Grohman’s guest column for the Gazette and then threw up a little in my mouth.

Two weeks ago, I notified the three mayoral candidates that they could each submit one column, outlining why they should be the city’s next mayor.

Yesterday, we published the response from Liam LaFountain. Earlier today, we published the response from Norman Belanger.

Both Belanger and LaFountain used the opportunity to underscore the principles of their campaigns and explain their positions on various issues.

Neither Belanger nor LaFountain made any comments about other candidates. But Marty used the bulk of his column to attack and vilify LaFountain and his supporters

“The gloves are off,” the mayor wrote. “Using tactics not seen in years, my opponent is making backroom deals with city councilors to guarantee them coveted committee assignments, in return for their support.”

Of course, Grohman shared no evidence to support his claims.

*Marty Grohman:* *Biddeford’s most insecure mayor?*

Grohman touched upon some of his accomplishments, but the bulk of his column was a rambling screed against LaFountain.

I have been watching Biddeford politics for 30 years. I have never seen a sitting mayor personally attack an opponent, relying on scare tactics and innuendo to make their point.

A promise broken

I apologize to Duke, but I cannot just sit by and silently watch the floundering and desperate mayor hurl personal insults.

Grohman’s column reveals and explains several things about his character and his approach to city politics in three simple steps.

Step One: Start off by being a victim, blaming others and absolving yourself of any responsibility.

“In Biddeford, the mayor doesn’t have a vote,” Grohman wrote. “The [city] council has all the power of passing legislation and budget expenditures.”

Step Two: After absolving yourself from any responsibility, brag about things that others have accomplished. Take credit for only the positive things happening in the city.

“It’s been a good two years,” Grohman writes, conveniently forgetting how much others have contributed to the city’s success. “We’ve gotten a lot done.”

Step Three: Attack your strongest opponents. Raise doubts about their character and commitment to the city. Accuse them of things with no evidence. Cast them as a boogeyman.

A used car salesman approach to politics

A common complaint about our mayor: “When you shake hands with Marty, you can almost see him looking over your shoulder to see if someone more important is in the room.”

Two weeks ago, Marty was ready to throw City Clerk Robin Patterson under the bus when he was asked why an agenda item about the UNE pier was not on the city council’s agenda.

He ignored the request made by Councilors Marc Lessard and LaFountain, and publicly said he “didn’t know about their request.” That is a lie. How do I know that? Because after I called him on it, he provided copies of the emails sent to him by Lessard and LaFountain several days prior.

He knew about it. He just didn’t want it on the agenda. When pressed, he backstepped and said the error happened because of a “busy city clerk.”

Forty-eight hours later, during a citizens meeting about the UNE pier, the mayor was handing out documents and saying he was not responsible for the removal of the harbormaster from the review process.

The truth? Grohman never said a peep when the former city manager yanked the harbormaster from the review process. In fact, the mayor repeatedly supported the former city manager’s decision.

But the mayor sure changed his tune when confronted with a roomful of residents who were pissed about the harbormaster’s removal.

Grohman has done a pretty good job in being a cheerleader for the city, but he can never resist a photo op for himself. If there’s no one there to take his picture, he simply posts yet another selfie.

Sure, it’s good to support local businesses, but why do you have your picture in every post?

When I wrote profiles about Dupuis Hardware, Biddo Bahn, Nibblesford and Georges, I took pictures of the owners or employees. I didn’t feel compelled to include a picture of me.

Last night, I witnessed a stunning difference between Marty Grohman and Liam LaFountain during a charity event for the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Resource Center.

Marty spent the evening gladhanding the crowd, pointing out that he is the mayor. LaFountain, on the other hand, remained at his own table with his wife and a few other people. He didn’t work the room. He was there – like most of us – to help a deserving charity.

Marty is always kissing babies and posing for flattering photos. He diligently avoids talking about difficult or challenging subjects.

He’s always looking for the easy way out, furtively scanning the horizon for the next vote or handshake. He is the consummate politician, and that is the problem.

Dutremble chose integrity over votes. It’s too bad Marty wasn’t at that lunch meeting. He could have learned something valuable; something about leadership and integrity.

