Category: BLOG POSTS

Commentary that has not been published elsewhere.

Unsolicited advice for a young candidate

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Although I am no longer working as a political/PR consultant (Thank Christ), I still find the subject matter intriguing, especially when it’s literally taking place in my own back yard.

Today, I am pretty much consumed with running the Biddeford Gazette, a non-profit media outlet hyper-focused on covering the city of Biddeford.

As part of our ongoing news coverage, the Gazette is beginning its coverage of this year’s various legislative and county races in the Biddeford area.

I am currently working on a preview piece about the race in State Senate District 32, which includes Biddeford and its surrounding communities of Arundel, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman.

The seat is currently held by Henry Ingwersen, a nice enough guy and a retired beekeeper from Arundel.

Ingwersen — a Democrat who is hoping for a third consecutive term — serves as chair of the Health & Human Services Committee and also serves on the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee.

Ingwersen is today facing challenges from at least two lesser-known candidates, Jason Litalien, an unenrolled Biddeford attorney and political newcomer John Salamone, a Republican who recently moved to Hollis from Portland.

I personally know both Ingwersen and Litalien, and I will be writing much more as we continue the march toward the Nov. 2026 election, but today I’m focusing on the reportedly brash GOP candidate trying to make a splash in the sleepy hamlet of Hollis,

Ingwersen
Litalien
Salamone

According to his social media accounts, Salamone is a “digital creator,” just like thousands of 16-year-olds on Tik-Tok.

His campaign website is fairly standard: it’s clean, easy to navigate and provides detailed information about the candidate’s policy concerns. But there is one rather glaring, missing piece of information: There is no contact information. Zip. Zero. Nada. Zilch.

Do digital creators just communicate via telepathy?

If you’re a candidate for public office, don’t you want the media — and voters — to be able to contact you?

Look, let’s get real. I’m an old-school hack born on the cusp between Boomer and Gen. X.

My own websites — this blog and the Biddeford Gazette’s landing page — are both rather perfunctory and pedestrian– not a lot of pizazz. Web site design is not my forte, but I do know enough to have a visible “Contact” link.

Call me old school, but most people still enjoy using email, telephones and text messaging.

Finally, on a somewhat unrelated note, who is advising this guy? His campaign photo shows him scowling and not looking at the camera (translated: not looking at potential supporters) He comes across as an angry millennial about to kill the neighbor’s dog.

Like I said at the top, my days as a campaign consultant (an 82.3% win ratio) are behind me. So, what do I know?

Good luck to Mr. Salamone, but maybe you should try cracking a smile and don’t make it so difficult for us pesky journalists to contact you.

_______________________

Randy Seaver is a nearly insufferable malcontent living in Biddeford, Maine. He is a veteran journalist who has been annoying politicians, pundits and his peers since 1981, when he served as an unpaid student intern at the former Journal Tribune. He is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette, a non-profit digital media outlet that focuses on the city of Biddeford. Send your praise or angry comments to randy@randyseaver.com

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‘Nooner’ sleeps with the fishes

~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

Dammit! Feeling devastated. I just learned (via social media) that my best friend in Oregon, Tim “Nooner” has died.

This one really hurts

It was the early 1990s. I lived alone in Portland, and often felt isolated, nearly 3,000 miles away from my family and friends.

Tim and I were co-workers, he was a semi-reformed hippie with a hearty laugh and a wide smile. He had an awesome sense of humor and was a skilled woodworker, originally from Eugene, Ore.

He was a few years older than me but took me under his wing and befriended me almost from the first moment I arrived as a transplant from Nashville, Tenn.

The first thing he said to me was, “you don’t talk like a southerner”

I told him I was originally from Maine. He lit up. “That’s fantastic!” and then gave me a bear hug.

He introduced me to The Acropolis, a local steakhouse that was also a . . . (If you’re from Portland, you know where I’m going with this.) I was blown away. It became a favorite haunt.

Tim and I would passionately argue about politics. He was pretty far left and struggled with my Libertarian perspectives, but man we had a good time.

_______________

“You can’t go through

life broke and bald.”

__________________

He accompanied me as I explored Oregon’s coast during long weekends. I fell in love with Cannon Beach and Lincoln City. It always felt so weird to see the sun set on the ocean. It took me a while to get used to that.

It was during my time living in Oregon that I wrote my first novel (self-published). The Upper Deck Dreams. Tim read an early draft and said he found it fascinating and troubling.

