BIDDEFORD — It might be late in the campaign, but Jason Litalien has registered as a write-in candidate and will oppose incumbent Alan Casavant in Tuesday’s election for Biddeford mayor.

Litalien, 42, of 8 Sapphire Drive, was born and raised in Biddeford and has lived his entire life here other than for the 13 years he served in the U.S. Air Force.   

While serving in the military, Litalien earned degrees in public affairs and history and recently graduated from the University of Maine School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree. 

“I have led men and women through difficult situations around the world, I have owned businesses, and I gained my world view by going to 42 countries, mostly while in the Air Force,” he said. “I have seen some of the best and worst that this world has to offer and I am grateful that I call Biddeford home. I have wonderful memories of this great city and it helped make me who I am today.”

He said that his combination of leadership experience and education along with running every aspect of a business gives him a well-rounded set of skills that he can use to help all of the residents of Biddeford if elected as the city’s mayor. 

“We need tax reform and I want to look at the budget more closely and find places that we can save money. We have one of the highest property tax rates in the state and filling the mills will not solve our problem,” Litalien said. Additional apartments will increase the demand on taxpayers because of the additional police, rescue and school burdens. I plan to use private investment to grow downtown and use less taxpayer money. We need an experienced negotiator to find better deals for the city.”

He’s also wanting more transparency in the city government and to return the voice to the people.

“Instead of giving people less time at the end of the City Council meetings to speak, we should encourage the voters to voice their opinion,” Litalien said. “Executive sessions should be used sparingly, it is important for the people to hear what their government is doing to improve our city. The government’s most important job is to listen to the people, because that is who the government works for.”

As a staunch supporter of seniors, Litalien says he wants to see that the needs of the city’s older residents are met.

“Biddeford is a city of hard-working people. Our senior population not only built this city, but also the surrounding areas,” he said. “As a child, I delivered newspapers for the Journal Tribune and my mother dreaded Friday because any other day my route took 20 minutes, but on Friday it took me three or more hours because I had to collect the money, which in my mind meant that I got to visit with all the seniors in my neighborhood. 

“I still remember Mr. Bergeron on Westfield Street ‘betting’ with me against the Tigers every week, just so I could come back and tell him that he was wrong the following week,” Litalien said. “I treasure these memories and I want to ensure our seniors have the resources they need and that the senior center is welcoming and properly funded.”  

He also supports bringing a casino to Biddeford. 

“We approved it already and then we lost it because of a state referendum that gave other counties the power to take it away from us to protect their casinos. I would like to see an entertainment venue attached to the casino that we can use to attract bigger acts to Biddeford,” Litalien said. “Bangor is three hours away, yet they get many of the bigger acts instead of Portland. Biddeford could hold bigger shows than Bangor because we have larger population centers nearby. This would create more jobs and increase the tax revenue while also lowering property taxes for the residents.”  

According to Litalien, he believes it is important to not only listen to the residents of Biddeford, but then to act. 

“In addition to meeting at the senior center with the people who frequent it, I would like to meet with individual voters and hear what matters most to them,” he said. “I’ve heard from residents who are concerned about road maintenance, the amount we have spent on downtown versus the return, a lack of transparency, misleading referendum questions, and what they receive for the amount they pay in taxes. 

“I have also heard from people who work in a city department, but do not receive the same benefits as others working for the same department,” Litalien said. “They feel marginalized and feel they are treated as if they are not part of the same department.”

He said that if residents want Biddeford to grow in a healthy way, the city also needs to address crime statistics. 

“According to Neighborhood Scout which uses FBI and other law enforcement statistics, in 2015 our violent crime rate was five times higher than the state rate and 1.5 times higher than the national rate.  Our property crime rate was 2.5 times higher than the state rate,” Litalien said. “Our theft rate was more than double the national average as well.  We are also experiencing the negative effects of a national drug problem. We can invest as much as we want into downtown, but until we change the perception of crime in our city, the investments will not give us the greatest return.”

Litalien said he’s driven to seek the position of Biddeford mayor because he wants to give back to the community which has been good to him and his family.

“I played on the St. Louis East Biddeford Little league team that won the first city championship for East Biddeford, I attended Biddeford High School when it became a School of Excellence, I worked at R-96 as a radio DJ, and I left for the Air Force because this city instilled the value in me that we should all do our part to make our community better.” he said. “I have spent most of my life helping or protecting others. My father preached community service to me when I was growing up and I can continue to honor his memory by serving as mayor.”

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com.