OXFORD COUNTY, Maine — Two Oxford County commissioners will not be seeking re-election this year after decades in their respective districts.
District 2 Commissioner David Duguay told NEWS CENTER Maine Monday night he will be stepping away after serving in the position for 20 years to run for a seat in the Maine Senate.
He said District 1 Commissioner Steven Merrill is also up for re-election this year, but will be stepping away for "personal reasons" after 30 years.
It's a "coincidence" both commissioners are stepping away this year, Duguay said.
In District 1, Merrill represents the towns of Brownfield, Denmark, Fryeburg, Greenwood, Hiram, Lovell, Norway, Porter, Stoneham, Stow, Sweden, Waterford and unorganized territory of Albany and Mason.
Duguay represents the District 2 towns of Andover, Bethel, Byron, Canton, Dixfield, Gilead, Hanover, Lincoln Plantation, Magalloway Plantation, Mexico, Newry, Peru, Roxbury, Rumford, Upton and the unorganized territory of Milton, Riley and Northern Oxford County.
District 3 Commissioner Timothy Turner will not be up for re-election until 2026 and represents the towns of Buckfield, Hartford, Hebron, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris, Sumner, West Paris, and Woodstock.
According to the Lewiston Sun Journal, Republican House Rep. Sawin Millett of Waterford will replace Merrill unless an independent candidate steps up.
"Duguay is looking to switch seats with Sen. Lisa Keim of Dixfield, who is prohibited by state law from seeking a fifth consecutive term," the Sun Journal stated. " Duguay is seeking to represent District 19, which includes parts of Oxford and Franklin counties."
Sen. Keim is the assistant Republican minority leader in the Maine Senate and represents District 19.
