Casavant and Foley compete for Mayor's seat in Biddeford

BIDDEFORD — Mayor Alan Casavant is seeking re-election for the last time, and is up against Victoria Foley in the November election.

The candidates were given questions via email. Their responses are listed below, in alphabetical order by last name.

 Alan Casavant

Marital/Family Status: Married to Patti Jalbert. Two stepchildren, Erin Sawyer and Ian Sawyer. Two grandkids, Jackson and Richmond. Two dogs, Belle and Sadie.

Occupation (or occupation before retirement): I was a teacher at Biddeford High School for 35 years. I taught Psychology, American Studies, US History, and 20th Century World History. I also coached varsity ice hockey and JV soccer.

 List any previous political offices held and duration: 

I served 18 years on the City Council, including four terms as Council President. I served eight years in the Maine Legislature. As part of the Legislature, I served on the Judiciary Committee, Education Committee, State and Local Government Committee, and the Criminal Justice Committee. I have served five terms as Mayor. I considered not running again, but COVID interrupted our progress, leaving a good deal more to accomplish. This will be my last term.

 What makes you the best candidate for mayor of Biddeford? List any skills, background or experience that is relevant.

I have a strong and complete governmental resume with long-time service and experience to my community. Importantly, I have been instrumental in shaping the “New Biddeford.” I will always respect the old Biddeford. I have lived here all my life, and I know the history, the culture, the political and business connections, and the people. I have been a loud and consistent advocate for this city, and since I became mayor, I have worked hard to lead this city in a positive direction, always focused on transparency and community inclusion. Our positive results are universally recognized and applauded throughout the state of Maine. Biddeford residents, because of the changes and modernization of the city and city government, have regained their community pride and spirit. People brag about living here. People want to move here. As a retiree, I have the time and the energy to fulfill the many duties required of the mayor. I am the only candidate for mayor with the requisite experience, connections, and historical background to guide this city forward, and to build the needed bridges to our neighborhoods and recent residents. I believe in Biddeford, and I know that the best is yet to come.

 What are the top three issues you would like to see addressed if elected and how do you plan to address them?

1) Affordable housing. Biddeford’s attractiveness for those looking for a place to live, and the implications of COVID have created a huge supply and demand issue in Biddeford in terms of housing. We are not alone. Nearly every community in southern Maine is facing the same housing challenge. Unfortunately, there is no easy, quick solution.

Since I became mayor, we have added nearly 1000 new units of housing, and more is on the way, including new affordable units, such as the Adams Street project. We have had discussions and implemented subtle changes to zoning to incentivize the construction of new affordable units, and we expect more changes with the completion of a comprehensive new set of zoning ordinances, as many of the regulations are outdated and inhibit the development of new housing.

We continue to work with housing investors to create partnerships in which affordable housing is part of the construction plan. We also worked with the Maine Legislature to create a change in the Tax Increment Financing Law, so that tax money from traditional housing and retail projects can be used for the construction of affordable units. We remain attentive and focused on creating more affordable units.

 2) Economic Development must remain one of our top priorities, because any loss of focus would have a tremendous negative impact on our residential taxpayers. Major projects will need our attention, such as the development of the Maine Energy site, where investors are considering the construction of up to five buildings: housing retail, commercial, and residential units. We will be moving forward with the reconstruction of Pearl Street, to create a pedestrian centered access to the area establishments and river. To assist in this development, we obtained a $1.2 million grant to assist in this development. 

On Elm Street, Tim Harrington has purchased the land of the old Diamond National building, and he has plans to construct apartments and condos, a park, as well as complete the Riverwalk on that side of the river. The city is actively involved in developing such a plan, as public access is a key component to the project.

Some may say that there is too much attention to the downtown area, but the reality is that dramatic increases in property values, in the downtown, as well as millions of dollars of new construction, have significantly stabilized the tax rate and the city budget. Other nearby communities that did not have the careful planning or redevelopment investment have witnessed extreme pressures on their budgets and mil rates. This has not happened in Biddeford. What occurs in the downtown truly benefits everyone in all parts of the city. Importantly, the city’s investment in downtown amenities has lured more shoppers and diners to Biddeford, as has downtown festivals like RiverJam and Winterfest! Biddeford has become a place to be!

 3) Planning and being proactive for the demands of the future must also be front and center. Of particular importance in elevating Biddeford to the next level of community development, through greater outreach to neighborhoods, immigrants, the young, the old, and new residents, so that all feel part of the Renaissance that we are experiencing. Because of my teaching background, I am adept at building bridges and making people feel part of the community. I have spent considerable time building relationships with various groups in the city, and there are more bridges to build. The rebuilding of community pride was a major first step, but I believe we also need to get more people engaged in that love of community and its programs, festivals, and government.

We must also continue our work and progress in terms of the changing climate and its implications for our coastal properties, our infrastructure, our health, and our tax base.

