Author: Randy Seaver

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. He may be contacted at randy@randyseaver.com

Malon returns to Augusta for Biddeford

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

By RANDY SEAVER

State Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford) will soon begin his second term representing a portion of Biddeford in the Maine State House of Representatives.

Malon is one of three lawmakers – all Democrats — who make up the city’s legislative delegation. State Rep. Traci Gere is also returning to Augusta and represents Biddeford’s coastal area and the town of Kennebunkport.

State Rep. Ryan Fecteau was chosen by his peers to reprise his role as Speaker of the House following a two-year hiatus after being termed out of office.

State Rep, Marc Malon

Malon, 42, said he is eager to begin his work in Augusta. He was unchallenged for his seat in both the primary and general elections.

During his first term in office, Malon served as a member of the Labor & Housing Committee, and the Veterans & Legal Affairs Committee.

Although committee assignments have yet to be announced, Malon said he is ready to serve wherever needed.

The 132nd Legislature is creating a new Joint Standing Committee this year. The new Housing and Economic Development Committee is a hybrid from a special committee that was formed four years ago to tackle issues surrounding housing.

“Housing is one of the biggest issues facing Maine right now,” Malon said. “I would love to serve on that committee, but I’ll be happy to serve wherever – whether it’s back to the Labor Committee or Veterans & Legal Affairs.”

Because of his day job as director of party affairs for the Maine Democratic Party, some have question whether Malon can effectively avoid an obvious conflict of interest.

I think our delegation did an outstanding job during the last term, and I’m confident that we are going to hit the ground running.

State Rep. Marc Malon

Malon does not shy away from those conversations, and points to his previous service when he worked closely – and effectively — with several Republican lawmakers.

“I certainly understand why my work for the party may give some people a moment of pause,” Malon said. “But I also think it’s important to note that the bulk of the work we do is very bipartisan.”

In a previous interview, Malon explained the sometimes-subtle differences of what actually happens in the Legislature versus the rather partisan headlines that dominate political discussions on the national level.

“Before I decided to even put my name out there as a candidate, I went to the State Ethics Commission for an opinion,” Malon said last year. “Their opinion was that I could do both. To a certain extent, almost everyone in a citizen legislature faces the same concerns. For example, can farmers objectively serve on the Agriculture Committee and so forth?

“I think my professional experience and time working in the State House as a private citizen actually benefits my constituents. When I got elected, I already knew my way around and understood the procedures.

“My employer does not lobby me on any issue that comes before us. I think they know, and I hope my constituents know, that if it ever came down to it, I would choose my constituents over my job.”

Today, Malon says the Legislature is facing several important issues, most notably what has been described as a housing crisis and the struggles with sharply rising property taxes.

“We certainly have our work cut out for us,” Malon said. “I think our delegation did an outstanding job during the last term, and I’m confident that we are going to hit the ground running.”

Malon says that his close friendship with Speaker Fecteau will be a benefit to his constituents.

“Ryan and I have known each other for a while,” Malon said. “But I don’t expect any special treatment. We’re both going to be keeping in close touch with Mayor [Marty] Grohman and the city council.”

“Once again, I firmly believe that Biddeford will be well represented in Augusta,” Malon said.

Editor’s Note: This is the first installment of the Biddeford Gazette’s Local Legislative Preview. Further installments will be focused on State Sen. Henry Ingwersen, State Rep. Traci Gere and Speaker Ryan Fecteau.

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Moving In Stereo

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

I make my living by stringing words together, but I have always thought that they were just words — tools to build a story or make a point.

Some people, however, get all bent out of shape and very self-righteous if you have the temerity to use a word not sanctioned by the guardians of political correctness.

State Sen. Donna Bailey of Saco is one of those people, always ready to correct you with her vastly superior intellect and unquestionable moral fiber; a proud member of the Semantics Police Department, serving northern York County.

Allow me to back up a bit for context.

Gimme three steps, mister

It was the summer of 1987 when I almost died because of the words I used.

Okay, so that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the rest of the story is painfully true.

I was 23 years old and found myself working on the Cheyenne River Reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota.

Me and some of my students on the res in 1987

I was one of five young men contemplating becoming a Catholic priest. We were sent to the reservation to help with mission work. I was assigned to teach summer school in a one-room schoolhouse on the far edge of the reservation.

It was rewarding work, but I quickly discovered that becoming a priest was not going to be a viable option for me.

You see, there was this smoking hot blond girl from Marquette University who was also working on the reservation that summer. That is a story for another day.

Why I didn’t become a priest

One evening I strolled into a tavern that was located not far from the rectory. I got a few strange looks but no one seemed to mind me being the only white person in the building.

Yes, I instantly felt awkward and out of place. A big part of me wanted to turn and head for the door. That would not be polite, I reasoned. So, I strolled to the bar and took an empty seat.

I ordered a Coors beer and tried to relax. There was a very big man sitting next to me. He was alone at the bar, so I decided to strike up a conversation.

“It must be really hard to be a Native American living on the reservation,” I said.

He slowly turned his toward me and said, “What did you just say?”

For reasons still unknown, I decided to double-down and still felt quite proud of my sensitive, caring nature. So, I repeated myself: “It must be really hard being a Native American on the reservation.”

His eyes narrowed and he leaned forward on his stool, gritting his teeth.

“I am a fucking Indian,” he snarled.