“You need to lighten up,” he laughed. “We need to get you laid.”

A little more than a year after I arrived in Oregon, Tim was helping me pack. “You need to go home,” he said. “Keep writing and do your best to make more money at it.” You can’t spend the rest of your life broke and bald.”

Fuck. I miss you Tim a.k.a Nooner. Give the angels hell, my friend.

P.S. I’m still bald and broke, but having lots of fun

__________________________

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The NFL lied. You’re not special

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

To say that I was less than impressed with many of the ads featured during Sunday’s Superbowl matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots would be a gross understatement.

But there was one ad that stuck out as especially insipid, defying common sense and serving only to bolster one of our nation’s biggest challenges.

No, I’m not talking about polar bars discovering that they actually prefer Pepsi over Coke.

I’m talking about a rambling 30-second public service announcement that was brought to us by none other than the NFL.

The You Are Special ad was unapologetically lifted right from the lips of the Mr. Rogers’ television show and featured Michael Strahan and Christian McCaffrey singing the silly song and deluding the minds of millions of American children.

Let’s stick with the good Superbowl commercials (Photo: Washington Times)

Although intended to be a warm and fuzzy reminder that we should always promote “unity and community,” the ad supports the feel-good notion from the NFL’s Inspire Change Program that “everyone is special.”

The irony of people — who make millions and millions of dollars by throwing and catching a leather ball — telling the rest of us that “we’re all special” is almost too much for my diseased brain to handle. I honestly thought I was going to have a stroke.

According to my leather-bound dictionary from Brown University, the word “special” is defined as follows: “distinguished by some unusual quality.”

Unusual quality. Think about that for a moment.

If we’re all special – as the NFL tells us – then none of us are special. You simply cannot be special if there is nothing unusual about you, nothing that sets you apart from the masses.

And that’s okay. Pull the shotgun out of your mouth. The world needs average, ordinary people like you and me.

We have a whole generation of entitled brats each believing that they are special simply because they have mastered the art of inhaling and exhaling.

Let me put this another way.

I made a point of mentioning that my dictionary is from Brown University. No, I didn’t attend or graduate from Brown. In fact, I dropped out of both the University of Southern Maine and Boston University in less than 90 days.

I doubled-down on my academic accomplishments by then enrolling in and also quickly dropping out of the Sacred Heart School of Theology in Wisconsin.

Bown University is special, especially when compared to a school like USM. People are willing to pay a lot more to attend Brown than USM. Both schools are not equal.

In fact, I’m almost positive that the University of Southern Maine doesn’t publish its own leather-bound dictionary with gold-leaf pages. Maybe they have something available online. I don’t know.

Let me be perfectly clear. There is nothing wrong with the University of Southern Maine. I wish I had graduated from USM. I really regret never getting an undergraduate degree.

A lot of very good and smart people graduated from USM. But I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts that most of those students would have gladly accepted a transfer to Brown, Bowdoin, Dartmouth or Harvard.

There is special. And there is ordinary. We should all learn the difference.

As I said, the world needs ordinary people; people who aspire to do special things. Doing something special requires hard work, commitment and practice.

Ordinary people can – and often – do special, extraordinary things. But we’re not all special. Special is not a birthright. It’s something you have to work for.

______________________

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Christmas Chaos 2025: You’re Invited!

~ Randy Seaver ~ 2 Comments

The Christmas holiday is right around the corner.

What does that mean?

For a lot of people, it means stress, extra work and financial strains. For others, it means awkward obligations to attend family events.

On the other end of the spectrum, many people are facing the prospect of being alone with no place to go on a day that is supposed to be merry and bright.

Well, let go of that stress and let’s make Christmas fun again!

You are now invited to the ninth annual Seaver Christmas Chaos Event on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. This is a free, community event with zero obligations, no expectations and no formalities!

There are no strings attached, no gifts, no expectations. Just fun, laughter and camaraderie. Stop by for an hour or two or stay the entire day.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. we will open a fully-stocked bar and my famous Bloody Mary Cocktails that include giant shrimp and bacon. Plenty of soft drinks and other beverages will also be available.

Appetizers, including Laura’s world-famous stuffed mushroom caps, deviled eggs, spicy meatballs, shrimp, finger sandwiches, baked spinach balls, pickles, crackers and chips. will be available throughout the day.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE: We will not do a sit-down dinner this year. We want flexibility for our guests and give Laura more time to enjoy the festivities.

