FARMINGTON — Gov. Paul LePage has appointed former legislator Charles “Charlie” Webster to represent the residents of District 2 in Chesterville, Farmington and New Sharon as a Franklin County commissioner.
Webster, who had not been sworn in as of Monday, will fill the term left vacant when longtime Commissioner Fred Hardy of New Sharon died July 4. Hardy had been in the third year of a four-year term.
The Franklin County Republican Committee called a meeting July 27 to make nominations to the governor to fill the seat. To be nominated, a person had to be from the towns in District 2 and be a Republican because that was Hardy’s political affiliation. The committee nominated Webster, Ryan Morgan and Peter Tracy, all of Farmington, and David Archer of Chesterville.
The governor sent a letter to Webster dated Aug. 7 to notify him of the appointment, according to county caucus Chairman Bill Crandall. He also had a copy of the letter.
“Our District 2 caucus felt we had four great candidates to send down to the governor for his consideration,” Crandall said. “We are pleased with the governor’s selection and we feel that Mr. Webster will do an outstanding job representing us on the Board of the Franklin County Commissioners.”
LePage said in his letter that he was honored to appoint Webster as a commissioner.
“I am confident you will make a valuable contribution to the state in that position,” LePage wrote. “The strength of our government is found to a great degree in the willingness of individuals to serve when asked. I thank you for offering your energies to this position.”
Webster is the owner of Webster Heating Co. in Farmington. He served in the Legislature as a representative and a senator during the 1980s and 1990s. He also was the chairman of the Maine Republican Party from 2008 to 2012.
Webster was not immediately available Monday to comment on his appointment.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
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