BIDDEFORD — On Tuesday at City Theater, Biddeford’s 145th inauguration of mayor, city council, school committee and other elected officials took place. More than 400 people packed the 500-seat auditorium, to watch as City Clerk Carmen Morris swore in Mayor Alan M. Casavant and others.

Among those in the audience were four past Biddeford mayors including James Grattelo, Michael Cantara, Donna Dion and Wallace Nutting; outgoing mayor Joanne Twomey was absent. Also in attendance were former Saco Mayor Bill Johnson and current Mayor Mark Johnston, and several state legislators.

Casavant’s campaign manager, Randy Seaver, was master of ceremonies.

As a teacher for 35 years at Biddeford High School, Casavant seemed comfortable and confident speaking to the crowded audience as he discussed his hopes and dreams for Biddeford under his leadership.

Looking to the future, while remembering the city’s past with pride, seemed to be the new mayor’s most resonant message.

Audience members appeared eager to hear what Casavant had to tell them, rewarding him for his message with four standing ovations throughout the night.

Casavant said he ran on the themes of “vision and being positive.”

“So often we beat ourselves up,” he said. But like his former students, in whom he tried to instill confidence, residents also need to be confident about their city, said Casavant, and everything else will follow.

His mission, he said, is to help the city “change its story line,” and overcome stereotypes that undermine the city and divide the citizenry.

“So often we define ourselves as a poor, mill town,” he said. But that’s no longer true, said Casavant, “We’re an up-and-coming, vibrant community.”

To build a successful future, it’s important to draw strength from the city’s past, he said. Casavant, who is of Franco-American descent, had a musical group perform the song “Quebecois,” which depicts hard-working French Canadians like those who played an important role in Biddeford’s history working in the city’s mills. The mayor said he chose that song because it depicts the sense of pride he feels about his heritage, a sense of pride similar to that he believes those of other nationalities also feel.

In addition to viewing the community’s heritage and past with pride, residents should look to the future with optimism, he said. Prior to Casavant’s speech, a multi-media presentation entitled “A New Day” was shown. The presentation portrayed the city’s many assets, such as local residents and businesses, natural resources like the coastline and river, local landmarks, events like the annual Chalk on the Walk held in the downtown, and more.

These assets, and especially the city’s residents, contain a well of strength that must be tapped into to move the city forward, said Casavant.

He asked residents for their help in making Biddeford successful, by increased community participation with more people joining committees and residents’ assistance in coming up with solutions to the city’s problems.

Casavant also urged people to reject the urge to demonize the other side when there’s a difference of opinion over the airport, the racino or any other issue.

Instead, he said, community members must “embrace differences of opinion.”

In conclusion, said Casavant, “Tonight marks ”¦ the beginning of a new day.”

A reception in city council chambers was held after the swearing-in ceremony.

The new mayor and city council intend to get down to business right away. Already meetings have been held between city leaders in Biddeford and Saco to talk about how the two communities can work together to further economic development for both. More such meetings are planned for the future.

Tonight marks the new city council’s first council meeting. The agenda includes electing a new council president; appointing the city clerk, fire chief, police chief, city manager and city solicitor; and making some committee appointments.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.