Thus, there is NO need to RSVP. Come when you like, leave when you want.

You are welcome to bring a guest (or two, or three . . . whatever. This is a dog-friendly home. Each year, we have more participants, the more, the merrier.

This is a great way to decompress and have some fun. You don’t need to bring anything. If you choose, however, we will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Biddeford Food Pantry.

Come meet new friends and see old friends! This event gets more popular each year. We look forward to seeing you!

WHEN: December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day) 10:30 a.m. to midnight.

WHERE: 23 Lamothe Avenue, Biddeford, Maine.

COUNTDOWN TO NEXT YEAR’S EVENT:

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CHRISTAMS CHAOS 2026

Hey, Mick! I got some satisfaction!

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Many moons ago, Mick Jagger and the boys made a whole lot of money singing about a lack of satisfaction.

But on this particular weekend, I am feeling nothing but satisfaction, patting myself on the back for a job well done and celebrating the one-year anniversary of when former Biddeford City Manager James Bennett finally ran out of excuses and found himself no longer able to play the proverbial victim card.

Former Biddeford City Manager James Bennett performing as a Shriner’s clown

Yup, it was one year ago, when Bennett found his back against the wall. The growing public pressure had grown to a critical mass. Even Mayor Marty Grohman and former mayor Alan Casavant could no longer defend the egomaniacal tyrant who ran City Hall as his own personal kingdom.

On October 15, 2024, Bennett finally conceded defeat. See Spectrum News story

Looking back over the course of my career in journalism and public relations, there are a few professional achievements that stand out. Moments when I can say, “yeah, I did that.’ Moments that still bring me a sense of pride and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Getting Jim Bennett out of City Hall was one of those moments.

I had absolutely nothing to gain by dedicating myself to Bennett’s ouster. I was not being paid. In fact, I had to give up being a reporter for a few months to avoid a glaring conflict of interest.

I created The Bennett Files and was relentless, hammering away almost daily at the city manager cloistered in his fortress of solitude at City Hall. I interviewed people across the state. I pored over media reports that followed Bennett’s 40-year-career in eight different communities. I filed FOIAs. I pressured city councilors.

I was dogged and relentless. I was a man on a mission.

What drove me was the stories people shared with me. I heard from municipal officials from all over Maine. I heard from investors who were considering business deals with the city of Biddeford. I heard from former employees and current employees. Current and former city councilors. The stories were always the same.

I remember meeting with one employee in my backyard. They were shaking and on the verge of tears while telling me an all-too familiar story. We were meeting in my back yard because this person feared that Bennett would fire them if he found out they were talking to a reporter.

Marty Grohman was not happy with me. He pulled me aside at a Chamber of Commerce event in July 2024. He was frustrated. “Why are you doing this to me?” he asked, trying to defend the city manager who seems to leave every job he’s held under a cloud of doubt.

It’s no secret that former mayor Casavant and I are good friends. I ran Alan’s campaign in 2011 and 2013. We’re still friends, but that friendship was strained because Alan was one of Bennett’s biggest supporters. In fact, Alan made it a priority to consistently push for Bennett’s contract to be extended in three-year increments.

I risked friendships and a job in my pursuit of getting Bennett out of Biddeford.

I risked friendships and a job
in my pursuit of getting
Bennett out of Biddeford.

And now — one year later — I can tell you with confidence that it was worth it.

Truc Dever, Biddeford’s new city manager, is a breath of fresh air. She is the exact opposite of Bennett. She is curious and she listens. She is friendly and transparent. She does not run rough-shod over the council. She is accountable and ready to lead. She is a coach, not a bully.

I swear to God, you can almost literally feel the difference when you walk into City Hall today.

Sadly, Dever, Grohman and many others are still cleaning up the mess that Bennett left behind more than eight months ago. The city finally showed some courage and showed Bennett the door on February 20, two months ahead of his “phased” resignation.

Bennett did NOT retire. He resigned in the middle of his contract, leaving a $15,000 retention payment on the table.

He had no choice. He was finally exposed, leaving the city’s finances in disrepair with a blistering report from financial auditors.

Four months after being terminated, Bennett demanded nearly $1,000 in reimbursements for his performance as a Shriner’s clown in other communities this summer. Folks, you can’t make this shit up.

