Former School Committee member expresses interest in Biddeford Council seat

Dominic Deschambault, a former school committee member and current board member of the Biddeford Housing Authority, has reportedly expressed interest in being appointed to fill the Biddeford city council seat that was vacated last week by Julian Schlaver.

The Ward Five seat represents the downtown area.

Deschambault said he contacted the mayor two days ago to express his interest, and the mayor has not yet acknowledged his request for consideration. Mayor Marty Grohman did not confirm whether he has heard from Deschambault of any other citizens interested in the Ward 5 City Council seat.

“The Council President [Liam LaFountain] and I plan to interview everybody who expresses interest, and we hope to hear from Ward 5 residents who are interested in contributing to their community by being part of the Biddeford City Council,” said Grohman in an email this afternoon. “It is hoped that we will have a proposed appointee for the full council to consider by May 7, but that may depend on availability during a very busy budget season.”

Deschambault, 39, is currently employed as a customer service manager. He said he is hoping to bring a measure of stability to the city.

“I want to be a level-headed voice on the council,” Deschambault said. “I don’t have an agenda. I personally know many members of the council, and I believe that I can contribute positively to our really great team of councilors.”

He served two terms on the Biddeford School Committee, said he does have concerns about a “high rate of employee turnover at City Hall.”

“I want to make sure that local government remains both transparent and responsive to the public,” Deschambault said. “I’m really hoping that the mayor will consider my interest in serving on the council.

Deschambault is the son of former state senator Susan Deschambault. Susan Deschambault was Grohman’s opponent in the Nov. 2023 mayoral election.

Randy Seaver is a cranky, nearly insufferable malcontent living in Biddeford. He is a retired newspaper editor and the principal of a small strategic communications consulting firm. Randy Seaver can be contacted at randy@randyseaver.com.