I wanted to cry. I wanted to run. I wanted the 82nd Airborne to come rescue me.

He continued, his eyes locked on mine. “Don’t you ever use those words again,” he sneered. “Maybe it makes you feel better about yourself or the fact that it was your people who raped our women and stole our land, but it’s an insult if you think using pretty words is going to help anyone.

“I am a fucking Indian and don’t you ever forget it.”

I tried to absorb his words, nodding politely. I sat in my seat for a few more minutes.

A few painful seconds of awkward silence passed, and the man to my right let out a sigh and turned toward me once again. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I know that you’re here to help, but it’s just frustrating. As if a couple of words are going to change anything.”

What are words for?

For better or worse, we live in a world where we are now required to walk on eggshells, a never-ending requirement to sugar coat reality and inflate our chests about our moral superiority simply because we no longer use the “N-word,” the “R-word,” or even the “C-word.”

It’s really rather silly how quickly we trip over ourselves without thinking about how perfunctory our conversations have become.

No, I am not advocating for bringing back use of the N-word or any other long since abandoned — or intentionally offensive phrase.

I simply believe that what you do is far more important than what you say.

I simply believe that what you do is far more important than what you say

I think too many of us pat ourselves on the back for using the “right” words, the appropriate pronouns and phrases without doing much else other than pontificating with smug moral superiority about our vernacular.

Earlier this year, I got called to task for using the word “homeless” in my three-part news series about a growing problem in my community. It was a comprehensive series that attempted to dig deeper into a complex societal issue.

None of these “unhoused” advocates thanked me for taking on the issue, for actually interviewing people who are living on the streets. They simply felt the aching need to criticize me for using the “wrong” word.

What did I do? I went back to speak with some of those people I interviewed and asked them their thoughts about my word choice.

They laughed at me. “Who really cares?” one man asked. “I don’t care. I just want to live inside.”

Back to Donna Bailey

Bailey recently won her reelection bid as the state senator representing Saco, Buxton and Old Orchard Beach. She is an attorney and charter member of a political clique that includes former state senator Justin Chenette of Saco and State Rep. Lori Gramlich from Old Orchard Beach.

State Sen. Donna Bailey

These guys work like velociraptors. They hunt in packs.

Earlier this year, when I was working on a story for Saco Bay News, I had a really hard time getting a hold of Bailey. She was reluctant to return my calls, and then told me she had been “really busy.” Hmmm. “Really busy” for nine days?

On election night, while greeting voters headed into the Thornton Academy gymnasium, Bailey could barely bring herself to look at me when I greeted her and wished her luck.

I was not at all surprised by Bailey’s behavior. She keeps an enemies list, and my name is on that list.

One of my closest friends – Craig Pendleton — had decided once again to run against her this year.

Craig got smoked in that election. Bailey won by a large margin, a repeat of an earlier contest four years prior. But she will never forgive me for supporting my friend

Earlier this week, members of the 132nd Legislature went sworn into office. The ceremony is a big deal in Augusta. Lots of media coverage. Everyone is smiling as they prepare to begin another two years of pomp and circumstance.

State Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford) posted a comment on his personal Facebook page, telling us he was honored to represent his district again. Malon also decided to again express his ire about a fellow lawmaker, a Republican from Sanford who is accused of domestic violence.

Malon is also somewhat pissed that the Portland Press Herald repeatedly used the words “choking” and “choke” instead of strangle and strangling in their ongoing stories about this dirtbag.

Marc and I get along pretty well, even though we often disagree about politics. Regardless, I once again had one of his campaign signs on my lawn. I responded to his post saying that I understood his frustration about the scumbag from Sanford, but I also cautioned him against railing a fight on semantics with the state’s largest media outlet.

Within minutes, Donna Bailey decided to also jump into the conversation. Funny – – on this busy day – Bailey had enough free time to chide me about the issue of choking versus strangling.

Being the sometimes-insufferable prick that I am, I basically told Bailey to please take a long walk on a short pier.

Malon – being the only one of good character in this story – ended the conversation by taking down his Facebook post.

Tomato or tomato?

If my wife were to tell you that I intentionally choked her, would you shrug your shoulders and say, “wrong word. Call us back if he strangles you?”

Unhoused versus homeless?

Strangled instead of choked?

Native American or indigenous person?

Woman or menstruating person?

How far down this silly-ass slope are we going to slide until we finally recognize how lucky we are if words are the things we are most upset about?

Words are harmless, it’s how we use them that matters.

P.S. As predicted; Bailey has “unfriended” me on Facebook.

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Song of Toledo

~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

[An open letter to my hyper-partisan Democrat friends]

Apparently, not everyone got the memo, so please allow me to share some rather difficult news.

Before reading any further, be sure to find an appropriate safe place, clutch your emotional support animal and take a comforting sip of your venti-mocha, cinnamon swirl, iced whatever the fuck it is — the cup of coffee that costs more than replacement vinyl siding — and try to get your fragile heads wrapped around this difficult news.

It’s been more than a month. It’s time for you to accept reality:

Image via Shutterstock

You lost the election. Trump won, and he is going to be the next president of the United States.

Now, I don’t necessarily blame you for being upset about this news.

I didn’t vote for the son-of-a-bitch either, but you should know that the reality fairy carries a two by four, and sometimes the truth hurts – but it is still the truth, and the truth often includes difficult consequences that are sometimes hard to swallow.