Bennett has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging that the city violated his contract. The city answered by pointing out several questionable things that Bennett did during his stint in Biddeford.

Make no mistake. Jim Bennett has big balls. Unfortunately, taxpayers — you and me — are still paying for his mistakes, mismanagement and out-of-control ego.

But let’s focus on the good news, Jim Bennett is finally gone.

You’re welcome.

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved

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I’ve got a Golden ticket

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Once again, it would seem that many of Maine’s most ardent Democrats cannot see the forest for the trees.

And that’s saying something, especially since Maine is the most forested state in the country.

Matt Dunlap, Maine’s former secretary of state, decided to end his four-day titillating tease, ceasing the media foreplay — will he or won’t he — make a primary challenge against incumbent Rep. Jared Golden, a much more moderate Democrat?

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (photo: Wiki Commons)

Maine’s Second Congressional District offers a virtual smorgasbord of political ideologies. Despite the common misconceptions of southern Maine folks, CD2 is not just a swath of God-fearing, gun-toting and Bible-thumping rednecks, it is also home to progressive enclaves such as Belfast, Lewiston and Bar Harbor.

Over the last four years, Golden has figured out how to saddle the district that is almost evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.

Victories for Golden have been hard fought and razor-thin, but never since winning his first election to the U.S. House in 2018 has Golden been challenged by his own party – – – until now.

Less than a year ago, Golden eked out his re-election campaign with only 50.3 percent of the vote over Republican newcomer Austin Theriault, who lost by a little more than 3,000 votes with 49.7 percent of the vote,

Folks, federal elections don’t come much closer than this.

But that was 2024, when Trump supporters were campaigning with a fevered pitch. Still, Golden held strong and put on a clean flannel shirt for the cameras on Election Day.

Golden won his first term as a U.S. Representative in 2018, facing incumbent Bruce Poliquin. That race was telling. Golden won, but it was no landslide: 50.9 percent to 49.4 percent.

For a while, it seemed that Maine Democrats had learned their lesson, suffering back-to-back losses in CD2 when progressive candidate Emily Cain was propped up by her party to take down the evil Poliquin. The short, balding guy with a creepy grin beat her twice, in 2014 (45.2 percent) in a three-way contest; and again in 2016 (54.8 – 45.2 percent)

I believe it was the 2016 election when Democrats were finally willing to admit that a more moderate approach would be needed if they wanted to capture Maine’s Second Congressional District.

In fact, Golden – though acting like a political maverick right out of the gate – did not face a primary challenge in 2020, 2022 and in the 2024 race.

But many Democrats said they were simply holding their noses when casting a ballot for Golden. The balance of power in Washington was shifting. Republicans had gained a lot of ground.

“For a while, it seemed that
Maine Democrats had learned
their lesson”

Every seat mattered.

According to several of my sources within the Maine Democratic Party, the Dems realized that they had to forsake the perfect to get the good.

But enough is enough, I suppose.

Enter Matt Dunlap and the Golden ticket he apparently found in a Wonka chocolate bar.

Will there be a test?

From all accounts, Dunlap is a decent guy. He is affable, a bit quirky and probably never sat at the cool kids’ table in the high school cafeteria.

Sure, he is currently Maine’s auditor and previously served as Maine’s Secretary of State (both appointed positions by the Legislature) but it seems as if there is not a lot of meat on his 61-year-old bones.

State Auditor Matthew Dunlap

Let’s face facts. Dunlap is hardly a heavy hitter. But his party has called him up from the JV team and coordinated a press conference.

Here’s a fun fact: Dunlap was elected Maine State Auditor by the Maine Legislature and took office on January 4, 2021, but had to give up the position after failing the exams needed to meet the requirements of his new position.

He did later meet the requirements and was selected for the position again on November 14, 2022.

I’m a boy, and I’m a man

Golden, it seems, has gone a bit too far in being a moderate. He consistently refuses to toe the party line all the time. He must be held accountable.

With Trump in the White House, the last thing Democrats want is a representative who is willing to reach across the aisle. You know? A consensus builder . . . a, what do you call it? . . . oh yeah, an “Independent.”

But here’s the deal. Maine is really a purple state.

Former Maine Governor Paul LePage

Chellie (I’ll stay in D.C. until I die) Pingree is a progressive Democrat, and she’s not going anywhere, despite the incredibly stupid move by now Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman who ran as an Independent and tried to beat her.

Yeah, that didn’t work out so well.

