County Republican Committee asks commissioners to seek resolution on whether one official can hold city and county posts

Representatives of the Penobscot County Republican Committee used the meeting's public comment period to ask county commissioners to adopt a resolution clarifying whether a local official may hold both a municipal office and a position with the sheriff's office or state police.

Wayne Mallor, who said he had been appointed by the county Republican committee, asked the commissioners for "a resolution by the commissioners as to the validity of the state law," and said the group believes state law and a city code provision prohibit holding both positions. Mallor told commissioners: "The state law says he can't serve both and also the city charter says he can't. So we need a resolution to resolve the issue and finally put it to bed." He said the committee would submit a formal request for action.

A county official (during the public comment response) clarified that commissioners have budget oversight for the county budget and that any formal request should be submitted in writing so the county legal department can review how the county's authority intersects with the state law quoted by Mallor. The official said staff and legal counsel would review any materials submitted by the committee.

No formal county action or vote took place during the public comment period; commissioners asked for written materials and said the county's legal department would advise whether a resolution or other action is appropriate.