It’s been 30 days. Your grieving period is over. It is now time for the adults to stand up, brush themselves off and come up with a new game plan for the next battle.

According to my always anecdotal observations, many people would apparently like to be mummified and put away in a self-storage space for the next four years.

For the more affluent among you, another option is just to abandon the burning ship.  Apparently, some of you purchased your first-class tickets for one of the limited number of lifeboats that will carry you to the relative safety of distant shores, where you can safely watch the third-class passengers as they cling for life.

This chicken-shit option really showcases both the hypocrisy and arrogance of the Hollywood elite: Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, George Clooney  and Ellen DeGeneres are able to pick up and simply begin new lives in Portugal, Demark, Iceland or some other perfect country where most everyone is entitled to a mid-day nap while relying on the U.S. military for protection from the bad guys.

But what we really need right now is some people who are actually going to step up their game. These are the times when leaders are born. When character matters most.

When the shit hits the fan, who among us is going to step up? Who is going to lead us beyond self-pity and blaming our neighbors?

For a party that so often squawks about words like “diversity” and “inclusion,” it is stunning to see just how fast the fingers get pointed in an outward fashion.

I have some tough news for you: People living in Philadelphia are Americans. So are the people who live in Topeka, Kansas.

We’re all in this together, and we’re all gonna need to roll up our sleeves and commit ourselves to the prospect of working together, the Democrats, the Republicans and those millions of Americans who shun political labels.

Unfortunately, I’m not optimistic that we will be able to rally, to work across the aisle for the common ground.

But in the meantime, the hard left simply cannot avoid some difficult and very painful questions. Instead of just blaming Trump or his supporters for this situation, it is now time for some painful introspection.

The first question for my liberal friends should be this: how the fuck did we lose to Trump?

It’s sort of like running a marathon and then finishing the race behind a 325-pound, 73-year-old man who eats a dozen donuts every day.

What the hell went wrong?

Some of you describe Trump as the devil-incarnate. I’m not so sure that you’re wrong with the assessment, but for Cripe’s sake, could the bar have been set any lower for you?

The future is never set in stone – and we need (bear with me here) to be open to the idea – the remote possibility — that Trump may actually do something good for the country in the next four years.

Okay. The game season is over now. The other team is walking off the field with the gold ball. What do we do now?

Cry? Throw a tantrum? Abandon ship? Spend the next four years pointing fingers?

Or do we acknowledge that we have some work to do, whether you live in Topeka or Philadelphia.

It is time for Americans to be Americans.

P.S. If you’re going to respond, surprise me and don’t mention Trump.

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A Fork in the Road: Sympathy for the Devil

~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

As Chaucer once said, all good things must come to an end.

And that’s where I find myself today: another fork in the road, another pivot point in my career.

Over the past few days, several people have asked me why I started the Biddeford Gazette, and why I am no longer writing for Saco Bay News.

Some have speculated that I had a “falling out” with Liz Gotthelf, the publisher of Saco Bay News. Nothing could be further from the truth – at least from my perspective.

In fact, I consider Liz to be a good friend, and I very much respect and admire what she has built from the ashes of the Journal Tribune, once this area’s daily newspaper.

With grit, determination and maybe a prayer, Liz launched Saco Bay News only weeks after the Tribune closed its doors forever in 2019. Since then, she has almost single-handedly built her business into an active and respected local news source.

A couple of years ago, Liz approached me and asked if I would be interested in being a contributing writer for her publication. Although I had given up professional journalism many years prior, I thought that the idea would be a good side hustle.

I was already writing a blog about Biddeford politics, and I missed the dynamic ebb and flow of the news business. I would only need to avoid writing about my PR clients.

Liz could not afford to pay me very much, but that was okay. One of the benefits was that she would publish my All Along The Watchtower satire column once a month.

Over the next two years, I wrote more than 140 stories for Saco Bay News, including breaking crime stories, political coverage, feature stories and 12 of my opinion columns.

I gave Liz her money’s worth in coverage, often breaking news stories well ahead of the Portland Press Herald, the Biddeford-Saco Courier and Portland’s television stations.

Liz gave me a lot of latitude, and I like to think that I helped her solidify the reputation of Saco Bay News as a serious and respected news outlet that left no stone unturned.

I was especially proud of an in-depth, three-part series I wrote about the region’s growing problem regarding our unhoused population.

I also received many accolades from colleagues across the state for another three-part series I wrote earlier this year regarding the University of New England’s controversial proposal to build a new, massive pier on the Saco River.

I am an old-fashioned reporter. I ask hard questions and do not shy from controversy, but not everyone likes a reporter with lots of questions, especially those who had become comfortable in an environment of comfortable journalism.

This is where it ends

Things seemed to be going well. Summer was quickly approaching and news stories were popping all over the place.

Writer George Orwell reportedly once said that “journalism is printing something that someone does not want printed. Everything else is public relations.”

That distinction was apparently lost on those who control the campuses of the University of New England and Thornton Academy, a public-private high school in Saco.

The PR folks at both institutions were less than impressed with my reporting of their activities. They didn’t complain to me. They went straight to Liz and suggested that it would be best if I don’t publish any more stories about them.

They didn’t offer any corrections or additional perspective. They just didn’t like the idea of me shaking the bushes. Liz — who had only days before lost her husband to a sudden illness — quickly agreed to their requests. I was not part of the meeting. I was not asked for input or clarification.

