Voters elected Biddeford City Council President Liam LaFountain as the city’s next mayor on Tuesday night.

LaFountain received 2,626 votes, beating out incumbent Mayor Martin Grohman and fellow Councilor Norman Belanger, who got 2,414 and 1,273 votes, respectively, according to unofficial results.

“My priority as mayor will be to restore transparency and rebuild public confidence in city hall,” LaFountain said.

LaFountain also said that he is “not one to make empty promises” and will ensure that Biddeford’s government works for its residents.

“I make plans that are rooted in transparency, accountability, and practical problem solving,” he said. “What our city needs now is leadership that listens, plans carefully, and delivers on the fundamentals that matter most.”

ABSENTEE VOTING, GUN CONTROL

Voters turned out in droves Tuesday at Biddeford High School, ignoring the howling wind.

Outside the polling center, Grohman and LaFountain greeted voters.

“It’s been busy all day,” LaFountain told the Portland Press Herald. “There was a line this morning, and it’s stayed busy.”

Biddeford voters faced the same state referendum questions as every other Maine municipality, but they were also deciding on a mayor and a city councilor in almost every ward.

For one Biddeford voter, the questions of absentee voting and restricting violent weapons from people deemed unfit were most important.

“I care about people’s lives,” voter Thomas Garcia said. “And I’m scared about our rights.”

Garcia said he voted for LaFountain for mayor, feeling that he is focused on the people of Biddeford “instead of the money.”

“It seems like he’s going to take more feedback than the incumbent mayor,” he said.

Another Biddeford voter, Deb Diquinzio, said she voted for the incumbent, Grohman, because he has “held firm” on his stance on the issues facing Biddeford.

“Mayoral terms are shorter than others, and I’d like to see what else he’ll do,” Diquinzio said.