Susan Collins, a Republican, is chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. She is going nowhere. Maine’s other senator won’t even call himself a Democrat even though he votes with the Democrats more than 98 percent of the time.

On the heels of Trump’s 2024 victory, Maine Republicans are betting on former Governor Paul LePage to finally knock Golden from his perch.

Trump did well in Maine’s CD2 last year. As expected, Harris won Maine’s 1st Congressional District while Trump won Maine’s 2nd Congressional district.

For Democrats, the question once again becomes are you going to sacrifice the good for the perfect?

If so, I think you’re making a big mistake. But what do I know?

_________________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved

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Doppelgangers: Is it just me?

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Is it just me? Probably.

Here is a short list of actors and actresses I am forever confusing with one another.

Gerard Butler
Russell Crowe
Emily Blunt
Kate Winslett
Chris Pine
Chris Pratt
Brad Pitt
Val Kilmer
Peter O’Toole
Richard Harris
Daniel Radcliffe
Elijah Wood

How about you?

Which celebrities do you often mistake for one another?

Crazy, homeless people: What do we do?

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Originally published in the Bangor Daily News, September 23, 2025

A homeless encampment in Biddeford that was cleared by the city in 2024 (Seaver)

In a lot of ways, I am probably a lot like you.

I am a middle-aged, married white guy with a mortgage and a modest home in a quiet residential neighborhood with well-manicured lawns and friendly neighbors.

I love living in Maine. I have two grown children. I adore my dog, and I am blessed to have many good friends. I fret about rising property taxes, and it feels as if I am eternally engaged in thermostat battles with my wife.

I work hard, follow the law and pay my taxes. I drive a late-model Chevy Silverado pick-up truck and enjoy camping at both Rangeley and Moosehead lakes.

But there is another part of me that you would likely never guess unless I told you.

From the outside, my life may look almost idyllic or at least average, run-of-the-mill, but I have to work to maintain this stability and my outward appearance.

For more than 40 years, I have struggled with a wide range of mental health issues, from bi-polar depression and severe anxiety to raucous bouts of schizoid-affective disorder.

I recognize and accept my responsibility to manage my mental health, but it’s not always easy. Some of the medications I take affect everything from my libido to my weight. I am one of the lucky ones, I have a good psychiatrist.  I also participate in regular counseling with a therapist. My insurance covers the bulk of my prescription costs.

Although hidden from the public view, there is a toll, and I sometimes feel as if my illness is a burden on my family, especially my wife, who is my greatest support and the person who ensures that I am taking my meds as prescribed.

As a young adult in my early 20s, I struggled with stability on every level. My employment was erratic. The few relationships I had were chaotic. At three different times, I found myself homeless, living on the proverbial outer edge of society.

I was reluctant to take medications. I did not want to be controlled or – as I saw it – poisoned by society. I did a lot of couch surfing. I even landed in jail for assaulting a police officer.

I was in and out of various psychiatric facilities both on a voluntary and involuntary basis. I got in trouble with the Secret Service for talking about what I would like to do to President Reagan in 1984.

Flash forward more than 40 years.

Just like you, I was shocked, saddened and angry about the brutal, senseless killing of a young woman on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina last week.

She did not deserve that fate. Her family did nothing to warrant such tremendous loss and heart-breaking grief.

How do we comfort them? How do we reconcile the fact that millions of Americans are living on the edge of society, saddled with a significant illness and a stunning lack of resources?

How do we handle our anger? Our resentment?

Sadly, I do not have any answers. I know that my friends on the political right talk a good game about mental illness in the wake of every mass shooting, but then suddenly get quiet when it comes to legislation that requires increased funding for mental health services.

Just like you, I was shocked, saddened
and angry about the brutal, senseless
killing of a young woman on a commuter
train in Charlotte, N.C. last week.

Meanwhile, my friends on the political left talk a lot about community-based care, often forgetting that there are some people who need to be involuntarily hospitalized.

While I do not have any answers, I do know this: we cannot afford to sacrifice our humanity and our shared sense of decency and compassion.

Our national dialogue has become so vitriolic that a major television network commentator can publicly suggest involuntary euthanasia for homeless people who refuse mental health treatment.

Think about that for just a minute or two.

Set aside the 14th Amendment if you need to.

There is a large group of people in this country who heard Mr. Kilmeade’s statements and simply shrugged.

