Sanford mayoral, City Council hopefuls weigh in on hot topics at candidate forum
Sanford Hosts Candidate Forum Ahead of 2026 Municipal Elections
SANFORD – A crowd of local residents gathered at City Hall on Thursday evening to hear from every candidate who will appear on the ballot this fall for mayor and the City Council. The evening was organized as a “Meet the Candidates” forum, giving each contender a platform to introduce themselves, answer questions, and explain their positions on the issues most important to the community.
The event, which ran in a question‑and‑answer format, was moderated by York County Coast Star reporter Shawn P. Sullivan. Candidates were given a 90‑second window to respond to each query, flanked by two‑minute introductory and closing statements. The discussion covered a range of topics, with particular emphasis on homelessness, a proposed biosolid waste gasification plant, and a planned data‑center development that have sparked intense debate among Sanford residents.
Mayoral Race – Four Contenders Share Their Vision
Four candidates are seeking the mayoral seat: incumbent Deputy Mayor Maura Herlihy, former councilor Matthew Dupuis, Peter Tranchemontagne, and Daniel White. All four addressed the cost of living, public safety, and the city’s economic development plans.
Two of the questions centered on the Aries Clean Technologies biosolid gasification project and the Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus data‑center initiative. Both proposals are currently on hold after the City Council approved moratoriums earlier this year. Those pauses were intended to give a task force time to investigate potential environmental and community impacts.
Tranchemontagne, a current council member, argued that major development decisions should be placed directly before voters. “My opinion on the data center, as a city councilor or as a mayor, shouldn’t matter. You guys should go to the ballot box and vote if you want a data center in the city of Sanford or not,” he told the audience.
Dupuis echoed the sentiment that voters should have a say, but he also expressed opposition to both projects. He said he believed the proposals lacked sufficient information for approval and that they should not move forward without broader community input.
White raised specific concerns about the data‑center technology and warned that the biosolid facility could have a “devastating” environmental impact on the city.
Herlihy emphasized the need for more research. She highlighted her work with the industrial development task force, noting that the panel is actively gathering data and encouraging residents to share their views with officials.
City Council Race – Seven Candidates Debate Priorities
Seven contenders are running for two open council seats: Alex Clary, Meagan Crawford, Shawn Goodwin, Bryce Lambert, Jonathan Martell, Victoria Pariyar, and Michael Perry. The council hopefuls addressed many of the same themes as the mayoral field, plus a handful of council‑specific concerns such as municipal budgeting and community outreach.
One question asked candidates how they would reassure residents who feel unsafe in the city and what solutions they would propose. The discussion quickly shifted to the city’s homeless population, a topic that drew nuanced responses.
Pariyar described the problem as “complex,” noting the interplay of mental health, substance abuse, and economic hardship. “This is a complex problem. You’ve got mental health, mixed with substance abuse, mixed with economic difficulties,” she said.
Martell, a council incumbent, said he was pleased with the council’s decision to end the city’s syringe service program but warned that needle waste remained a serious issue. He advocated for ensuring the police department has adequate resources to manage the problem.
Perry cautioned that arresting individuals struggling with addiction does little without concurrent education and rehabilitation efforts. He suggested installing safe‑disposal kiosks throughout Sanford to reduce discarded needles.
Clary took a critical stance on the program’s termination, stating that he continues to find thousands of needles around the city even after the shutdown. “You can buy (needles) in Hannaford, you can buy them at the pharmacy… Shutting down the needle program is another example of our city council being short sighted on a complex issue. We need policies that work,” he observed.
Development Moratoriums and Community Input
Both the Aries biosolid plant and the data‑center project are currently on hold. The City Council’s moratoriums, approved earlier in the year, were designed to provide the task force with time to research the projects’ potential effects and any requirements they might need to meet. Candidates across the mayoral and council fields agreed that more information is needed before either development can proceed.
Looking Ahead – Further Forums and the General Election
A recording of the Thursday night forum is available on the city’s public‑access network YouTube channel. Organizers have scheduled a second candidate night for 6 p.m. on October 8 in the City Council chambers. That event will feature candidates for school board, the state House, and the state Senate.
The municipal primary will be held on Election Day, November 3, with voters able to cast ballots for mayor, City Council, and the other contested offices.
The forum provided residents with a rare opportunity to hear directly from those seeking public office and to ask pointed questions about the direction of Sanford. As the election season intensifies, the issues of homelessness, environmental safeguards, and responsible development are likely to remain at the forefront of local debate.
