HALLOWELL — A two-term city councilor has resigned from his seat, and the mayor said a former state official who was running for council already will be appointed to the seat soon.
Mayor Charlotte Warren said George LaPointe, a Middle Street resident who served as Maine’s marine resources commissioner from 1998 to 2011, will replace Edmund Cervone, who has been a councilor since 2009.
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Cervone said he was resigning because of “personal reasons and family” and moving to Colorado.
“Circumstances are such that I have go sooner rather than later,” he said. “I’m bummed about it, but I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do.”
Cervone, who lives on Maple Street and is president and CEO of the Maine Development Foundation, a nonprofit created by the state to boost Maine’s economy through outreach efforts, announced his resignation from that position last week, effectve Sept. 23.
He dove headlong into city politics shortly after moving to Hallowell in 2005.
In 2006, Cervone nearly knocked off the late Hallowell institution Barry Timson, who had been mayor twice before, in a four-way mayoral race, losing by only four votes.
“I really enjoyed working with some really great people on the council and in the community,” Cervone said today.
Warren said Cervone submitted his resignation more than a week ago. Hallowell’s city charter says when a councilor resigns, the mayor selects a replacement to hold the office until the next municipal election. The choice is subject to the council’s approval.
She said LaPointe is the ideal candidate because he’s running unopposed for Cervone’s councilor-at-large seat in the next municipal election in November, so she will recommend him to the council at its September meeting.
LaPointe, who didn’t return a message left on his cellphone today, would have to win election in November to continue serving.
Warren called Cervone “a friend” who will be missed in city government.
“Ed has served the people of Hallowell very well,” she said.
Michael Shepherd — 621-5632
mshepherd@mainetoday.com
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