James Tranchemontagne launches his campaign early, though his opponents are unknown.
Westbrook restaurateur James Tranchemontagne is again putting his hat in the ring for Westbrook mayor, this time giving himself 10 months to campaign for the seat.
Tranchemontagne, the owner of the popular Frog & Turtle restaurant downtown, ran against Democrat Colleen Hilton and Republican Ernest Porell in 2013, but was defeated by Hilton. She is now in the final year of her third term as mayor.
On Tuesday, Tranchemontagne said he had debated whether to run again, especially following a serious injury and the birth of his second child. But, he said, support from his wife and recent controversy in the city solidified his decision to run. He had also saved all of his campaign signs from two years ago, just in case.
When asked if he had always planned on running again, he said, “I wasn’t planning on losing.”
In 2013, Hilton received 1,872 votes, with Tranchemontagne, an independent, receiving 1,228, and Porell, 422.
Technically, he announced his candidacy via his “James for Mayor” Facebook page in August. But, recent posts have brought up a familiar slogan used during his first run.
“Join us as WE put the WE back in Westbrook. Citizens come first,” he said.
He said his plan to run again was solidified following the controversy last year, when a profane email sent by Assistant City Administrator Bill Baker was made public. In the email, Baker mocked a number of members of the community, and many, including Tranchemontagne, called for his resignation.
“That was the nail in the coffin for me,” he said. “It just cemented a lot of things.”
Neither Hilton nor any Westbrook Republican, have announced their candidacy yet.
Tranchemontagne, who was a registered Republican prior to his first mayoral bid, is running on a similar platform as he did in 2013, with a major goal to reduce the property tax rate in Westbrook.
Tranchemontagne has historically taken a dissenting viewpoint on many city issues, and he has consistently been critical of the city’s spending and tax rate. He’s a member of Westbrook Taxpayers United, a group that pushes for spending cuts. Prior to his first campaign, he criticized the City Council’s public comment format after being forced to stop talking during a speech on taxes. Since then, he has routinely spoken out on major issues in the city during council meetings.
He says the salaries of city administration is a key factor in the tax rate, as well as unneeded spending.
“I’m not sure we’re seeing results that are matching those pay salaries,” he said. “There’s too many bosses.”
Although there have been many new businesses coming into the downtown, Tranchemontagne said, the downtown still looks much like it did a decade ago. He said more businesses come and go than “make it” downtown.
No one on the council owns a business in Westbrook, he said.
He’s also keeping other ideas from his last campaign, as well. In order to foster a more open dialogue within the community, Tranchemontagne would like to arrange quarterly meetings among the School Committee, City Council and Planning Board to get elected officials on the same page.
Tranchemontagne said he’d also put a renewed focus on the arts in Westbrook, including ramping up use of the Westbrook Performing Arts Center.
With 10 months until the election, Tranchemontagne said he now has more time to get the wheels turning on his campaign. In 2013, he said he only had campaign help from former Republican Committee Chairwoman Rose Marie Russell. This time, he said, he’ll have a more comprehensive group behind him.
Russell said Wednesday that she and Tranchemontagne have not yet discussed the upcoming campaign, but that she’s confident that he’ll build on his success from 2013.
“People trust him, and he leads by example,” she said.
It’s still unclear who else will be on the ballot in November, which is also the national presidential election and thus likely to spark a greater voter turnout than in 2013.
Hilton said Wednesday that she’s focusing on the remaining 10 months she has in office. She said she’s not planning to make a decision on running until the spring.
“This isn’t the presidential primary,” she said. “I think part of the problem with politics is that people are always running.
“I have 10 months to do a job and I will stay focused on my responsibilities to serve the city well in the time I have left as the mayor,” she said in an email.
She added that Westbrook is “on the move” as of late, with a boom in new businesses moving to the city.
“Many of the efforts that my administration work on every single day are gaining momentum and I will choose to stay focused and true to what I promised the citizens of Westbrook – leadership and accountability,” she said.
According to Emily Spencer, the chairwoman of Westbrook’s Republican City Committee, there are no Republican candidates yet.
“We will hopefully have some by early February,” she said.
Tranchemontagne said he’s excited for the new voices getting involved in city politics, mentioning people like Anna Turcotte, the newest city councilor, and School Committee and City Council candidates Matt Brunner and Michael Dobkowski, who were narrowly defeated in November.
Democrat Ann Peoples, a former Westbrook state representative who is running for state Senate District 28 this year, said Wednesday that she has “an immense amount of respect for James.”
The two have not often seen eye to eye on issues facing the city, but, Peoples said, he is adept at sparking conversations in Westbrook.
“He’s remarkably good at building enthusiasm in other people,” she said. “We don’t always agree, but I’m glad he’s decided to run. We need to have some conversations as a community.”
She also commended him for his charitable efforts in the city. Tranchemontagne has routinely volunteered and hosted fundraising events for My Place Teen Center.
“He does go over the top sometimes, but that’s part of his charm,” she said.
Hilton said that regardless of whether she decides to run, she hopes the campaign is conducted in a positive manner.
“I hope no matter who runs, it’s about what people can do and can bring, instead of criticism and negativity,” she said.
From his restaurant Tuesday, Tranchemontagne admitted to his tendency sometimes to get heated about issues facing the city.
“I know it might always seem I’m coming from a negative point of view, but I’m just saying there’s another way to look at things,” he said.
James Tranchemontagne, the owner of the Frog & Turtle restaurant in Westbrook, has announced his bid for Westbrook mayor. He lost to Colleen Hilton in the 2013 election. Send questions/comments to the editors.