I was pissed with the intimidation tactics deployed by both UNE and Thornton Academy, but I also understood that Liz is running a media outlet on a shoe-string budget. She is alone at the helm of the ship. She decided it wasn’t a battle worth fighting.

Fine. Let’s just move on. There’s plenty of other stuff to cover. At the same time, more and more people were reaching out to me, telling me stories of dysfunction at Biddeford City Hall.

For better or worse, I have a reputation for digging up news in places that would rather remain darkened.

Former city councilors, current city employees, former city employees, business people, civic groups and municipal leaders from other communities were all calling and texting me, complaining with one central theme: Biddeford City Manager James Bennett was acting like Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire.

The complaints kept coming. I had people meeting me in my backyard, breaking down in tears as they described what it’s like to work in City Hall, afraid that Bennett would find out they were talking to me.

I never liked Bennett anyway. I had nothing to lose. No one else was willing to step up, so I decided to take on the task, even though by doing so I had to relinquish what I loved: covering Biddeford City Hall.

Liz and I met at Garside’s Ice Cream. I told her that I would begin an organized effort to oust the city manager. Further complicating things, my stepsister had become Saco’s new mayor. I was up to my eyeballs in conflicts of interest. I told Liz that I would still write feature stories for her.

She agreed. I then turned my attention on ousting Bennett. It took me less than eleven weeks before he finally announced his resignation.

But now, with Bennett finally put in place, how am I supposed to be an unbiased reporter again? I can’t, and that’s why I decided to launch the Biddeford Gazette, especially since it was becoming increasingly clear that Liz was pulling further away, wanting to avoid ruffling feathers and steering clear of any controversy.

Liz and I are friends, but we have very different styles in pursuing news stories. Both styles are necessary and equally valid, which is why Woodward and Bernstein made such a good pair at the Washington Post. Liz is more like Woodward, curious but cautious. I’m more like Bernstein, brash and impatient.

A few weeks ago, I pitched a story idea about a high-profile real estate developer filing bankruptcy. She said she was not sure she wanted the story. A couple of days later, she asked if I had any related files. She was giving the story to someone else.

I politely forwarded the files, and Saco Bay News published the story with absolutely no mention of my contributing work. It was now crystal clear to me. It was time for me to move on.

A man of wealth and taste

A few months ago, I started re-reading Outlaw Journalist, a biography of one of my favorite writers, Hunter S. Thompson.

Thompson worked as a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine and several other publications across the country, and he is the one who coined the phrase “Gonzo Journalism.”

Wikipedia describes Gonzo-style journalism as “an approach to news reporting that represents a notable departure from traditional media protocols. Gonzo journalism offers readers a ‘more personal approach’ to news reporting. This style of reporting is not limited by the standards of objectivity and often includes the reporter providing a first-person narrative of the story.”

Common trademarks of Gonzo Journalism include sarcasm, humor and profanity.

I suddenly had what alcoholics describe as a “moment of clarity.”

I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and how I wanted to do it. I am now semi-retired, and I have more years behind me than I have in front of me.

If I’m going to be broke, frustrated and full of discontent, why not move forward on my own terms? Why not write and publish whatever I want, whenever I want?

The Biddeford Gazette is NOT intended to compete with Saco Bay News, the Courier or the Press Herald. I’ll be leaving traditional coverage to them..

In my mind, the Biddeford Gazette will serve three primary functions.

  • We will use social media tools to collect and share news about Biddeford from other media outlets. We will only publish their headlines and provide our readers a direct link to their news site. This gives people in Biddeford, a convenient one-stop destination to find out what’s happening in their community. It also helps other media outlets by driving more traffic to their sites.
  • We will fill some notable gaps in local news coverage by publishing limited, original content in a non-traditional manner, Gonzo Journalism. Unlike other media outlets, we will focus solely on the city of Biddeford.
  • Finally, the Biddeford Gazette will track and monitor the actions and maneuvers of our city’s legislative delegation, something that is not being regularly reported on by existing media outlets.
State Rep. Ryan Fecteau

For example, this week I am working on a story that will provide a preview of the upcoming legislative session and what our Biddeford delegation is planning. We will interview each of them and ask hard questions.

State Rep. Ryan Fecteau has once again been named as Speaker of the Maine House. That’s great news. But is Fecteau skirting at least the spirit of Maine’s term limits law? He already served four terms in the House before moving to a new district a few blocks away from his former home.? As Speaker, can he give his full attention to his Biddeford constituents?

State Rep. Marc Malon

State Rep. Marc Malon is returning for a second term. Congratulations! I put one of his campaign signs on my lawn, but how does he plan to separate his full-time job with the Maine Democratic Party from his service to constituents who might not be Democrats?

Hang on, things are going to be fun. We’re dusting off our keyboards and putting fresh batteries in our flashlights. We’re working for you. If you have a news tip, question or concern, please let me know. biddefordgazette@gmail.com

Cheers!

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Saco’s finance director returning to Biddeford

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

As Biddeford’s municipal finance department continues to face internal challenges, Geraldine Matherne, the city of Saco’s finance director, is poised to become Biddeford’s next finance director.

Matherne previously served as the Biddeford’s deputy finance director for nearly 10 years, between 2013 and 2022 before leaving to take the finance director job in Saco.

