Biddeford City Council members Liam LaFountain and Norman Belanger are running against current Mayor Martin Grohman in next month’s election.
Last week, Biddeford-Saco Now talked with each candidate about what they think are the most pressing issues facing Biddeford, and what they hope to accomplish if elected.
Liam LaFountain
Why did you choose to run for Mayor?
Biddeford stands at a turning point. The choices we make today about housing, education, infrastructure, and public services will shape our city for decades to come. Serving as City Council president has given me a unique opportunity to work with residents across Biddeford, as well as with councilors, the mayor, and city staff. This experience has reinforced the vital role the mayor plays in setting the agenda for the future and ensuring that decisions reflect the values of the people who live here.
I am running for mayor to guide Biddeford’s growth with purpose and to keep the public interest at the center of every decision. My vision is a city where people can afford to live, work, and age with dignity without being priced out or left behind. That requires restoring public trust, making government more transparent and accountable, and ensuring that development reflects residents’ priorities rather than outside interests. Biddeford deserves leadership that listens, plans responsibly, and uses data to guide decisions.
What relevant experience do you have?
My professional background is in public policy and finance. I work in healthcare policy, where I navigate complex regulations, develop strategic budgets, identify cost-saving opportunities, and plan for long-term sustainability. This experience has shaped how I approach public service by relying on data to inform decisions, evaluating outcomes carefully, and ensuring that every policy choice keeps people and the public interest at its core.
I was first appointed to the Recreation Commission, where I learned the mechanics of city government and the importance of collaboration and listening to residents. From there, I was elected twice to represent Ward 7 on the City Council and subsequently chosen by my fellow councilors to serve as council president. Their confidence reflects my commitment to accountability, transparency, research, and responsiveness.
These same principles should guide how Biddeford plans development, communicates with residents, and addresses long-term housing needs. I intend to bring that same thoughtful, data-driven, and constituent-centered leadership to the mayor’s office.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Biddeford right now?
When I speak with residents, one theme rises above all others: affordability. It takes many forms— property tax bills that continue to rise, rent increases that outpace wage growth, and the growing costs faced by local businesses as they try to stay open. Yet the concern remains the same: people are working hard to stay here, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet.
Affordability begins with how we budget, balance revenues and expenses, and decide whose interests our financial choices serve. Too often, the burden falls disproportionately on property owners and tenants, while tax breaks and financial incentives are extended to developers and projects that fail to reflect the city’s priorities or deliver broad and meaningful public benefits.
As a city, we must be more judicious in how we use taxpayer dollars and financial tools, ensuring they advance affordability, strengthen our tax base, and meet Biddeford’s long-term needs. Every financial decision must support a city that remains within reach for those who call it home.
What are a couple of other issues you hope to address in your first few months as mayor?
Some of the most valuable aspects of Biddeford today, such as Clifford Park, our historic downtown infrastructure, and public access to the water, like at Gilbert Boucher Beach, exist because earlier generations took a long view. They balanced immediate needs with what would best serve residents for generations to come. That same foresight and stewardship are what we need today, beginning with listening to residents and planning alongside them.
However, residents often become discouraged or disengaged due to a lack of trust and follow-through. My priority as mayor will be to restore transparency and rebuild public confidence in city hall. These are not abstract goals; they are the foundation for every kind of progress. When Biddeford residents can rely on accurate information, clear communication, and consistent delivery on the basics of local government, we can plan more boldly and more effectively for the future.
A government that listens and earns trust can think strategically, manage growth responsibly, and ensure that the next generation inherits fewer challenges, not more of the same.
Why do you think Biddeford residents should vote for you?
Biddeford is changing quickly, and residents deserve a municipal government that keeps pace without losing sight of who we are. What our city needs now is leadership that listens, plans carefully, and delivers on the fundamentals that matter most.
I grew up here, and I understand both the pride residents feel in our city and the frustration we experience when our government falls short. There is great wisdom in the people of Biddeford, and the mayor does not lead alone. The mayor’s role is to collaborate with residents to reflect their experiences, concerns, and hopes into the city’s policies and direction.
I am not one to make empty promises; I make plans that are rooted in transparency, accountability, and practical problem-solving. We cannot control what happens in Augusta or Washington, but we can ensure that Biddeford’s government works for its residents. I humbly ask for your trust and support to continue building a city that works for everyone who calls Biddeford home.
Norman Belanger
Why did you choose to run for mayor?
