Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman is making more endorsements in some city council races but will not make any endorsements in the three-way at-large council race and in the Ward Six race.
When asked why he will not make endorsements in those two races, Grohman said he has “strong relationships” with all of the candidates in those two races.
Marc LessardNasreen A. Sheikh-YousefLisa Vadnais
The mayor said he will not offer any endorsement in the three-way at-large council race between City Councilor Marc Lessard, Nasreen Sheikh-Yousef and Lisa Vadnais, nor will he make an endorsement in the Ward Six race between Roger Hurtubise and Jake Pierson.
Grohman yesterday endorsed city council candidate Brad Cote in the Ward Seven race over Sam Pecor; and says he hopes that John McCurry will defeat Abigail Woods in the Ward Two race.
Grohman today said he is also endorsing Jim LaBelle over Patricia Boston in the Ward One race; and City Councilor Dylan Doughty over former councilor Bobby Mills in the Ward Four race.
“It looks like he is attempting to set an agenda of more of the same.”
–– Candidate Bobby Mills
In our previous story about the mayor’s endorsements, Pecor said he is not surprised that Grohman is endorsing Brad Cote in Ward Seven. During Tuesday’s council meeting, Pecor offered sharp criticism of the mayor.
In the Ward One council race, former councilor Patricia Boston said she is “not at all surprised” that Grohman endorsed her opponent, Jim LaBelle.
Two years ago, Boston served as campaign treasurer for Susan Deschambault in the 2023 mayoral race between Grohman and Deschambault.
Boston is currently serving as campaign treasurer for mayoral candidate Norman Belanger.
Former city councilor Bobby Mills described Grohman’s endorsements as “weird.”
“I’ve never heard of a mayoral candidate struggling for a reelection bid endorsing candidates, specifically not the ones critical of him,” Mills said.
“It looks like he (Grohman) is attempting to set an agenda of more of the same.”
City Councilor Marc Lessard said he is somewhat baffled by Grohman’s decision to make endorsements in only some of the contested races.
Lessard has served on the city council off and on for more than 30 years. He recalled mayoral races from the 1980s, 1970s and before, in which a mayoral candidate would choose a slate of council candidates to run on a specific “ticket.”
“I’m almost positive that the practice of running with a slate of council candidates last happened in the mid-1990s, when Jim Grattelo won his campaign for mayor,” Lessard said.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved
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A former city councilor and a political newcomer are both hoping to represent Ward Six on the Biddeford City Council.
Ward Six encompasses most of the city’s western area, extending along South Street to include relatively new neighborhoods such as Thacher Brook Lane, Cathedral Oaks and Indian Ridge — and the ward is bordered by the town of Dayton.
The mostly residential ward is comprised of relatively newer single-family homes and quiet neighborhoods, featuring pastoral landscapes that include farmland pastures.
Ward Six has been represented by Councilor Norman Belanger since 2018. Belanger is giving up the seat in order to run for mayor on this year’s ballot.
Roger HurtubiseJake Pierson
Roger Hurtubise, 80, served on the city council in the late 1990s during the Donna Dion administration.
He returned to the council for one term in 2013, upsetting incumbent Rick Laverriere, 331-236. He currently serves on the Biddeford Housing Authority’s board of directors.
Jake Pierson, 42, is making his first bid for elected office, but has been actively involved in city government, serving on the Policy Committee for three years; the Police Advisory Committee for two years; and the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee for two years.
Hurtubise, now retired, is well-known for his volunteer work with La Kermesse and the area’s Franco-American community, including a weekly radio show that he hosts about southern Maine’s Franco culture. In 2019, he was inducted into the state of Maine’s Franco-American Hall of Fame.
Hurtubise also served on the city’s 2012 Charter Review Commission and has been an active member of the city’s Cable Television Committee.
Pierson is a nursery professional, joining the family-owned Pierson Nurseries, Inc. in 2004.
Pierson told the Gazette that affordable housing is one of his top concerns.
“We need to address the need for more cost-effective housing in our city,” Pierson said. “I think the incentives that the city has attempted to put into place are a start but I believe [that we need to take] a more direct role in creating that housing, using city property and resources.”
Hurtubise said rising property taxes are putting a significant strain on many homeowners, especially seniors and those living on fixed incomes.
“If elected, I will work to be a strong advocate for accountability and transparency,” Hurtubise said. “I want to make sure citizens know about how the city’s mil rate is being impacted by the council’s decision making.”
