AUGUSTA — Mark O’Brien, a former city councilor and Board of Education chairman, has been elected mayor of Augusta, defeating At-Large Councilor Marci Alexander by 444 votes.

Mark O’Brien

O’Brien received 2,845 votes to Alexander’s 2,401, according to unofficial results released Tuesday night.

O’Brien succeeds current Mayor David Rollins, who was elected in 2014 and decided not to seek reelection.

O’Brien, according to city results, took all four wards that had in-person voting, while Alexander received more absentee votes — 1,068 to O’Brien’s 976.

O’Brien, 62, a lawyer for the U.S. Small Business Administration, graduated from Cony High School, the University of Maine and the University of Maine School of Law.

He served on the Augusta Board of Education from 1989 to 2000, including as chairman from 1993 to 2000. He also served on the City Council from 2001 to 2003, 2006 to 2014 and 2017 to 2019, and as interim mayor in 2014.

O’Brien said he was running for mayor to help Augusta grow and thrive. The city has been good to him and his family, he said, and serving as mayor is a way to give back.

After learning of Tuesday’s voting results, O’Brien said in an interview he was “relieved, gratified, humbled and kind of excited at the same time.” He also said he was thankful to his family, campaign team and others who supported him along the way.

“I think residents can be pleased and proud it was a positive campaign that focused on Augusta’s strengths, its people, its neighborhoods, its history and revitalized downtown, and was forward-looking on both sides,” O’Brien said. “I think the results look like a vote of confidence in Augusta’s future.”

O’Brien said he looks forward to working again with city councilors and city staff members.

“I’m anxious to get started and make a positive difference,” he said.

Alexander, 52, a lawyer working as general counsel, chief privacy officer and chief risk officer for MaineGeneral, received her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Maine and her law degree at the University of Maine School of Law. She is wrapping up her second term as an at-large city councilor.

In a statement, Alexander congratulated O’Brien and said he and his team ran a great race.

“We all knew it would be close,” she said. “Thank you to my campaign team, volunteers, voters and most of all my friends and family. I am proud to be the first woman to ever run for mayor of Augusta and know I have paved the way for future women candidates. … The city is in good hands.”