AUBURN — Andrew Lewis of Auburn was elected chairman of the Androscoggin County commissioners last week during the initial  meeting of the 2025 term.

Lewis narrowly defeated Brian Ames of Lewiston in a 4-3 vote.

He replaces Sally Christner of Turner, who held the chairmanship for several terms, but declined to run for another term.

Lewis is serving his second year on the board after winning his seat in 2023.

Newcomer Jane Pentheny of Poland was voted in as vice chairman. Pentheny won her seat in November when Terri Kelley of Mechanic Falls retired.

Being the first meeting of the year, commissioners elected in 2024 — Pentheny, Shukri Abdiraman of Lewiston and Garrett Mason of Lisbon — were sworn into office. Commissioners adjusted their meeting calendar. Instead of meeting twice a month on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, the board agreed to meet the third Wednesday of each month. The board has the option to schedule a workshop to study an issue on the first Wednesday.

The board has already scheduled a second meeting this month on Wednesday to discuss a contract with Alcalde & Fay. The Virginia-based organization is offering its services to help the county find ways to fund the new Sheriff’s Department building and procure adequate funds to run the county jails.

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