The Long Goodbye

A reporter recently asked me why I put so much effort into a campaign to oust Biddeford City Manager James Bennett from City Hall.

I thought about my answer carefully.

As I said during that interview and elsewhere over the last few days, Jim Bennett was well-qualified to be Biddeford’s city manager. During his nine-year tenure, he accomplished several good things for the city.

But along with his skills and qualifications, Bennett brought something else to the city: a storied reputation for ruffling feathers in other communities that hired him; a reputation of a quick temper and a dismissive personality.

Unlike the three previous city managers in Biddeford – and unlike all of the other city managers that I have observed over the last three decades as a reporter – Bennett had a brash personality and an ego that was both easily bruised and always on full display.

During an interview earlier this year, I asked Jim if he wanted to “walk back” or provide context for comments he made during a public meeting about the neighboring city of Saco.

He bristled and said, “I am a guy that says what he means, and means what he says.”

There was no sign of contrition. No attempt to smooth over and repair the anger his comments created on the other side of the river.

It was not the first time that Bennett lost his temper in public. As I began to dig deeper, a clear pattern began to emerge. It was not just city employees who complained about Bennett’s temper and demanding management style.

I heard the same stories from people in other communities; from business people trying to accomplish projects in the city, even from non-profit civic groups. The stories were varied, but the theme was constant.

Bennett presented himself as an iron-fisted arrogant bully.

On Tuesday evening, I sat in the back row of the council chambers, listening as Bennett announced that he would resign his position in April. He described it as a “phased retirement.”

Until the very end, Bennett was trying to massage reality and morph it into something that fit his narcissistic personality.

Let’s be real. Bennett made his announcement Tuesday for just three reasons: 1.) He is smart. 2.) He saw the writing on the wall; and 3.) He really had no other choice.

Bennett had worked out a deal that would allow him to leave Biddeford gracefully, without another black mark on his resume.

You don’t “retire” halfway through your contract. You don’t walk away from a planned $15,0000 retention bonus that would have been paid in 2026.

Much like Richard Nixon’s “concession” speech after losing the 1962 California gubernatorial race, Bennett was bitter and somewhat defiant with his remarks to the council and viewing audience.

A defeated Nixon lashed out at members of the press in 1962.

“But as I leave you, I want you to know—just think how much you’re going to be missing. You don’t have Nixon to kick around anymore. Because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference.”

 

A distorted view

True to form, Bennett distorted reality and painted a picture of a victim with a long-suffering wife who had been subjected to frequent moves across the state as Bennett’s career meandered from town to town since 1986.

But it was Bennett who made the choice to pick up stakes and move eight times over the last 40 years. No one forced him to move or to accept any position.

Other parts of his farewell notice were simply galling and might work for someone who had only recently moved to Biddeford. But for those of us who were here long before Bennett arrived (and will likely be here long after he is gone) some of his comments were just laughable.

Bennett told a tale of a city that was in chaos when he was hired in 2015.

What he didn’t mention was that chaos was driven by external forces outside of City Hall; by citizens upset regarding allegations of sexual abuse by a former police officer.

That chaos had nothing to do with then City Manager John Bubier or anyone else at City Hall. However, the more recent chaos that has consumed City Hall was generated by internal management miscalculations and hubris.

Bennett also said the city’s financial standing “is as strong as it’s ever been.”    I almost choked and literally had to leave the room to regain my composure.

In recent weeks, there have been multiple stories about vendors and creditors not being paid on time. There have been reports that city-issued credit cards were declined; checks had been returned. The audit was nearly two years overdue; general assistance reimbursements had not been filed for months.

The city had to spend up to $300,000 earlier this year to hire an outside accounting firm to conduct a forensic analysis of the many problems in the finance department. In fact, the city is now on its sixth finance director in the last five years.

Does that sound like financial stability to you? Are you freakin’ kidding me?

During his rambling, sometimes incoherent remarks, Bennett also told a tale of how he guided the revitalization of the city’s reputation and its downtown area.

“ . .  .while there was momentum towards making change, there was no centralized plan to a theme to achieve that,” Bennett said.

I immediately thought of people like Doug Sanford, former mayor Wallace Nutting, residents such as Renee O’Neil and businesspeople such as David Flood. I thought of all the people who labored for years to rid downtown of a trash incinerator.

I thought about all the work done by so many people to chart a new course for Biddeford’s downtown. All those efforts – all those accomplishments – all that hard work — was underway years before Prince Bennett arrived on his white steed to save us from ourselves with magic fairy dust and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

As former city councilor Richard Rhames told me during a recent interview: The revitalization of downtown Biddeford was inevitable. Market pressure and changing consumer trends is what fueled Biddeford’s revitalization.

Jim Bennett deserves very little credit for that transformation.

When things get tough, when his back is against the wall, Bennett plays the victim card.

“If I’m equally responsible for everything that’s wrong with the community, I’m equally responsible for everything that’s gone well,” Bennett said.

As I told the reporter who interviewed me, Jim Bennett has done some good things, but it’s now time for him to leave.

The bully finally got what was coming to him.

Never miss another installment of Lessons in Mediocrity! Subscribe today for free!