OTISFIELD - A former selectman was returned to the board Thursday in a narrow victory.

Lenny Adler received 135 votes in a special election that drew a standing-room-only crowd to the Otisfield Community Hall.

Karen Turino received 127 votes.

The election was held to replace Mark Cyr, who had been on the board since 2004. Cyr announced his resignation Aug. 20, saying that out-of-state travel requirements would interfere with his duties as a selectman.

Adler said he had 28 years of experience serving on the board, but opted not to seek re-election in 2006. Adler, a heavy truck service manager at Ripley and Fletcher dealership in Paris, said he also had prior experience with the town's fire department and numerous town committees.

Adler said that Cyr's resignation left the board with a total of 30 months of experience among its members.

"I think we have an extremely good, qualified, and dedicated Board of Selectmen," said Adler. "However, they are quite inexperienced."

Turino, a retired assistant personnel manager at the Hannaford in Oxford, said she has attended selectmen's meetings regularly for three years and was recently elected to the Planning Board as an alternate member.

Turino said she would work for a more open town government, an updated comprehensive plan, and better upkeep of town property. She also said she would seek immediate preparations to help residents who would be most affected by the coming winter or in danger of losing their homes.

"It really shouldn't be my way," Turino said. "It should be your way."

The election ran a half-hour behind schedule as voters checked in, and drew more voters than the selectmen's race at the annual town meeting in June. In that election, Adler lost to Rick Micklon by a 151-51 vote.

"It's a little more than our wildest dream, which is great," said Selectman Hal Ferguson of the turnout.

A moment of silence was observed at the beginning of the meeting for Tom Nurmi, who died of cancer on Aug. 23. Nurmi, who had served on the Board of Selectmen for 15 years, did not seek re-election in June.