Alan Casavant receives Kany Leadership Award

Former Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant received the A. William Kany Jr. Leadership Award.

The award is presented annually to a local leader who has done a great deal to benefit and improve the Saco-Biddeford area over the course of at least 10 years. It is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce + Industry, Heart of Biddeford and Saco Main Street, along with Saco and Biddeford Savings Vice-President Bill Kany.

Casavant received the award Thursday at the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce + Industry’s annual meeting, held at PeoplesChoice Credit Union in Saco.

Former Biddeford City Attorney Keith Jacques presented the award to Casavant at Tuesday’s meeting. Casavant taught for 35 years at Biddeford High School. In 1976, just one year out of college, Casavant was elected to the City Council at the age of 22, winning the seat by nine votes, said Jacques. His tenure on the Council ended when the city enacted the “Casavant rule” barring teachers from the City Council, said Jacques.

Casavant was later elected State Representative in 2006 and served in the legislature for four terms. He was Mayor of Biddeford from 2011-2023, the second-longest serving mayor in the city’s history.

“Through his almost 50 years of public service, Alan has displayed an unwavering dedication to the success of the city, the students, and its citizens,” said Jacques.

Jacques said prior to Casavant’s tenure as mayor, the political environment was chaotic, and city pride was low. Casavant introduced professionalism to City Hall and had a vision for the city, said Jacques.

Under Casavant’s tenure, the city purchased the former Maine Energy Recovery Co. The city of Biddeford is no longer referred to as “trash town,” and is now Maine’s youngest city and has received national accolades for its restaurant scene.

“He truly believed the city could do better if it believed in itself,” said Jacques.

Casavant said the timing of his tenure as mayor was right for the city’s renaissance, as he had people supporting him in his vision, and people like prior Mayor Wallace Nutting who had planted the seed. He likened the situation to when he was teaching - if you believed in students and they had pride in themselves, they would aspire to do better.

Casavant received a custom painting of Biddeford City Hall by Saco artist Steve Harmon.

The Chamber also presented annual business awards:

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.