If approved by the Biddeford City Council, Matherne will become Biddeford’s seventh finance director in just the last five years.

Sasha Pavlak, the city’s current finance director, was hired several months ago but announced her resignation on November 19. Pavlak indicated that she would remain in her current job until December 31, if necessary.

In her email to members of the Biddeford City Council, Pavlak said the job was not a “good fit” for her.

Although most city operations are running smoothly, the Finance Department has been plagued by high employee turnover and controversies, including delayed tax and sewer bills, delayed vendor payments and other challenges.

The city council is expected to vote Tuesday (Dec. 3) to confirm Matherne’s employment.

According to her resume, Matherne holds a Graduate Certificate in Accounting from the University of Southern Maine and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Endicott College.

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Free Fallin’

~ Randy Seaver ~ 4 Comments

I have never been so ashamed to be a resident of Biddeford, Maine as I am tonight.

What I witnessed during this evening’s city council meeting was a complete and utter failure of leadership, morality and principles.

Tonight, the city council and Mayor Marty Grohman found a way to screw over a local businessman who, ironically, was just trying to help the city help our unhoused neighbors.

Tonight, the city sent a signal to every resident, business owner and potential resident: Welcome to Biddeford! We don’t pay our bills!

Gotta hand it to our courageous leaders. They finally found a way to save taxpayers some money. We just won’t pay our bills.

Sure, Biddeford was recently  featured in Good Housekeeping magazine for its Christmas “vibe.” Even a Boston news station plugged the city as a top destination.

Well laddi, laddi da! Isn’t that precious?

Sip your fucking cocoa, marvel at the white lights strung along Main Street, and poop unicorn dust in the Lincoln lobby, but never forget that this is also a city being run by an incompetent, self-absorbed moron.

Why am I pissed?

If you don’t know him, Jim Godbout is the owner of Godbout Plumbing and Heating, one of the most respected local companies in southern Maine.

Jim Godbout/ File Photo

Jim is, perhaps, one of the most decent, kind, generous and hardworking guys you could ever hope to meet. Earlier this year, I listed him as one of the 20 most influential people in the Biddeford-Saco area.

Godbout is always ready to help the community, and he is damn good at rallying other business leaders to pitch in and make seemingly impossible dreams possible.

For example, Godbout led the effort to save and restore Waterhouse Field. As a recognition for his civic leadership there is a street named in his honor next to the field.

Jim has also been leading the renovations at the former St. Andre Church into a community teen center. He is involved in working with students at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology.

And recently, he again agreed to help the city by providing bare-bones pricing for necessary renovation work at the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Resource Center.

That renovation project was spearheaded and rushed through by Mayor Marty Grohman and City Manager Jim Bennett.

After all, the city needed some good PR after demolishing a homeless encampment on Water Street near Mechanic’s Park earlier this year.

The city wanted to make sure some homeless advocacy group didn’t sue us for removing homeless folks without providing an option for somewhere better where they could safely spend the night.

The city manager assured the council earlier this year that the cost of upgrading the Seeds of Hope Building would be covered by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Yippee! Free money from the federal government, Bennett assured us. Taxpayers will not feel a pinch.

Oopsie! Something went wrong.

Get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy

Apparently, the renovation work at Seeds of Hope proved to be more intense than what the city thought it would be. There were problems with the roof and even bigger problems with windows that were literally falling out of the building.

No worries, the city and its contractors pushed forward. They did a truly awesome job. The Seeds of Hope is now able to serve more people although the demand for their service is exploding.

Once the work was finished, Godbout, following an agreed upon budget cost, sent an invoice for his crew’s work, a total of about $655,000.

But the city found out that they could not use CDBG funds for the project.

And then there was silence.

A few days ago, on Nov. 4, Godbout sent a note and a copy of his invoice to Vassie Fowler, executive director of the Seeds of Hope.

“Vassie, please forward [this invoice] to the city as they had promised the funding for this project and have not come through with anything. I am carrying a lot for them making them look good having a warming center open in time for bad weather. Thanks, Jim.”

Godbout was unavailable for comment at press time, but here’s another glimpse at what kind of man Godbout is.

Godbout told the city that he would settle for $400,000 and go out to the community and run a fundraising campaign to cover the remaining $255,000 balance.

Let me say that again slowly. Godbout – a man who is getting screwed by the city – said he will settle for about 60 percent what was owed to him and would raise the remaining balance by coordinating a community fundraising drive.

So, taxpayers have to come up with $400,000 and then likely be called upon to donate to a fundraising campaign for the project.

Kids, you can’t make this shit up.

And the council bought it. Hook. Line and Sinker.

Although Council President Liam LaFountain made a motion to pay Godbout the full amount, only Councilor Marc Lessard voted in favor of paying Godbout every penny of what he is owed.

In the end, the council voted unanimously for the less painful option, even knowing that Godbout is paying interest on a loan he used to finance the work.

Godbout will get $400,000. He will have to raise the rest from the community.

Imagine when you get your next tax bill. Just tell the city to fuck off. Tell ‘em you’ll pay 60 percent of their debt and have Mayor Grohman open a lemonade stand to make up the difference.

If you don’t pay your taxes, the city will take your property. But if the city owes you money . . . sorry, Charlie.

What kind of message does this send to the larger world? What contractor will ever want to do work for Biddeford? Will this impact our bond rating?