________________

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

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Mayor blasts his opponent; seeks your vote

November 2, 2025November 2, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

Mayor Marty Grohman touts his accomplishments, skewers his opponent

By MARTY GROHMAN, Special to the Gazette

In Biddeford, the mayor doesn’t have a vote. The Council has all the power of passing legislation and budget expenditures. The mayor, according to the City Charter, can only set the tone, act as a catalyst for change and progress and project a vision.

Still, it’s been a good two years. We’ve gotten a lot done. A new attitude of responsiveness and customer service in city hall. New businesses opening, new programs that are housing the homeless at more than one a week. But there’s a lot at stake.

I’m running against a young firebrand, who’s gotten a lot of endorsements, but voters need to know there is a cost to those endorsements.

I suspect many of you have wondered why vocal fiscal council conservatives would be supporting a candidate whose fiscal philosophy is from the far left.

Using tactics not seen in years, my opponent is making backroom deals with city councilors to guarantee them coveted committee assignments, in return for their support.

I have never played that political game and never will. I won’t put you on the Finance committee if you endorse me. I’ll put you on the Finance committee if you’re the best person for the job, and that’s it.

And if that kind of backroom dealmaking isn’t the opposite of “accountability” and “transparency”, I don’t know what is.

With me, what you see is what you get. No games. No secret deals. No demonization of investors and businesses. Just a deep caring for this community and a desire to make things better. While I am not perfect, I try my best and assist everyone that I can.

It’s disingenuous for my opponent, who is the Council President, to now claim that he’s pro-business, when he has relentlessly driven up the costs of business: like making it cost ten thousand bucks to hook up a sink.

Yes, the gloves are coming off.
But I think it’s important that
you know these things.
— Marty Grohman

He never took a risk and started a business. He has no idea how hard that is, how every chance you take puts your life savings on the line.And he attacks the people who invest in Biddeford, including developers trying to create affordable housing opportunities. He’s earned a statewide reputation as anti-development.

Importantly, the Council President presided over the biggest increases to the municipal services budget that the city has ever seen and increased fees, including for many permits and licenses. Though by Charter I could not vote on the budget, the $733,000 in cuts that I proposed, trying to be responsive to the concerns of taxpayers, instead were blocked by the Council President.

Of the three candidates running for mayor, the Council President is, by far, the most fiscally liberal. In this economy, I don’t think the city can afford his budgetary philosophy and excessive spending.

Yes, the gloves are coming off. But I think it’s important that you know these things. Portland-style policies like rent control will end Biddeford’s comeback. And if some of his endorsements sound like strange political bedfellows, now you know why.

So, if you want to go back to the days of empty storefronts and avoiding downtown, that’s what’s at stake in this election. Remember when you used to tell people you live ‘near Portland’ instead of now proudly saying, ‘I live in Biddeford’?

I don’t want to go back there either. I want to keep Biddeford growing, positive and a place that you’re proud of. A safe place for you to raise a family and build a career. Together we can make that happen. I ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 4.

Editor’s Note: All three mayoral candidates have been given the opportunity to submit their own guest column.

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Teachers union offers dual ‘endorsements,” gives candidates access to PAC funds

October 30, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

Campaign “endorsements” from the Biddeford Teachers Association (BTA) caused some confusion yesterday when two of Biddeford’s three mayoral candidates announced that they received the union’s endorsement.

The BTA endorsed both Mayor Marty Grohman and City Council President Liam LaFountain in their bids to become the city’s next mayor.

Councilor Norman Belanger – the third mayoral candidate – was not endorsed by the BTA. He was unavailable for comment at press time.

Beyond bragging rights, the endorsement from the Biddeford Teachers Association also opens up potential campaign funds from the statewide Maine Education Association Political Action Campaign (PAC) fund.

According to an email the BTA sent to Grohman and LaFountain, they both earned the recommendation from the union’s Screening and Endorsement Committee.

The teachers’ union sent all candidates a questionnaire. The endorsements were based upon how the candidates answered those questions from the union.

Allison Pickering, vice president of the Biddeford Teachers Association, said the organization – “after great consideration” — decided to make a dual endorsement in the mayoral race, recommending two candidates for support by the union’s membership.

