Residents in Biddeford made a couple of things clear when they cast their ballots on Election Day this week. One is that they supported the re-election of Mayor Alan Casavant, and by a substantial margin – over 1,000 votes.
But that vote also sent a message, one that was not on Tuesday’s ballot. In sending the incumbent back for a third term, citizens effectively voiced their approval for a more civil form of government, which has been championed by Casavant in recent months as City Council meetings have devolved into lewdness and disorder.
Casavant believes, as we do, that civility is a necessary ingredient to effective government.
Which is not to say that his opponent, Daniel Parenteau, was an advocate for such behavior. No credible candidate would support the brazen flashing of middle fingers, which regrettably has occured during recent public meetings.
Consider, though, that Casavant, as the sitting mayor, has been caught in much of the crossfire. The unrest has been inspired by allegations of child sexual abuse against two former Biddeford police officers. Some residents felt that, by not taking “adverse employment action” against Police Chief Roger Beaupre, city government was not taking steps to address the issue. A select few of these residents have expressed this opinon fragrantly, shouting expletives at the mayor and wagging their digits with abandon.
We don’t think there’s merit to that criticism, but regardless of whether there is, the means by which that criticism is manifest is counterproductive to any kind of rational discourse.
It’s the kind of behavior that was decried by former Mayor Wallace Nutting. Nutting, a four-star U.S. Army general now living in Saco, stated in an interview earlier this year that he was disappointed to hear what had been transpiring at City Council meetings.
“I promoted civil discourse and I still do, regardless of the heat of the subject,” said Nutting. “I’ve been disappointed I guess. It has sounded as though the officials who run those meetings haven’t been tight enough. … I still firmly believe in civil discourse and adequately controlling the members present (at council meetings) to preclude that kind of thing.”
Casavant himself lamented the outburts shortly after they occurred.
“It’s unacceptable,” he said. “It detracts from the issues. It’s inappropriate, and it creates more problems than anything else. … People are never going to agree on anything but you have to have civilized dialogue because if you lose that, you essentially lose the whole concept of civilized government.”
He’s right.
The unruly behavior has quieted as of late, due principally to the fact that the controversy has lulled. That’s a good sign. And Casavant is back in office. That’s another good sign.
Because if things are going to remain calm, it will take an advocate of rational discourse to keep it that way. Middle fingers don’t resolve issues. Effective leaders do, and we hope that Casavant’s victory is a sign that the electorate is ready to move past the turmoil and focus on the issues at hand. It’s the surest way forward, and it’s what is best for the city.
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