Biddeford taps Kennebunkport leader as new city manager
Kennebunkport Town Manager Laurie Smith, seen here in 2022, will assume the role of Biddeford city manager in December, pending council approval, the city announced Tuesday. (Tammy Wells/Staff Writer)
Biddeford announced the nomination of a new city manager Tuesday.
Laurie Smith, the town manager of Kennebunkport, will begin her three-year contract on Dec. 29.
The council will vote to confirm Smith’s appointment at its Nov. 5 meeting.
In a news release Tuesday, Mayor Liam LaFountain said he is pleased to nominate Smith, pointing to her extensive municipal experience, financial acumen and management skills.
“I look forward to working with Laurie, our staff and the City Council to address the challenges ahead and better serve our residents,” LaFountain added.
Smith has worked as Kennebunkport’s town manager since 2014. She previously served in the same role in Boothbay, Oxford, Boothbay Harbor, Wiscasset and Auburn, where she spent 10 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Maine and resides in Kennebunk.
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In Tuesday’s news release, Smith said she is honored to be joining Biddeford.
“Throughout this process, I’ve been impressed by how deeply people care about this city and its future,” she wrote. “I look forward to getting to know the community, supporting our dedicated employees and working with the mayor and City Council to turn shared priorities into meaningful progress.”
Smith will be the third manager to serve Biddeford in just over a year. She will succeed Cornell Knight, who has served as interim city manager since June.
The previous city manager, Truc Dever, resigned in April. In her resignation letter, Dever pointed to the “scope and complexity of the issues facing (the city) — many of which are long-standing and systemic” as one of the reasons for her departure.
Dever succeeded former manager James Bennett, who resigned in early 2025. Prior to his resignation, Bennett came under fire for several issues, including his handling of the proposed research pier at the University of New England. Bennett later filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming that it owed him a large amount of money; that lawsuit was settled in October 2025.
Smith said Tuesday that she believes she has the experience necessary to help the city find solutions to its problems.
“I thought I could be helpful and create some structure,” she said in a phone interview. “This council is very interested in moving forward and doing the right thing, but they need help.”
As city manager, Smith says she hopes to get Biddeford’s finances in order, create and follow good process and policy, be responsive to citizens, and have systems set in place to provide appropriate responses to issues.
While she will miss the employees and citizens of Kennebunkport, Smith said she is ready to step into her new role this December.
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Tagged: biddeford city council, town manager
Sydney is a community reporter for Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel and previously reporter for the Courier and Post. Sydney grew up in Kennebunk and is a graduate. More by Sydney Richelieu