Pickering – a fifth-grade teacher at Biddeford Middle School — was not available for comment at press time, but according to the email she sent both Grohman and LaFountain, she described the two men as “preferred candidates.”

According to Pickering’s email, teachers in the city’s public schools are being asked to support Grohman and LaFountain, writing “we appreciate your commitment to the students and communities we serve.

“We thank you for taking the time to complete our candidate questionnaire and for sharing your views with us.

“We feel you will be a strong candidate dedicated to improving our local schools while listening and respecting the front-line educators who work with students every day,” she added.

Pickering told Grohman and LaFountain, that the BTA “will be working with staff at the Maine Education Association to make sure educators all over our city are aware of our support for your candidacy.”

______________

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

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OPINION: Campaign predictions and a free lunch

October 28, 2025October 29, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

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 over – is actually a holiday. And according to Maine state law, city clerks in each community are required to take local reporters out to lunch and pick up the tab.

*A small collection of campaign signs near the intersection of Rte. 9 and Fortunes Rocks Road*

On a more serious note, this is the time when people start asking my predictions about the outcome. In Biddeford, I have developed a reputation as the go-to-guy when it comes to local politics.

I know nothing about elections in Saco, Old Orchard Beach or Kennebunk. My “expertise” is rather limited, but I can chat Biddeford politics all day long.

This is the first election for the Biddeford Gazette, a media project I launched in January.

I have tried to be thorough, fair and accurate in all my coverage. I have written candidate profiles on each of the 28 candidates running for office (mayor, city council and school committee)

We have also done in-depth reporting about the local bond issues and thanks to our media partners at The Maine Monitor you can find a balanced analysis of the two state referendum questions.

You can find all that information on a special section of our website, Biddeford Elections 2025.

I also took the initiative to organize the one and only debate featuring the three mayoral candidates, reaching out to my colleagues at Saco Bay News and the Press Herald to join me as panelists. We solicited our questions from the community and we had a great moderator, Craig Pendleton.

I also created a countdown clock and set up a just-for-fun, amateur poll asking my readers who they think will be Biddeford’s next mayor.

Needless to say, it’s been a busy October.

So, what about my predictions?

This will be my 15^th Biddeford election. I started in 1997, and I have been fascinated by this city’s politics since.

Biddeford takes its elections seriously, and it can be a rough and tumble affair. You need to wear your big-boy pants if you’re going to tread in these waters.

I actually met my wife because she was running for office, and I made a mistake in my coverage of the Old Orchard Beach School Board race. (True story. Oct. 2001)

Laura started winning races after she married me and took my last name. (Also, a true story)

You can’t make predictions on just gut instinct or who has the most campaign signs posted at the Five Points intersection. You have to look at the data. Past performance is always a good indicator of future results.

You also have to consider other factors, including weather and various state referendum questions that will also be on the ballot.

According to extended weather forecasts, next Tuesday will be partly cloudy with a high of 53 degrees. The state referendum questions are rather benign and will not be big factors, unlike 2010 when Maine voters were asked to approve the Oxford Casino (Disclosure: I was a paid consultant on that referendum question)

You have to look at the data,
past performance is
a good indicator
of future results

I decided this year to limit my data field to the last 10 years, beginning with the 2015 election.

Sadly, off-year municipal elections only draw about 30 percent of Biddeford’s registered voters to the polls. People in Biddeford love to complain about politics, but most of them can’t be bothered to vote.

So, let’s take a quick glance at past elections.

In 2015, there were 34 candidates on the ballot (mayor, council, school committee) and four local referendum questions. Alan Casavant was seeking a third, consecutive term and challenged by Daniel Parenteau. Turnout was 30.03 percent of registered voters, Casavant kicked ass, 2,494 – 1,437

In 2017, voter turnout was 30.93 percent with 22 candidates. Casavant faced only two write-in opponents and breezed to victory for a fourth term with 3,497 votes.

Laura (Seaver) was also reelected as an At-Large councilor, slightly trailing Marc Lessard, 2,989 – 2,902. More importantly School Committee candidate Lisa Vadnais garnered 3,041 votes (Pay attention here. There will be a test later).

