Biddeford Mayor Martin Grohman lost his bid for re-election and voters chose to spend $26 million in needed upgrades to the city’s sewer system and recreation facilities Tuesday.
Biddeford City Council President Liam LaFountain beat Grohman by a slim margin, 2,626 -2,414. City Councilor Normal Belanger came in third with 1,273 votes.
“I thought it was going to be a close race, and it ended up being very close,” LaFountain said.
LaFountain said he is mainly concerned with finishing his term as city council president before taking office on Dec. 2.
LaFountain also thanked his opponents.
“Anyone stepping up to serve, I appreciate them doing so,” LaFountain said.
Voters approved two major funding referendums Tuesday
Question 1, which asked for $20 million for an ongoing sewer separation project, passed 4,708-1,497.
Voters also passed Question 2 –– a $6 million bond for needed recreation facilities upgrades –– 3,984-2,221.
Voters also selected city councilors in six contested races. Of those, only Dylan Doughty in Ward 4 was running for re-election. He got 430 votes, beating his challenger, Bobby Mills, who received 340.
In the other contested council races:
- Patricia Boston won Ward 1 over James LaBelle, 610-217;
- Abigail Cioffi-Woods won Ward 2 over John McCurry Jr, 381-289;
- Jacob Pierson won Ward 6 over Roger Hurtubise, 562-381;
- Brad Cote won Ward 7, which is being vacated by LaFountain, over Samuel Pecor, 581-375.
For the at-large seats, Marc Lessard won re-election with 3,005 votes, while Lisa Vadnais won the other seat with 3,766. Challenger Nasreen Sheikh-Yousef came in third with 1,897.
For school committee, voters chose Amy Clearwater (2,718); Meagan Desjardins (3,242); Michele Landry (2,799); Marie Potvin (3,175); Timothy Stebbins (3,044); Karen Ruel (2,486); and Emily Henley (2,667).
Of those, Desjardins, Landry and Potvin were incumbents. Fellow incumbent Andrew Chad Barrs lost with 1,970 votes, along with Stephanie Edwards (2,360) and Jessica Cinquegrano (1,971).