BIDDEFORD — Joanne Twomey cruised to a second term as mayor against three challengers Tuesday, a few weeks after announcing an innovative new plan for the issue that got her involved in politics – the fate of a downtown trash incinerator.
Twomey tallied 4,100 votes, easily outdistancing David C. Flood, a former newspaper publisher, who had 2,640 votes.
The other two candidates trailed far behind: Richard P. Giroux with 473 votes and Karl R. Reed Sr., with 470.
Twomey spent the summer negotiating a plan to close or downsize the Maine Energy incinerator, which she has called a detriment to downtown redevelopment. She said a second term would let her complete the job.
The talks produced a plan to take the trash outside the city, where it would be sorted for recycling and the remaining waste would be turned into less-smelly, more-efficient pellets. The pellets would be burned in the incinerator to produce low-cost electricity and heat for nearby vacant mill buildings.
Twomey's opponents voiced support for the proposal, but said they wanted to see more details.
Flood said the council, which learned of the plan the night before a press conference was held to announce it, was told less than the public was told.
Giroux proposed processing trash outside downtown Biddeford before the proposal was announced. He said a difficult part of the plan might be finding another town to host a large trash processing center.
Reed, who was worried before the plan was announced that forcing the incinerator to shut down would cost the city tax revenue and jobs, said he now wants to see follow-through.
Twomey said during the campaign that she would like to see Biddeford hire a new economic development director, and she wants to step up efforts to preserve open space in the city.
Flood wanted to see Biddeford make a major effort to redevelop its mill buildings, which he said would increase housing, promote a healthier downtown and stabilize the city's tax base.
Giroux said the city must spruce up the downtown to help draw more shoppers, and provide more parking.
Reed wanted to see more cooperation between businesses and city government. He also wanted to see the chain stores on the edge of town put money into a downtown redevelopment fund.
Staff Writer Edward D. Murphy can be contacted at 791-6465 or at: emurphy@pressherald.com
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