GORHAM – Gubernatorial candidate Shawn Moody of Gorham said Wednesday he had left a cell phone message for Paul LePage, congratulating him on his victory.

Moody said he stayed up to 2 a.m. watching returns and slept later than usual on Wednesday.

“I didn’t expect it to come down to the wire,” he said about the race.

Making his first plunge into the political arena, the Gorham native said he received about 25,000 votes statewide, representing about 5 percent. Moody said he’s received hundreds of e-mails.

“Our supporters are fired up,” he said, adding he’s definitely encouraged. “We’re just getting started.”

While he hasn’t decided on pursuing another elected office, he said he intends to keep his eye on the political scene. He doesn’t expect to be offered a government appointment, and in the short term, Moody said, he would return to his business responsibilities.

A large gathering of supporters and family attended a post-election party Tuesday at Moody’s Collision Center in Gorham. A conference room was decorated with red, white and blue balloons along with streamers. Food was served buffet-style.

Moody moved through the throng at the party, thanking and greeting friends and campaign workers.

“I want to thank all for their hard work and loyalty,” Moody said.

In the Gorham balloting, Moody received 1,614 votes, finishing third behind independent candidate Eliot Cutler, 2,060, and LePage, a Republican, with 2,023.

Moody finished well ahead of Elizabeth Mitchell, a Democrat, who tallied 1,067. Another independent, Kevin Scott, got 22 votes in Gorham.

Moody was third in both Gorham wards 1 and 2 but was second in Central balloting behind LePage, 567.

Paul Gore of Gorham said Moody would have won in a landslide, if all voters had a chance to meet him. “Shawn ran a great campaign,” Gore said.

And retired Gorham High School teacher and TV “Survivor” winner Bob Crowley said Moody set a tone of being nice.

“He’s the type of guy I want representing Maine,” Crowley said.

Moody said he planned to telephone all the gubernatorial candidates and hopes to establish a friendship with the others.

“We all want Maine to go forward,” he said.

Shawn Moody, left, joins wife Chris, son Ben and daughter Danielle in Gorham on the campaign trail Tuesday afternoon. The Moody family voted in Ward 1 at Gorham Middle School. Staff photo by Robert Lowell