I was a homeless person who often refused treatment. Did I deserve to be put to death for refusing to take medications?

Have we fallen so far that we are now willing to even entertain the notion of rounding up and killing some of our most vulnerable citizens?

If so, just remember that so-called solution will require rounding up people who look and act a lot like you and me.

_________________

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He regularly blogs on issues regarding mental health and his own journey toward recovery. E-mail randy@randyseaver.com

Randy Seaver | God of Biddo?

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Brace yourselves. Find a comfortable seat and maybe grab some popcorn.

I have some shocking news to share, and this blog post may trigger certain emotional reactions.

From what I am told, some people in Biddeford do not like me very much. Shocker! This has been hard news for me to process and absorb. So please bear with me.

It was only three weeks ago that someone suggested that I was the “God of Biddo.”

What went wrong?

A lot of this criticism is rather recent and mostly comes from people who were likely still wearing diapers when former Biddeford Mayor Jim Grattelo tried to have me fired as editor of the Biddeford-Saco Courier in 1999.

I am no different than any other Biddeford resident. Some people like me; some people don’t like me. It goes with the territory when you have a recognizable name in a very small pond.

Travel more than two miles beyond Biddeford’s city limits, however, and my name recognition drops off sharply. Very sharply.

Although it’s plainly obvious why so many people like me. (I’m ruggedly handsome, clever with a razor-sharp wit and pretty easy to get along with)

People who don’t like me think I am an arrogant, pompous ass with poor cognitive skills and a lack of ethics.

So, which narrative is true? Duh! The latter one, of course.

In fact, the tagline on my personal Facebook page reads: “Randy Seaver is a cranky, nearly insufferable malcontent living in Biddeford.”

The God of Biddo?

For reasons I cannot fathom or explain, a relatively large number of people in Biddeford seem to think that I have some mystical power, and that I somehow control or dictate public opinion.

For Pete’s sake, I constantly lose my wristwatch. I am bald and overweight, and I sometimes forget to put in my partial dentures before I leave the house. I am also not very bright, as we’ve discussed earlier in this post.

Is this really the stuff “gods” are made of? I hope not. Because if so, then we have really lowered our standards.

According to my more recent critics, I often blur the lines between the three hats I wear: a.) Randy Seaver, the person and blogger; b.) Randy Seaver, one of four admins on the Biddeford-Saco Community Facebook page; and finally, c.) Randy Seaver, the editor and chief bottle washer at the Biddeford Gazette.

Which hat should I wear?

Let’s quickly break down these three roles I play, one by one.

The blogger: Yup, I am fifth-generation resident of Biddeford. I have a journalistic advantage because I know a lot of people and grew up here.

I write this blog to vent about national politics, public policy issues and to share stories regarding my battle with a significant mental illness. I have been doing this since 2011. I am also a semi-retired public relations consultant. I have no clients in Biddeford. I am married and have a dog, two cats and two adult children.

Still with me?

Secondly, yes, I am one of four admins in a very popular Facebook Community Group. When our team was asked to take over the group on July 31 last year, we had roughly 16,100 members. Flash forward one year, and we now have more than 25,000 members.

It would appear that we’re doing something right, but we also enforce the same group rules that were in place when the group was originally started.

Do I often post stories from the Biddeford Gazette on that community page? You bet your sweet ass I do. I’d be crazy not to.

But here’s the deal, I also post every story and announcement I find about the community and link those stories to their original source.

I recently did a rough count. During the months of June and July, I shared 41 stories from the Gazette on that page. During that same time period, I also published 37 stories from other news sources, including Saco Bay News, the Biddeford-Saco Courier, the Press Herald and WGME-TV.

When I see news about Biddeford, I share it, regardless of where it comes from.

Still with me?

I am also the editor of the Biddeford Gazette, a media outlet I formally launched in January. The Gazette is not intended to dominate local news, rather fill gaps in media coverage about Biddeford.

Do I have a little bit of fun and practice Gonzo Journalism with the Gazette? Sure sometimes.

I don’t make one red cent from the Gazette. No paywalls, no advertisements. No paid subscriptions. I do it because it is my passion; because I truly love Biddeford.

Every newspaper editor on the planet controls what is or is not shared on their pages. It’s no different with the Gazette.

The Gazette is so much more than just another platform for Randy Seaver. Every week we publish obituaries for free. Does that strike you as personal self-promotion?

Every newspaper editor on the planet
controls what is or is not
shared on their pages.
It’s no different with the Gazette.