Sure, come to Biddeford, visit the glorious Lincoln Hotel and fart hot cocoa from your ass. But when it gets right down to it. When our backs are against the wall. When there are no more shell games to play, this is a city that doesn’t pay its bills.

No wonder we just lost another finance director after only seven months on the job.

I have been covering Biddeford City Hall for nearly 30 years. This is an all-time low.

Lessard summed up his frustration with yet another of his famous pithy quotes. “I expected the city manager to be driving the car on this issue. Apparently, that car doesn’t have a steering wheel.”

And where was our illustrious lame-duck city manager? Reportedly he was home, still recovering from shoulder surgery.

I am ashamed to be from Biddeford tonight.

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Biddeford loses another finance director, making plans to replace city manager

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

The Biddeford Gazette learned Tuesday that the city of Biddeford is losing yet another Finance Department director.


According to Mayor Marty Grohman, Sasha Pavlak submitted her resignation letter yesterday. Pavlak provided the city with ample notice. Her resignation will be effective Dec. 31, 2024
Pavlak, hired just a few months ago, was the city’s sixth finance director in just the last five years.


Grohman said Pavlak decided that the job was “not a good fit.” The mayor also said, Pavlak was able to accomplish “many good things for the city.”


Pavlak’s resignation follows on the heels of some chaos in City Hall, including delayed tax and sewer bills and “cash flow” issues. In October, Biddeford City Manager James Bennett announced his own resignation, effective April 26, 2025, roughly 16 months before his contract was set to expire.

Grohman said he is optimistic that city can find a well-qualified persons for both positions.
Grohman said the city has issued an RFP (Request for Proposal) in order to hire a national search firm. So far, nine national firms have responded.


On December 10, the Biddeford City Council will host a public workshop to solicit public input about what they want in a new city manager. Grohman said two members of the public will be invited to join selected city councilors in the interview process.

“I think we’re going to land in a good space,” Grohman said, “I’m optimistic. I think we’ll be okay.”

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She’s So Cold: How Trump won

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

Why did Donald Trump win another term as America’s president?

There are a lot of theories floating about. The internet is awash with the observations and analyses of much smarter people than me.

Unlike the professional pundits, I have a unique theory about what caused the outcome of this year’s election: Ultimately, we all want to sit at the cool kids’ table.

More about that theory in a moment.

Here are the top-three reasons why I think Trump won and Harris lost.

  • The Harris campaign was a bit tone deaf and seemed to be playing a constant game of catch-up. The threat of women’s reproductive rights was important, but not the game changer the Democrats were hoping for.
  • Harris got a late start and inherited every negative that always comes attached to the incumbency. Being the incumbent means that you have to play a good defense as well as a good offense; your challenger pretty much has the advantage of focusing solely on offense.
  • Trump stuck to an unwavering and unapologetic basic message. He appealed to base fears. Fear is a primal instinct. Fear keeps us alive. When exploited, fear can be a powerful weapon. Even unfounded fears often outweigh rational conversations about things such as the economy or issues tied to immigration. The Harris campaign embraced “joy” and optimism. Even Democrat strategist James Carville will tell you that sunshine and happiness do not win elections.

The Economy: Good or Bad?

The economy always plays an important role in every presidential election. For better or worse, Americans routinely vote with their wallets, and on this critical issue, the Harris campaign was a bit more than tone deaf.

Despite the messaging that the Trump team kept hammering into the conversation, the reality is this: The nation’s economy has been performing well over the last several months of the Biden Administration. Both NASDAQ and the Dow Jones Average broke earnings records. Unemployment numbers hit historic, single-digit lows.

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) increased. The deficit decreased, and retail gasoline prices were lower under the latter part of the Biden Administration than they were during the final months of the GW Bush Administration. In fact. Major oil companies including Exxon/Mobil, Chevron and Shell posted record profits during the last six months of the Biden Administration.

So, with all that information, how could Harris possibly lose because of the economy? Because her campaign was tone deaf.

Last year, Vice President Harris – while stumping for Biden — told a crowd of supporters in Iowa that most Americans are only one paycheck away from being homeless. At the very same time, President Biden was bragging about how strong the economy is. The Democrats were trying to play both sides of the fiddle.

But if all the main factors point to a rather healthy economy, why did Team Harris lose on this issue?

Because too many Americans are worried about the economy and the lingering effects of stubborn inflation. Groceries cost more today than during the last few months of Trump’s first term in office.

The cost of gasoline, heating oil and basic utilities are all higher today than they were under Trump’s final months in office.

Sure, we all know the secret of Trump’s success in driving down prices during the last year of his administration: It’s Covid, stupid!

The global pandemic squashed demand for many items, consequently prices dropped.

On an intellectual level, most of us understand the basic economic concept of supply and demand but what we feel in our hearts is often stronger than what we know in our brains . . . and Trump pounced on that, like a crocodile with a gazelle in its jaws.

Talk to a single mother working in the service sector. Ask her if she is better off today. Tell her about the NASDAQ, the deficit and low unemployment. It’s quite likely she does not have a 401K or savings of any kind. She is worried about the rising cost of daycare. She probably doesn’t care about the GDP or bull markets.

Trump took a page from the Reagan handbook, repeating that famous mantra over and over and over again: Are you better off today than you were four years ago?

