In July 2024, I made it my personal mission to have Biddeford City Manager James Bennett removed from office. I succeeded.
Bennett publicly announced his resignation during the Oct. 15, 2024 Biddeford City Council meeting. He said he would retire on April 16, 2025, more than a year before the end of his contract. The city council decided to oust him earlier, showing him the door on Feb. 20, 2025.
Bennett has filed a lawsuit against the city of Biddeford. That suit is now pending in York County Superior Court (Docket YORSC-CV-2025-98)
Below, you will find out why I gave up my job as a reporter, and what motivated me to begin my campaign to get Bennett out of Biddeford City Hall.
BACKGROUND: James Bennett was hired by the city of Biddeford in June 2015. Beginning in the early 1980s, Bennett worked as a professional manager for several other communities throughout Maine, including Westbrook, Lewiston, Presque Isle, New Gloucester, Old Orchard Beach and Dixfield.
Read more about Bennett’s professional background
RED FLAGS IN BIDDEFORD: Beginning in 2019, whispered concerns about Bennett began circulating throughout the community. The city experienced rapid staff turnover, including department heads. Most notably, the city went through six finance directors during a five-year period.
READ MORE ABOUT THE RED FLAGS RAISED DURING 2024: CLICK HERE
Complaints about Bennett began emerging from several sources, including City Hall employees, former employees, city councilors, former city councilors, business leaders, civic organizations and elected officials in nearby communities.
Other concerns included delayed audits of the city’s finances, reports of vendors and contractors not being paid on time, delays in General Assistance reimbursements; delays in property tax and sewer bills and reports of returned checks. Bennett consistently blamed others for those problems.
In June 2024, the Biddeford City Council voted unanimously to hire an outside accounting firm (BerryDunn) to conduct a forensic audit and analysis of the city’s finance department. Bennett had been acting as the city’s treasurer because that position was vacant.
A few months later, the city was forced to abruptly cut off grant funding for an ongoing renovation project at the Seeds of Hope, a non-profit agency that serves the community’s unhoused population. The lead contractor was not paid the money he was owed. Several weeks later, the council voted to pay the contractor from another part of the city’s budget.
One year later — on June 17, 2025 — the Biddeford City Council received a blistering report from an outside accounting firm regarding the overdue FY 2023 audit. Accountants from Runyon, Kersteen & Ouellette told the council that they found “several serious deficiencies” in how the city handled its finances, including an absence of cash reconciliations and mismanagement of federal grant money that was awarded to the city.
BENNETT’S CONTRACT: Only months before he was finally ousted, the Biddeford City Council voted to renew Bennett’s lucrative contract with the city for another two years. Highlights and details of Benett’s contract can be found here: Bennett Employment Contract
COMMUNITY COMPLAINTS: In the months leading up to his resignation, several disturbing stories about Bennett’s management style began to surface. Former and current employees described him as an “iron-fisted control freak” with a history of angry outbursts and temper tantrums.
Investors and business leaders said Bennett was demanding, difficult and obstinate. Municipal officials in nearby communities said Bennett would often ignore calls and concerns from other community leaders.
MEDIA STORIES PAINT A DISTURBING PICTURE: Beginning in early 2024, Bennett became more brash and outspoken. He was unapologetic and unwavering in his opinions and public remarks. During a February 2024 council meeting, Bennett advised councilors not to ‘waste their time” with officials in the neighboring city of Saco.
VISIT OUR MEDIA ARCHIVE: For a list of recent media stories about Bennett, go here.
LESSONS IN MEDIOCRITY 