ACTON — Voters in County Commission District 1 have elected a new commissioner to represent them.

Political newcomer Republican Robert Andrews of Acton will take office for the four-year term on  Jan. 1. He beat incumbent Sallie V. Chandler of Lebanon by 358 votes in the 10 communities that make up the district.

Andrews earned 8,645 votes to Chandler’s 8,287 in unofficial results.

County Commission District 1 includes the towns of Acton, Berwick,. Cornish, Lebanon, Limerick, Limington, Newfield, North Berwick, Parsonsfield and South Berwick.

Andrews, a clergyman and printer, said he is looking forward to getting out into the communities in his district.

“I’ll do my best to represent them at the county level,” he said.

Andrews said he was in front of Acton Town Hall on Election Day, thanking residents for coming put to vote – and he said they were thanking him for being there.

Andrews attended University of Arizona, is a graduate of Faith Bible Institute, and is attending New England Bible College/Grace Evangelical Seminary. He is pastor at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon and also works as a printer.

“My community considers me to be a person of integrity, because I stand up for what is right, even if it is not popular,” Andrews said in a prior interview. “I have a strong moral character and I am reliable, caring and trustworthy, traits that are necessary for public service.”

Chandler had been seeking her fourth, four-year term on the five-member commission. She has served as chair, elected annually by her peers on the board, since 2008.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.