AUGUSTA (AP) — By a thin, 6-4 vote, former Husson College president William Beardsley has won a legislative committee’s endorsement to serve on the state Board of Education.

Wednesday’s vote for Beardsley broke down on party lines, with Democrats in opposition.

Still, a committee’s recommendation carries a lot of weight when that and dozens of other nominations by Gov. Paul LePage face final confirmation votes Thursday by the Senate. It takes a two-thirds Senate vote to overturn a committee recommendation. No one stood up during Wednesday’s hearing to oppose Beardsley.

Lawmakers’ questions briefly focused on former Husson chaplain Robert Carlson, who committed suicide after learning he was being investigated for sexual abuse of minors. Beardsley said that in his 22 years at Husson, he had no knowledge of any illegal behavior by Carlson.

Also, a legislative panel voted unanimously to endorse Maine National Guard Col. James Campbell to serve as the state guard’s adjutant general and commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management.

In his testimony before the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee’s 12-0 vote Wednesday, Campbell acknowledged that the roles and functions of the National Guard “have evolved tremendously over the past 20 years.”

Campbell joined the Maine Army National Guard in 1995, following nine years of active duty service. He’s held a number of positions in the Guard, including assistant professor of military science in the University of Maine Army Reserve Officer Training Corps.