I will work to be a strong advocate for accountability and transparency,”
— Roger Hurtubise
Pierson said he will advocate for continued “intelligent” development in the city’s downtown area.
“Downtown is a cornerstone of our community,” Pierson said. “It led directly to our rebirth as a destination city. We need to keep working towards smart and balanced development downtown to keep it vibrant and attractive.
“By being engaged as a council with the downtown development commission, we can allow development to continue to happen with an eye toward increasing diversity and options in the downtown district.”
Hurtubise said he is concerned about the city’s “aging infrastructure,” including roads, drainage systems and hydrants. “I also want to keep an eye on the city’s telecommunications systems, broadband connectivity, our electrical grid and street lighting,” he said.
Pierson said the city need to improve its transparency regarding operations.
“Recently, the public’s faith in our city government has been tested by poor performance of some staff and a lack of communication by staff, elected officials and volunteer members of our boards, commissions and committees,” Pierson said.
“We need to do a better job of keeping the business of governing transparent and continue to improve the communications coming from the city.”
–– Jake Pierson
Hurtubise said creating a “fiscally responsible” budget will be one of his priorities if he is returned to the council.
“Our city is facing some serious headwinds,” Hurtubise said. “If elected, I vow to work tirelessly for all citizens and will demand accountability from all city departments.”
Pierson said he believes strongly in civic duty.
“If you can — and have the willingness to serve the public good — you should do it,” he said. “I enjoy dialogue and problem solving. As a business owner, I feel that I have the requisite skill set to be an effective leader and collaborator at the city level.
“Being a part of the governing process is one of the most important things that an American citizen can do,” Pierson continued. “I want to be part of solving today’s problems, not just complaining about them. Progress is only made when folks get involved and roll up their sleeves to work towards it.”
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved
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A little more than 24 hours before nomination papers are available from the City’s Clerk’s office, and the landscape for this year’s municipal election in Biddeford is already taking shape.
As we first reported on July 11, Incumbent Marty Grohman is hoping for a second term but will face a challenge from Ward Six Councilor Norman Belanger, a former council president who says the city “needs strong leadership.”
Ward One Councilor William Emhiser told the Gazette that he will not seek a fourth term on the council.
Ward One City Councilor William Emhiser (City photo)
Emhiser said he is supporting former Chamber of Commerce executive director Jim LaBelle for the seat. Although the Gazette spoke to LaBelle last week, he has yet to confirm his decision to run.
“Jim is a terrific guy and the right person to take over my seat,” Emhiser said of LaBelle during a brief interview Tuesday. “Jim knows Biddeford, and he brings both passion and integrity to the table.”
LaBelle, a close friend of Mayor Grohman, said he would only run for the seat if Emhiser declined to seek a fourth term
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Jim LaBelle, former director of the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is a likely candidate for Ward One
During the last council meeting, Grohman paused the meeting to express a sentiment of appreciation for LaBelle and “his hard work” during a seven-year tenure as the Chamber’s executive director.
Emhiser said he has enjoyed his six years on the council and had high praise for his fellow councilors. “We’re a diverse bunch, but we’ve always been willing to work together and pulling in the same direction.”
At-large Councilor Doris Ortiz told the Gazette last week that she will also not seek another term on the council. Ortiz has served on the council for three terms, beginning in 2019.
At-Large City Councilor Doris Ortiz will not seek reelection (City Photo)
Ward Five Councilor Neva Gross told the Gazette that she also will not seek a return to her seat. Gross was appointed to the council by the mayor after former councilor Julian Schlaver announced that he was resigning in April 2024.
Gross said that she and her partner are looking for real estate that will likely be outside of the Ward Five boundaries.
Abigail Woods, a former city employee, has said on social media that she is interested in the Ward Two council seat now occupied by Scott Whiting. There is no word on whether Whiting will seek reelection for a third term.
Abigail Woods announced on Facebook that she will seek the Ward Two Council seat
Former Ward Six City Councilor Roger Hurtubise told the Gazette that he will be running for the Ward Six seat being vacated by Belanger.
Hurtubise said he is especially concerned about city spending and back-to-back property tax hikes.
“This council needs people who are going to look out for the taxpayers,” Hurtubise said. “I watch all the meetings, and I shake my head at some of the stuff I see,” he said.
Roger Hurtubise is hoping to return to his former Ward Six Council seat
Other potential candidates have said they are watching the political landscape closely and still deciding whether to toss their hats into the ring, including both the mayor’s seat and council seats.