In 2019, Things got interesting, Casavant was almost defeated for a fifth term by Jason Litalien who came in a close second (2,234 – 2,127). Turnout was 29.91 percent. Both Lessard (3,051) and Vadnais (2,971) topped the ballot.

In 2021, Casavant easily rolled over challenger Victoria Foley, 3,237 – 1,849. Voter turnout was 33.05 percent. Again, Lessard (3,403) and Vadnais (3,297) topped the ballot. Why the slight bump in turnout? Not sure. There was a statewide referendum about CMP’s transmission corridor project.

Finally, in 2023, Casavant decided not to seek a seventh term. City Councilor Marty Grohman defeated former State Senator Susan Deschambault, 2,894 – 2,223. Not a landslide, but certainly comfortable. Again, Vadnais (3,374) and Lessard (3,021) topped the ballots with the most votes per candidate.

My predictions for 2025

*Yours truly showing off our work for Casavant in 2013.*

This is a three-way race. Marty has the advantage of the incumbency, but he also has the disadvantage of being the incumbent. When voters are not happy, the incumbent hears about it.

In fairness, Marty can’t be held responsible for some things beyond his control, but his leadership has been called into question by two city councilors who work with him closely. His endorsements of council candidates this year, have actually been rejected by some of those candidates.

It’s a three-way race, and that’s Marty’s best hope going forward. Will Councilors Liam LaFountain and Norm Belanger split the “anti-Marty” vote. Sure, but by how much?

It all depends on how many supporters Belanger and LaFountain can get to the polls.

Bottom line? This race is too close to call, but I will make a prediction . . . on Tuesday night, one hour before the polls close. Most of my predictions will be posted on this site at the same time.

Sure, we all know Councilor Roger Beaupre is unopposed in Ward Three and newcomer David Kurtz is unopposed in Ward Five, but what about the other council races? Again, most of them are too close to call . . . except one.

Three candidates are vying for the two At-Large seats on the council: Marc Lessard, Nasreen A. Shekh-Yousef and Lisa Vadnais.

Past performance matters. Lessard and Vadnais will be the winners, and it will be somewhat interesting to see which one gets the most votes.

Sheikh-Yousef made three big mistakes this year.

First, she did not hire Randy Seaver Consulting for campaign advice. (Relax. That’s a joke)

But the other two reasons are more serious.

First, she did not do any diligent reconnaissance work. Although she is a board member at the Heart of Biddeford, she has not served on any municipal boards or committees. She has lived in Biddeford less than four years. Her name recognition before taking out nomination papers was virtually nil, and it hasn’t improved much since.

Secondly, in my opinion, she bit off more than she could chew by seeking an at-large seat right out of the gate. Yes, it can be done. Doris Ortiz proved that, but not if you’re going up against two of the city’s heaviest hitters.

Had Sheikh-Yousef run for Ward Five City Council, I firmly believe she would have had a fair shot at winning, depending on the other candidates.

Although she did not hire me, I will offer her a bit of free advice:

Keep doing what you’re doing. After election day, continue to find other ways to be an engaged citizen. Biddeford could benefit from your perspective. Stay involved and be a part of the city’s continuing conversation.

And to all the candidates, thank you so much for stepping up to serve your community. You are working really hard to get a job that pays less than $100 a month and will take up several hours of your time.

You are willing to share your address and take criticism for almost every thing you do. You will be required to sit through mind-numbing presentations and smile for photo-ops.

I don’t know why you do it, but thank you.

I will be providing all-day coverage on Election Day with regular social media updates.

On Wednesday, I am going to sleep-in and enjoy the lunch that Robin Patterson is buying for me.

P.S. Campaign signs by the side of the road mean nothing. Campaign signs on peoples’ lawns mean everything.

Happy? Not Happy? The Biddeford Gazette welcomes feedback from our readers, especially when it comes to different opinions and perspectives. For more information, about how to send a Letter to the Editor or Guest Column, please contact us.

_____________________

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

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OPINION: Behind the Scenes — Biddeford elections and the Biddeford Gazette

October 28, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Thanks to Randy Forcier for the opportunity to discuss Biddeford’s upcoming elections and the genesis of the Biddeford Gazette.