NORWAY — Incumbent Selectman Bruce Cook was defeated by political newcomer Michael W. Twitchell by 31 votes in Tuesday’s annual town election.

Selectwoman Irene Millett, 54, of Main Street, easily won re-election as top vote-getter, with 690 votes, in that four-way contest for two seats on the Board of Selectmen.

Twitchell garnered 478 votes with Cook coming in a close third with 447 votes. Wesley Wentworth received 188 votes.

There were 1,179 votes cast in the annual town election and state primary ballots.

“I’m quite surprised,” said Twitchell, who left the polls before hearing the final numbers.

“I did a lot of door-to-door, and people welcomed me into their homes,” said Twitchell when asked why he felt he won. “I just went out to the neighborhoods where I think people get forgotten. I think it was just listening to people and taxpayers to see what they wanted. It was suggested early on that I be a good listener.”

Twitchell said he wanted to thank the voters and people who helped in the campaign.

Cook, who has served as the board’s chairman this past year and is active in a number of town boards and organizations, said he congratulated Twitchell on his win.

Millett said she was pleased with the outcome. “I’m pleased with the Norway citizens who have shown their support for me representing them,” she said .

Millett said earlier that if re-elected she wants to continue to address the finalization of the Opera House issues, work through the current economic setbacks and their effect on the town, and to maintain and improve the viability of Main Street and Norway.

In addition, voters also re-elected incumbent Donald Ware, longtime member of the Oxford Hills School Board of Directors, with 1,011 votes and Norway Memorial Library Trustee Hilary Ware with 846 votes. Library Trustee Karen Austin, who replaced Wesley Wentworth, who resigned from his position last year, was also re-elected with 792 votes.

Voters also gave Democratic candidate for governor Elizabeth Mitchell the nod with 135 votes over Rosa Scarcelli with 87 votes, Steven Rowe with 79 votes, Patrick McGowan, 77 votes, and John Richardson with nine votes.

On the Republican side, Leslie Otten garnered 217 votes for the Republican nomination for governor, followed by Paul LePage with 155 votes, Peter Mills with 66 votes, Steven Abbott with 34 votes, William Beardsley with 27 votes, Bruce Poliquin with 24 votes and Matthew Jacobson with 11 votes.

Voters passed all four bond issues and voted to repeal the tax reform package.

Norway resident Patricia Shearman garnered 317 votes for register of deeds over Daniel Eichorn, who received 52 votes.

[email protected]