Biddeford resident doesn’t want Grohman as state rep

I’m a longtime member of the Democratic Party and am part of the York County Democratic Committee. I don’t often speak against my party, but the knowledge I have of Rep. Grohman needs to be heard.

In July of 2015, he reached out to me offering support for a nonprofit organization I had recently started. Knowing his experience was primarily in energy and the environment I entered the meeting leery of his motive but open to the possibility. We met. We talked. I left feeling more uneasy than I started.

This sparked me to research his past dealings. I found a very open letter written by him that recaps the collapse of the business he started in 1999, Correct Building Products LLC. He started this business, in part, with taxpayer money – including $250,000.00 from a state-funded entity.

In 2008, a class action lawsuit was filed which lead to the LLC filing bankruptcy. In this letter, he describes how the business used a “363” sale reestablishing as Correct Property Management LLC. This sale resulted in Grohman getting much of his investment back.

Businesses don’t always make it, I get that. But the language and tone in his letter bothers me still today. It was one of pride and excitement. It lacked any sense of responsibility or empathy for those that were left with bad product and left with poorly used tax dollars.

To say I’m grateful I didn’t purse a working relationship with him would be an understatement. It is obvious Grohman prioritized his needs over taxpayers, and took advantage of so many. The new LLC, (listed with the same address as Grohman’s home), paid Grohman a significant amount of money, a true leader would have given it back to the taxpayers it was taken from.

The last line of this open letter says, “Come visit us sometime – I’ll buy you a lobster.” If this is his way of “taking care of ” those that were taken advantage of, I certainly do not want him representing me in Augusta.

Melissa Bednarowski
Biddeford

Al Sicard for register of probate

Please support Al Sicard as your register of probate for York County. Al has the strength of character, education and experience needed to bring a new level of professionalism to the probate court system.

I have known Al for more than 25 years. Al cares deeply about all of York County’s citizens. As register of probate, he would work diligently to help individuals and families by assuring that the probate court office operates in an efficient and timely manner.

Al grew up in Saco, and is a 1975 graduate of Thornton Academy. After graduation, he furthered his education, earning a bachelors in broadcast journalism from Boston University and an MBA from the University of New Hampshire.

As register of probate, Al would manage a staff of six and a budget of $600,000. He is well prepared for this challenge. Currently, Al owns and manages Rocky Coast Marketing. His prior business experience includes managing Cable Ad offices throughout Maine with budgets of $2 million and a staff of 15 reporting directly to him.

Al has also been an active member of his community. Currently, he is a volunteer board member of the York County Federal Credit Union and a member of the Thornton Academy Alumni Board. He was formerly board president of Waban Projects.

Anyone who has met Al knows that he has a strong work ethic, a practical mind and a compassionate heart. Please cast your vote for Al Sicard as register of probate for York County.

Deborah Monahan
Saco