LEWISTON — Androscoggin County’s purse strings may once again feel a tug from Helen Poulin.

The controversial former commissioner and treasurer has been nominated to the county’s 11-member Budget Committee, the group that oversees the Androscoggin County’s annual spending package.

The nomination marks a return for Poulin, who left the commission in 2008 after a monthslong battle to keep her post. She had insisted that she could represent Lewiston on the commission, even though she moved to Auburn, which is in a different county district.

In the end, her opponents included the Maine Attorney General’s office and Gov. John Baldacci, who appointed Elaine Makas to take her place.

Poulin and two others — Michael Marcotte, a current member of the committee and Renee Bernier, a former member — will be nominees on the November ballot to represent the city of Lewiston on the budget committee.

Since moving to Auburn in 2008, Poulin has moved to Turner and now lives in Lewiston on Macadamia Lane, County Clerk Patricia Fournier said.

The Sun Journal was unsuccessful in attempts to reach Poulin for comment.

Six more positions will be nominated in caucuses on Aug. 23 and 24 at the Greene and Mechanic Falls town offices.

The District 1 caucus on Aug. 23 will gather nominations from Sabattus, Lisbon, Greene, Wales, Leeds, Turner, Livermore and Livermore Falls.

The District 2 caucus on Aug. 24 will gather nominations from Auburn, Poland, Minot, Mechanic Falls and Durham.

Both meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m.

The final two seats on the committee will be filled with members of the county’s delegation in the Maine Legislature.

Commission Chairman Randall Greenwood argued Friday that each committee seat is important.

“It’s the check and balance with the commission,” said Greenwood, who served on the committee in the late 1990s. He encouraged anyone who wants to help shape the county to run for the committee.

“This is the time to get active and contribute,” he said.

In 2008, Auburn leaders had intended to name candidates for the budget committee but missed the caucus. When commissioners refused to convene a second caucus, the city sued.

The three-member commission, which then included Poulin, Constance Cote and Elmer Berry, won the case.

dhartill@sunjournal.com