Alan Casavant greets voters outside Tiger Gymnasium at Biddeford High School on Tuesday. Casavant won a fourth term as the city’s mayor in the election, easily outdistancing a number of write-in opponents. ED PIERCE/Journal Tribune
Casavant received 3,497 votes and turned back write-in challenges from Jason Litalien and Karl R. Reed Jr. who combined to receive 372 write-in votes, and last-day undeclared write-in candidate Bob LaRose, who received no offical votes because he did not declare to run officially with the city. A total of 523 ballots were returned blank in the mayor’s race.
Signs on a lawn near Maplewood Avenue in Biddeford show opposition and support for a number of issues and candidates. ED PIERCE/Journal Tribune
During his time as mayor, Casavant has focused on the city’s continued economic development, which was boosted significantly folloiwing the city’s purchase of the Maine Energy Recovery Co. in 2012.
He’s also been a staunch advocate for beautifying the city’s downtown mill district, which is a region of the city that’s experienced rapid growth recently.
Along with teaching U.S. history, Casavant also taught global studies, American studies and psychology at Biddeford High School, retiring before running for his first term as mayor in 2011. He’s also served as a state represenative and a Biddeford city councilor and was the council president during the 1980s.
BIDDEFORD CITY COUNCIL
Incumbent Biddeford City Councilors Michael Ready (Ward 7), Marc Lessard (At-Large) Stephen St. Cyr (Ward 3), Norman Belanger (Ward 6), Robert Quattrone (Ward 4), Victoria Foley (Ward 5) and Laura Seaver (At-Large) were re-elected Tuesday after running unopposed.
In contested races for Biddeford City Council, Ward 1 incumbent Michael Swanton received 368 votes to defeat challenger Kathleen Russell who received 244 votes.
Biddeford City Council President John McCurry Jr. received 243 votes to defeat William ‘Bil’ Moriarty (162 votes) for the Ward 2 seat.
BIDDEFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Seven individuals were chosen by voters to serve on the Biddeford School Committee.
Running unopposed in the election were Dennis Anglea, Vassie Fowler, Anthony Michaud, Dominic Deschambault and Karen Ruel.
In Ward 3, incumbents Lisa Vadnais (3,041 votes) and Crystal Blais (2,637 votes) turned back a challenge from newcomer Jerry Tremblay (2,489 votes) to return to seats on the School Committee.
STATE REFERNDUM QUESTIONS
Question 1 (casino) was rejected by Biddeford voters, 2,933 to 1,425.
Question 2 (Medicaid expansion) was approved by Biddeford voters, 2,800 to 1,361.
Question 3 (state constuction bond) was approved by Biddeford voters, 3,124 to 1,200.
Question 4 (constitutional amendment) was approved by Biddfeord voters, 2,640 to 1,549.
Biddeford City Clerk Carmen Morris said that 4,393 voters cast ballots in the election Tuesday out of 14,208 registered voters in the city. That amounts to a 31 percent turnout.
— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com
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