Voters see spiking rates of homelessness in their own communities while others are struggling to pay skyrocketing housing prices. Those in the middle class are not immune from economic worries. Soaring college tuition rates are just one more piece of the puzzle.

The Democrats stuck with the “Building Back Better” message while many voters were bracing for the upcoming heating season. During the final weeks of the campaign, Team Harris rolled out their vision for economic assistance targeted at those on the lower end of the economic scale.

But that message was muddled while Trump’s message was clear. “You struggled less when I was president.”

The cool kids’ table

But it wasn’t just the economy nor the tapping into widespread concerns regarding immigration where the Harris campaign was tone deaf.

Democratic mayors in several large cities were begging for federal relief to keep pace with a skyrocketing number of immigrants seeking asylum and residency in the United States.

Again, the Harris campaign underestimated American fears and concerns. Essentially, they stayed silent on this issue until it was too late.

But all of this doesn’t factor as much as my theory about the cool kids’ table.

Yes, the economy, immigration and reproductive rights were all big issues, but it was resentment that secured Trump’s double-digit success.

I have a theory about human nature. Basically, everyone wants to sit at the cool kids’ table in the cafeteria. But here’s the rub, for most of us this is an out-of-reach dream and that lays the foundation for resentment.

Harris didn’t do much to court the center right vote.

While Trump was using the economy and immigration fears to court the center left, Harris spent too much time focused on her base, despite last minute pleas in Pennsylvania (fracking) and Michigan (auto industry).

This next part is going to be especially hard for Democrats to read, but if they want to win big again, they will need to address their own sense of entitlement and their not-so-subtle messages of elitism.

Those center-left and center-right voters in rural America are all too aware about how they are mocked and dismissed by the liberal left. I’m talking about the “fly over states.”

They read what you post on Facebook. The only time their concerns matter is during the final weeks of a national election. They hear the condescending platitudes about how much it must suck to be poor; about how the federal government is here to save them. They’ve heard that same song and dance for generations.

Elitism? Really? Yes.

In fact, just two days after their decisive loss, liberal voters took to social media to blast those who voted for Trump.

One meme that was widely shared claimed that 54 percent of Americans read at or below a sixth-grade level. “That explains a lot right now.”

Others were clearly puzzled and left shaking their heads and began sharing a meme that said most of those who didn’t vote for Harris are in the wrong economic category and should have voted instead for someone who cared for them.

The condescending messages were spreading like wildfire. It never really occurred to the liberal elite that a poor person may actually be more concerned about things other than government assistance.

Nope. Those kids don’t get invited to the weekend party. They hear the laughs and sniggering whispered behind their backs. But they are a lot smarter than so many on the left give them credit for.

Those kids don’t sit at the cool kids’ table. Those kids are angry and feel ignored.

The left was banking on identity politics. How could Black and brown Americans vote for Trump? How could gay people vote for Trump? How could women vote for Trump?

I don’t know the answers to those questions, but I do know that Democrats better spend some time coming with some answers.

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Won’t Get Fooled Again

~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

What’s going on with the University of New England and its plan to build a new pier on the Saco River?

Why is the university worried about a small time, mediocre reporter and the stories he writes about the proposed pier?

I don’t know how to answer those two questions.

But here’s what I do know: I’m not going away. I’m not giving up. In fact, I’m about to turn up the heat on this particular story.

On the day after last week’s election, I was feeling a bit glum and somewhat overwhelmed, so I decided to take a break and watch one of my favorite films, All the President’s Men.

For those of you who don’t know, the 1976 film was about two intrepid reporters from the Washington Post – Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward — who ultimately forced the resignation of President Richard Nixon at the height of the Watergate scandal.

Watching the film again, reminded me of just how hard and frustrating it is to be a reporter, whether you’re working for the Washington Post or the Biddeford Gazette.

Throughout history, governments, large corporations and powerful individuals have all sought to control the press; to push their own narrative and maintain secrecy. Sometimes stonewalling a reporter works.

Sometimes it doesn’t.

John Mitchell, President Nixon’s attorney general, threatened Katherine Graham, publisher of the Washington Post, during the Watergate scandal in 1972.

Mitchell warned the reporters, the editor and even the publisher of the Washington Post: “Katie Graham’s gonna get her tit caught in a big fat wringer if that’s published,” Mitchell said.

The Washington Post did not back down, even though many other newspapers were nervous or reluctant to dig deeper into the scandal at that point in time.

Let’s pause here for a moment.

I am not Carl Bernstein. Saco Bay News is not The Washington Post. And my stories are much, much less than microscopic when compared to historic stories such as Watergate or The Pentagon Papers.

I am just a semi-retired, overweight, underachieving, middle-aged, bald man with very few of his original teeth left and no college degree. (In fairness, Carl Bernstein also never earned a college degree).

So, if you stop and think about it, why should anyone at the University of New England give a rat’s ass about anything I write? What are they afraid of?

You better, you better, you bet

Earlier this year, I learned about the University of New England’s plan to construct a new pier on the Saco River.

Just a few weeks later, Biddeford City Manager James Bennett quashed both the city’s harbor master and the assistant harbor master from the regulatory review process.

When I contacted Bennett about his move, he told me it was done in order to prevent “bias.”

I got to work on my first story about the proposed pier, which was published by Saco Bay News on May 25th.

As the story continued to unfold, I wrote follow-up stories about the controversy. You can find all three of those stories by clicking on this link.