Nomination papers for all open positions will be available, beginning July 24, at the City Clerk’s office.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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If you look at the city of Biddeford’s website, you might note that the city has more than 30 different boards, commissions and committees.
That’s a lot of committees, all of which require city staff liaison members and printing agendas and schedules, not to mention meeting spaces and other city resources.
Sure, there are some obvious boards and commissions that are actually necessary, and could be found in almost any other community, such as the Planning Board, the School Committee and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
But Biddeford takes establishing committees to a whole new level of redundancy and inefficiency.
While I was scrolling through the list of the city’s boards, commissions and committees, I was half expecting to see a Citizen’s Advisory Committee Regarding Committees.
Consider this. Do we really need a Conservation Commission and a Sustainability Committee?
Do we really need a Downtown Development Commission when we are already funding the Heart of Biddeford and have a robust and active Chamber of Commerce?
We have the Biddeford Housing Authority and the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Task Force, which was created by former mayor Alan Casavant.
We have a Harbor Commission and a Shellfish Conservation Committee. Heck, we even have a committee to ensure that we have plenty of trees in the city limits: The Project Canopy Committee.
But when it comes to questionable need, the city’s longstanding Cable Television Committee takes the cake.
Yes, that’s actually a thing, and makes me wonder if we should maybe consider creating a committee to consider the pros and cons of bringing back 8-track tapes.
Enough!
Seriously, who watches cable television anymore?
Well, apparently there are at least three or four residents who still have cable television (me included).
God bless Mayor Marty Grohman who is looking at ways to make the city a bit more efficient. A little bit more 2025 and a little less 1975.
So, last week members of the Policy Committee – not to be confused with the Citizen’s Advisory Committee – tackled the weighty issue of whether to disband the Cable Television Committee.
That particular agenda item attracted some impassioned public commentary, including my own rambling remarks before the members of the Policy Committee.
If you have cable television, you might be able to find and watch that meeting on the city’s Public Access Channel.
Relax. If you don’t have cable television, you can still watch the meeting on the new-fangled internet thing, a world wide web of some sorts. Click here.
But the funniest thing about this particular committee is that it’s basically already dissolved. According to the city’s website, the committee only has two members, both of whom have terms that are expired.
In fact, Lucien Belanger’s term expired more than four years ago; and Richard Rhames’ term expired last December.
When former city councilor Roger Hurtubise heard about the possible disbanding of the Cable Television Committee, he called some friends and decided to lead the charge in preserving the committee for “the citizens of Biddeford.”
Theoretically, it [the public access channel] is a genuine, democratic media forum.”
— Richard Rhames
Hurtubise, Rhames and I all voiced concerns about the possibility of losing the city’s public access channel, which includes citizen programming as well as municipal meetings on Channels 3 and 85.
During his testimony, Hurtubise said he applied to rejoin the Cable Television Committee last year but never heard back from anyone in the city about his request. Hurtubise formally chaired the committee and was also an active producer of citizen programming.
“You would be surprised to learn who watches the public access channel,” Hurtubise said.
During a mid-January City Council meeting, City Councilors Roger Beaupre and Marc Lessard both bemoaned the city’s struggle to keep citizens informed about what is happening in the city.
Hurtubise said the public access channel is a “valuable resource” for keeping people updated regarding municipal news.
Rhames, an ardent supporter of public access television, told the Policy Committee that the city’s public access studios and equipment were hard fought for by those willing to spend “sweat equity” in building the channel.
“I’m not sure of what’s going on,” Rhames said. “Some of us have been involved in this issue locally since 1989. Theoretically, it [the public access channel] is a genuine, democratic media forum.”
Rhames told the committee that Biddeford is the only municipality in Maine that dedicates all of its franchise fee revenues from cable television companies to funding public access programming.
“That is a testament to the work we have done here,” Rhames said.
I gave the committee a suggestion to expand the role and scope of the committee and not dissolve it.
My idea centers upon the notion that the committee be renamed as the city’s External Communications Committee that would include oversight of all municipal communication efforts, including the city’s Facebook page, distribution of the weekly Biddeford Beat electronic newsletter and the city’s website.
City Councilor Norman Belanger, chair of the Policy Committee, reassured those who spoke at last week’s meeting that the Policy Committee is not supporting any plan to dissolve the Cable Television Committee or to end public access television programming.
The city has an inherent obligation to keep the public informed about city business. At the same time, good citizenship also includes the public’s responsibility to stay aware of what is happening.
Maybe we should create a new committee to review and analyze all of this stuff, or . . . maybe not.
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 