LEWISTON — Pending approval by the Lewiston City Council, Mark Cayer has been nominated by Mayor-elect Shane Bouchard to fill the vacant spot of Ward 6 on the School Committee.

 

Cayer’s experience as a school board member in Farmington and as a Lewiston city councilor make him an “easy choice,” Bouchard said in an email to the Sun Journal.

 

“He has a desire to serve the community, leadership experience and brings a wealth of experience to the seat,” Bouchard said of Cayer. “I believe our city is lucky to have someone of this caliber accept this position.”

 

Superintendent Bill Webster said Wednesday he was pleased with the nomination.

 

“I’ve worked with Mark before when he was a city councilor. I highly respect him,” Webster said. “He is conscientious, reflective. I look forward to the contribution that I know he’ll make to the School Committee.”

 

Cayer said he looks forward to representing Ward 6, that he will be working with a great group of officials.

 

“I hope my experience will only add value to an already well-versed group,” Cayer said. “I’m also excited to work with a great team of education leaders, teachers and support staff. We are very fortunate here in Lewiston to have some of the best team of educators.”

 

He accepted the nomination because education plays a vital role in the success of any community, he said.

 

“We have a few challenges that directly affect our community and education system,” Cayer said. “I look forward to hopefully working with the committee and community partners in addressing some of these.”

 

For now, Cayer said he needs to study the many issues facing city schools.

 

“I have a lot of homework to do,” he said.

 

Bouchard said he has received emails and letters from individuals interested in serving on the school board, some with strong credentials.

 

“I hope they all continue to have interest in serving the community,” Bouchard said, “and hope to not see an empty ballot in Ward 6 next election cycle.”

 

Bouchard said he would not want to nominate someone who did not run for office. Cayer was one of five candidates who ran for mayor in November.

 

Cayer is self-employed at Maine PI Service, a private-investigation agency. He is married with adult sons and five grandchildren. 

  

During the election in November, there was no candidate for the school board’s Ward 6 seat, which was held by Matthew Roy, who did not seek reelection. The city charter dictates that when no candidate runs, the mayor nominates a resident to serve.

 

Ward 6 is a part of the city that does not include any schools. Ward 6 includes Lisbon Street, the Alfred Plourde Parkway, Webster Street to the Pond Road to Old Greene Road.

If approved by the City Council, Cayer would begin serving in January, according to Webster.

Bouchard said Ward 3 Councilor Alicia Rea will also serve on the school board. She will serve as the council’s representative, replacing Ward 5 Councilor Kristen Cloutier.