Just days after my third story was published, a representative from the university reportedly contacted the publisher of Saco Bay News and told her that “it would be best if Randy Seaver no longer wrote stories about the university.”

The University of New England (UNE) won. They got me bounced from the story . . . or did they?

Although you’re not going to see any more stories written by me in Saco Bay News about UNE’s pier, I am actually just beginning my effort to bring public awareness and transparency to this issue.

UNE’s attempt to silence the media has backfired. They can now expect an amplification of coverage on this issue.

You can’t handle the truth!

Reporters are trained to ignore rhetoric and focus on facts. If you read any of my prior reporting about UNE’s proposal, you will see that each article is balanced, fair and focused on facts.

That is the same approach I am taking here. I decided that once and for all, I wanted to see and explore some facts for myself.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to take a boat tour of the Saco River near the proposed location of the university’s pier.

I was not the only one invited to take this tour. Every member of the Biddeford City Council was given the very same opportunity. Every member of the media in southern Maine was also given the same invitation.

So far, I am the only journalist or Biddeford city official who has ventured onto the river to discover for myself what the hard data shows about adequate water depths.

It was an eye-opening experience, to put it mildly.

Below is a short video of what I learned during my tour near the base of the Saco River. I have also created a separate page on this blog site to gather and publicly share information about this topic.

My advice to the university and the city of Biddeford is this: Brace yourselves. I will not go gently into that good night. I want facts and transparency. This is not the end of my reporting.

It is just the beginning.

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Running To Stand Still

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

While most political pundits and prognosticators in Maine are laser focused on the presidential and Congressional races, I am taking a more local approach and invite you to join me in thinking about the legislative races here in Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach.

Between now and Election Day (Nov. 5), you can expect to hear a lot more about the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.

Donna Bailey (D)

Here in Maine, many political junkies will also likely be closely watching what is expected to be a very tight contest for the Second District Congressional seat between incumbent Democrat Jared Golden and Republican challenger Austin Theriault.

Incumbents Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) and Sen. Angus King (I) are virtually a lock for reelection.

But what about the local races, the contests being fought by people you might actually bump into at the grocery store?

Maine Senate Races (Saco, OOB & Buxton)

Craig Pendleton (I)

This year’s contest for the District 31 State Senate Seat is basically a rematch of four years ago between incumbent Donna Bailey of Saco, a Democrat, and Craig Pendleton of Old Orchard Beach. This year, Pendleton is running as an independent. He ran as a Republican in 2020. And lost to Bailey, 13,266-11,007.

Bailey has both the party and incumbent advantage. Northern York County typically  leans strongly Democrat and voter turnout is expected to be higher than normal, given the national elections. Pendleton has an uphill battle in this race. (Disclosure: Craig is a longtime friend, and I have endorsed him in this race.)

(Biddeford, Arundel and Lyman)

Henry Ingwersen (D)

It’s virtually no contest in State Senate District 32. You can expect incumbent Democrat Henry Ingwersen of Arundel to breeze into victory for a second term. Republican challenger Alfred Schulz is barely putting up a fight and running what appears to be a nearly invisible campaign. Two years ago, Ingwersen easily outpaced Republican David Corbett, 9,676 to 7,209 for his first win.

Maine House of Representatives:

In Old Orchard Beach (District 131), I expect Democrat Lori Gramlich to easily win re-election for a fourth consecutive term in this year’s rematch with Republican Scott Eccleston. In their last matchup (2022), Gramlich easily outpaced Eccleston, 3,170-1,789. Expect a similar result this year.

Lori Gramlich (D)

In Saco’s District 129 House race, former city councilor Marshall Archer, a Democrat, is making his first run for state office. He is unopposed and will replace outgoing Democrat Rep. Maggie O’Neil who is facing term limits.

Another rematch will be taking place In Saco’s District 130 House race. Incumbent Democrat Lynn Copeland will once again face a challenge for a third term from Republican Ted Sirois. In 2022, Copeland beat Sirois by a healthy margin, 2624-1619. Again, you can expect a similar outcome this year.

Scott Eccleston (R)

The Biddeford House races are about as ho-hum as you can get. Democrat Marc Malon is unopposed for a second term in District 133. Former House Speaker Ryan Fecteau bought a new house and is now planning to make a triumphant return to state politics, unopposed in District 132. That seat is being vacated by Democrat Erin Sheehan who announced earlier this year that she would not seek reelection.

In fact, the only contested race in Biddeford will be a rematch between incumbent Democrat Traci Gere and Republican challenger Elizabeth Jordan for the District 134 seat, which represents Biddeford’s coastal neighborhoods. In 2022, Gere cleaned Jordan’s clock, 910-476.

Lynn Copeland (D)

And that’s a wrap. I will step out on a limb and say that I predict Malon and Fecteau to win their respective elections in Biddeford. I also think Ingwersen will probably win over ghost candidate Schulz.

I think it’s also safe to that Archer will win his seat in Saco, especially since he is unopposed. I’ve got $20 that says Gramlich will easily win a fourth term in Old Orchard Beach.

The only race to watch is the rematch between Bailey and Pendleton for the District 31 Seat. Who knows?

Ted Sirois (R)

Regardless, thank you to ALL of the candidates willing to represent us in Augusta. Please remember to vote on Tuesday Nov. 5!

Traci Gere (D)
Elizabeth Jordan (R)

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