Marty’s Top Priorities

1. Veterans: I am proud to be an honorary lifetime member of the only Vietnam Veterans of America post in the State of Maine right here in Biddeford. As soon as I’m elected I will appoint a Mayor’s Veterans Task Force to connect the veterans in our community together.
2. Taxes. The mil rate is going down, dramatically, as the Council has done a good job updating commercial valuations to take some pressure off residential. But we need to be wiser and more efficient to cut costs for our residents. As a former business leader and CEO, I focus on listening to employees, taking their suggestions for cost savings and efficiency, and implementing those solutions.
3. Climate Change: I am a founding member of Biddeford's Climate Change Task Force. And as the chair of the Recycling and Waste Management Commission, I also was a key driver behind setting up our recycling program. I will support the work of the Climate Change Task Force, always looking for solutions that reduce costs, reduce pollution, while protecting our environment.
4. Parking: I'll stand up to the operator of the downtown parking garage and force them to clarify their policies. The garage is a headache. It's only $2/hr to park, but it's maddeningly difficult to figure out how to pay. Plus, the tickets are way too high, and it must be easier for those without smartphones to pay. Stated another way: if you stay 15 minutes too long, why isn't it another $2? Instead, it's $65. I went on Channel 8 and Fox 23 to tell the story, and I oppose further stabilization payments until we have resolution of this matter. And it seems to be working. The owners and operators of the garage will be meeting with City Staff to discuss improving payment systems and making them easier, a key first step.
5. Supporting those in Recovery: I am a passionate advocate for those in recovery. I originated the Recovery Workforce Job Fair concept and as your Mayor I will promote reentry programming, and access to both recovery residences and health care, for those recovering from the disease of substance use disorder, including the unhoused. I will support Seeds of Hope to allow them to offer recovery, health care, mental health, and career support services, to break the cycle of living on the street. This is one of most difficult problems and will be a primary area of focus.
6. More sensible work with developers: there are more than 1250 new apartments & condos being built in Biddeford as you read this, but ironically, the City doesn't have a great relationship with our most effective affordable housing developer, the Biddeford Housing Authority. I will work to change that. And I'll work to bring clarity, speed and predictability to planning board decisions, so we can help developers create good housing for Biddeford without standing in their way. And new development should be good for neighborhoods throughout Biddeford, not just focused on the downtown.
7. Bike Friendliness: We want to ride our bikes, and kids want to walk or bike to school. I will advocate for improvements to intersections like Five Points, Hill and West (near JFK Kindergarten), and Biddeford Crossing (near Target) so getting around Biddeford on a bike or on foot is easier. Thoughtful changes to signage and sidewalks will also improve our connection to the Eastern Trail -- an amazing resource to walk and ride a bike with your family, but one that is much too hard to bike to.
8. University of New England: this remarkable university is located in our midst in Biddeford, but we do not do enough to integrate the Biddeford community together with it and take advantage of all this partnership has to offer. As one example, as mayor I will push for our BHS students to be much more involved with UNE as they develop careers in which the university offers degrees, such as athletic training; and will encourage students to visit our downtown businesses, and for visiting parents to learn their way around all of Biddeford, not just the University.