Daniel Parenteau, a business consultant and lifelong Biddeford resident, announced Thursday a bid to unseat incumbent Mayor Alan Casavant in November.

Parenteau said he decided to run for mayor because of his concern about the direction of the city, particularly in the past six months as city hall politics have been dominated by sexual abuse allegations in the police department and stalled contract negotiations with public safety and public works employees.

“I think there is a real opportunity to use where we are today as a gut-check moment and reflect on and gauge how far we’ve come and how far from center we’ve really drifted,” Parenteau said.

Casavant, a retired teacher and former long-term state representative, announced in April that he would seek a third term as the city’s mayor.

The city clerk will have nomination papers available for candidates on Aug. 3. Offices up for election this year include mayor and all seats on the City Council and school committee.

Parenteau, 52, believes the city needs to mend fences between municipal government and residents, and adopt a more citizen-centered government that engages people from across the community. He also would like to lead the city’s efforts to reassess spending priorities and manage growth and economic development.

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“One of the things I’ve heard consistently is the fact that we really need to reassess our priorities and go back to basics in terms of the way we do things such as spending money, budgeting and taking a look at the dynamics and makeup of our departments,” he said.

Parenteau, who has never held elected office, ran unsuccessfully for city council in 2013.

Gillian Graham can be contacted at 791-6315 or at:

ggraham@pressherald.com


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