Every week, I hunt down and offer stories to highlight and support local businesses for our Taking Care of Business section. Unlike some politicians, I don’t feel the need to take pictures of myself when promoting downtown businesses.

The Gazette has a citizen advisory board for the sole purpose of gathering and exploring constructive criticism and feedback about our efforts.

The Gazette also encourages and regularly publishes articles, columns and opinion pieces from our readers.

Most recently, the Gazette started a feature to highlight pets waiting for adoption at the local shelter. All of that takes work, time and commitment.

I am proud of the Gazette’s in-depth reporting such as our three-part series regarding the city’s housing issues and our recent partnership with The Maine Monitor.

Do I push the envelope a bit with my opinion pieces? Yup, but otherwise we take great pains to make sure our news coverage is accurate, balanced and fair.

You don’t like me? I don’t care.

Join the I Hate Randy Seaver support group that meets weekly at the former armory on Franklin Street in Saco, ironically almost directly across from the house where I grew up between the ages of seven and 15. (Note: this is satire. I do not actually know where that group meets).

Buckle up, because until my horrible diet, sedentary lifestyle or severe sleep apnea send me to my grave, I’m gonna keep writing. And I’m never going to stop.

If you can’t have a little bit of fun, why bother?

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Is King Kong a racist?

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

Some people see racism around every corner, while others dismiss those concerns, arguing that racism is virtually non-existent since passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

I find those two extremes equally silly, but I’m not so sure where this blog post falls on that racism spectrum.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a huge fan of the King Kong movie franchise.

Kong really digs blonde chicks

As a very young child, my fascination with monsters and science fiction had me enraptured with the original 1933 film, starring Fay Wray as Kong’s love interest.

The first major studio remake — released in 1976 — drew me in even deeper. I was 12 years old. I still sometimes think about those images of Jessica Lange frolicking on a tropical beach wearing only cut-off shorts and a skimpy top.

Jessica Lange starred in the 1976 remake of King Kong

In short, that 1976 film became a coming-of-age movie for me. If you’ve seen it, you know what I mean. It was the first time I saw a woman’s breasts revealed – no matter how briefly – on film.

Jessica Lange about to do a breast scene while sitting in Kong’s outstretched hand.

There have been a lot of remakes and variations of King Kong, but Peter Jackson’s 2005 version came closest to capturing the essence of the original man v. nature classic.

All three of these films follow a common theme: beauty calms the savage beast.

Spoiler alert: in all three films, Kong dies a tragic death after being riddled with bullets from passing planes – first, atop the Empire State Building; and then from atop of the World Trade Center in 1976; and finally — again from the top of the Empire State Building in the final film version of 2005.

Naomi Watts revived the character of Ann Darrow
in the 2005 remake of King Kong

All three films share some very common themes that run the gamut of modern-day social issues: corporate greed, natural resource exploitation, abuse of indigenous people, animal cruelty and sheer human folly.

But all three films also have something else in common.

They each appear to be rather racist, both in their narratives and filming.

In all three movies, Kong is portrayed as a rather lonely dude living on a remote, uncharted island surrounded by Black natives who are invariably living a primordial existence without all the trappings and benefits of the technologically advanced white folk explorers.

Kong sees a white, blonde woman
and almost literally loses his shit
with equal parts fascination and lust.

Kong seems bored with the regular sacrifices given to him by the natives who revere him as a mighty and potentially vengeful god.

But then – for various reasons in each film – Kong sees a white, blonde woman and almost literally loses his shit with equal parts fascination and lust.

Wow! What is this? What have I been missing all these years?

In each film, it is the native people who abduct the white woman because they somehow “know” that Kong will – like most gentlemen – prefer blondes.

Look, don’t get me wrong. I still enjoy watching all three of the main King Kong films, but it does seem strange that right up until 2005 the movies have an unmistakable racist bent.

Can you imagine an uncharted tropical island where the natives are white and they offer their resident beast a Black woman to satisfy his cravings? Can you imagine if these Black explorers were technologically and intellectually superior to the white natives?

Some people complain about a noticeable absence of Black people on television shows such as Seinfeld, Friends and Happy Days. Are those shows racist? I don’t think so. But I do know this:

For nearly a century, Kong has been getting his heart broken by a white chick.

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Randy Seaver is a cranky, nearly insufferable malcontent living in Biddeford. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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