In response to the increasing pressures and realities of local and global climate issues, I appointed a committee to research and recommend actions for city government, so that we can create a blueprint for dealing with this important issue. I also signed a Climate Resolution to put the city on the path to such changes in operations and policies. Municipal action on climate change must be two-fold: reducing our carbon footprint, while also adapting to the catastrophic effects of rising sea levels, flooding, and infrastructure failure. I want a better world for future generations, and we need to do what we can to accomplish the needed solutions. As part of this attention, we must also ensure that whatever we do in terms of policy or expenditure has a definitive impact and is not mere window dressing to satisfy our intentions. We must get a good bang for the buck.

Why do you love Biddeford? What makes it special?

I have lived my entire life in Biddeford. I attended St. Mary’s Grammar School and graduated from Biddeford High School. I went to UMO to get my teaching degree, and I chose to continue to live in this community. As I noted earlier, I taught for 35 years. I stayed that long because I truly enjoyed teaching the children of Biddeford and knowing their parents.

There are many unique and special things that I love about this city, the beaches, the river, the architecture, UNE, the library, the parks, and the restaurants, but what I love the most is the people. Biddeford residents have always been good, caring, hardworking people. They are the backbone of this community. I knew that to be true as soon as I started teaching the kids. Their hard work ethic and their commitment to being the best that they could be was evident in the classroom and carried onto the athletic fields. Biddeford was and is special. There is no place like it in terms of what it physically can offer, but it is the people who make is so special

I have devoted my teaching career and my years of public service to improving the quality of life for our residents, because they deserve nothing but the best. If re-elected, that is exactly what I will continue to do.

 

Victoria Foley

Age: 38

Marital/Family Status: Married, no children

Occupation (or occupation before retirement): Marketing & Communications Director

List any previous political offices held and duration:

This is no time to be winding down - our city has so much potential and we are at a critical moment of opportunity. Biddeford needs a leader that has the energy, curiosity, and commitment to ensure all voices are heard and valued. Thinking we are almost finished with our revitalization sells short the potential our city has to keep growing and prospering. I can’t wait to work for the people of Biddeford so we can capitalize not only on our current good fortune but position ourselves for long-term success. Having already served Biddeford as a city councilor and state representative, I am well acquainted with the challenges we face and have a track record of collaborative leadership.

On city council, I served on the Capital Projects committee and was a council representative on the boards of Shuttlebus-ZOOM and Heart of Biddeford. In 2018, I chaired the Mayor’s Ad Hoc Community Center committee, bringing together stakeholders and community members to evaluate the importance of the J. Richard Martin Community Center. As part of that work, the committee held a televised public meeting that drew more than 30 residents and took input directly from the community.

In Augusta, I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to help move us closer to 5% municipal revenue sharing for Maine cities and towns. I sponsored successful legislation to protect access to healthcare for all Mainers, which is a real passion of mine. I also supported legislation to help municipalities adapt to and address sea level rise, and to help older Mainers be able to age in place through comprehensive planning - helping to create senior-friendly policies and communities.  

I am currently serving the city as a Downtown Development Commissioner, member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, and chair of the Public Facilities Subcommittee of the comprehensive planning process. These roles have given me an opportunity to work with city staff and other civic volunteers who care about our city, and made clear to me the pressing need for a long-term community vision that will help us plan for the future. I am excited to bring my expertise to serve the people of Biddeford as their next Mayor.

What are the top three issues you would like to see addressed if elected and how do you plan to address them?

The top three issues I plan to address are completing the city’s Comprehensive Plan, establishing a deliberate process to evaluate opportunities for the city based on that plan, and increasing opportunities for meaningful community input not just for the rest of the comprehensive planning process, but on a regular basis.

I will address the comprehensive plan first, by making sure that an updated draft is publicly available well in advance of any further community input opportunities. The plan is expected to be complete by the end of this year. If we want this plan to be a meaningful representation of what the community wants, we need to make sure they have a chance to see it and review it before we ask for their thoughts.

Once the comprehensive plan is done, we can begin to work with the plan and establish a process for evaluating new opportunities. Under my leadership, the plan will be an active document - something we can use to make sure projects and developments are aligned with what the community envisions for their city. This will allow us to approach growth and development with affordability and the bigger picture in mind.

For Biddeford to “grow smart,” we must also include ongoing, regular, and meaningful ways for the public to share their input with the council. Engaging residents is critically important, because we all live here together. We are all invested in making sure Biddeford is a successful, welcoming city. In addition to welcoming public comment at council meetings, I will work with the council to find ways to hear directly from residents online, at town hall-style events, and meeting with residents in their neighborhoods. I will make sure our city technology is up to par so folks can participate in city meetings as easily as possible. Finally, I will engage the many folks who volunteer on committees and commissions, our students, and local nonprofits, and appoint residents with diverse viewpoints to citizen roles, to ensure they have a chance to share their perspectives.

Why do you love Biddeford? What makes it special?

Biddeford captured my heart when I came here to live in 2016. I met my husband here, and my parents now live just a few blocks away. The city is special for many reasons: because of its fascinating history, the dynamic small business community, and the friendly and resilient people. We have beautiful beaches, public green spaces, and fabulous restaurants. People care about their neighbors here, and they care about the future of their community. I am very proud to be able to call Biddeford home.

 

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