As a lifelong resident of Biddeford, I believe it is important to give back to the city to the extent that you can. Biddeford experienced a rebirth over the last decade or so. However, over the last couple of years that growth and rebirth have plateaued with increasing tax rates and a loss of trust in the city government and staff. I am running to try and maintain that renaissance as well as establish a climate of trust and openness with our citizens.
What relevant experience do you have?
I have been a city councilor for nearly nine years, with a term as council president. During the majority of that time, I was an active participant in the city’s rebirth as well as a steadfast proponent of increased citizen input. I have spent my entire working career as a business lawyer, including 34 years operating my own firm. My council service, work experience and small business practice have honed my skills as a mediator and a problem-solver who is able to work with all viewpoints to try to achieve working solutions for the city.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Biddeford right now?
The most pressing issue is the need to find a way to keep tax increases in check. The city in the last few years has not shown the ability to prioritize spending requests in a way that recognizes that all such requests cannot be fulfilled without overburdening the taxpayers.
What are a couple of other issues you hope to address in your first few months as mayor?
In my first few months as mayor, I hope to (1.) finalize the Comprehensive Plan and get it approved by the state, (2.) add more opportunities for dialogue between citizens, the mayor and the council, (3.) make sure that before issues are presented to the council for consideration, the materials necessary to decide on those items are provided to the citizens and the council far enough in advance to allow for an informed decision and (4.) find ways to integrate the city’s Climate Action Plan into the decisions made by the city.
Why do you think Biddeford residents should vote for you?
I believe that citizens should vote for me because I bring an in-depth understanding of the workings of the city, a reputation for integrity and openness, and a proven track record of working with fellow councilors, city staff and citizens to achieve the goal of improving our city.
Martin Grohman
Why did you choose to run for mayor?
I ran for mayor because I love Biddeford. I met my wife Amy here and we raised two great kids here, Hannah and Henry. This city has come so far, and I wanted to help keep that momentum going — to make sure our growth continues and that Biddeford stays a place where people can have a successful career and raise their families. I also knew I could bring people together to solve tough problems, like housing and homelessness, with practical, cost-saving yet compassionate solutions. And I felt it was time for new leadership in city hall.
What relevant experience do you have?
I’m the youngest of eight kids raised on a dairy farm, a former state representative, and a local business founder who built and ran a manufacturing company right here in the Biddeford Industrial Park. That background taught me how to balance budgets, create good jobs, stay tough, and get results. As mayor, I’ve worked hard to keep Biddeford growing responsibly — supporting housing development, adding 278 acres of parks, expanding recovery programs, and making city government more transparent and accessible.
We’ve hired a new city manager and a new finance director. We have new, three year contracts with our union partners at the fire department and public works, giving us stability we haven’t had in years. We closed the Mechanics Park homeless encampment. It had gotten so big that it had its own map point on Google Maps. Instead, we’ve housed 70 people so far this year through my Homeless Huddle approach. We added a Veterans Committee that has been doing great work, and a Sustainability Commission that’s finding ways for the city to save money while reducing pollution.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Biddeford right now?
Rising property taxes and housing affordability are the biggest challenges we face. We’ve made progress with hundreds of new apartments and homes built or underway, but we still need more options for families and seniors. The key is to keep adding housing at all levels while making sure our neighborhoods remain safe, vibrant, and well-served by infrastructure and schools. And I want to work with the council to stop passing property tax increases and make the sensible cuts I’ve proposed.
What are a couple of other issues you hope to address in your first few months as mayor?
I want to improve city services so they’re the highest quality at the lowest cost. In my next term, I want to keep improving how we help people struggling with homelessness — by continuing our Homeless Huddle partnership and expanding access to recovery and mental health services with increased street outreach so that people feel safer downtown and at the library. I also want to focus on strengthening our schools, investing in public safety — including fully staffing our excellent police department — and finishing long-term infrastructure projects like stormwater upgrades.
And I love music and public art. It brings a little light and inspiration into your day and makes us Biddeford proud … even better if it involves our students and school art programs. Lastly, I want to get the grant funding to finish refurbishing the big sign at Five Points, and other projects that beautify and improve Biddeford.
Why do you think Biddeford residents should vote for you?
Because I listen, I care, and I get things done. I’m independent and I’m proven. Under my leadership, Biddeford is growing, our schools are thriving, and we’re tackling big challenges with common-sense solutions. I’m not interested in partisanship, out of left field policies or finger-pointing — I’m focused on continuing Biddeford’s success story. We’re on the right track and I want to keep it that way.