Boyle

SCARBOROUGH — Scarborough and Gorham residents elected Democrat James Boyle to be their new state representative for Maine House District 27 on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

The seat became available when Kyle R. Bailey of Gorham resigned on Oct. 15. Governor Janet Mills issued a proclamation declaring the vacancy and setting Jan.11, as the date for the special election.

Boyle bested Republican Timothy Thorsen and Suzanne Phillips, who was unenrolled, all of Gorham, in the election. District 27 includes parts of Gorham and Scarborough.

Boyle garnered the most votes in both Scarborough, 72 votes, and Gorham, 807 votes, for a total of 879. Phillips earned three votes in Scarborough and 67 in Gorham for a total of 70. In Scarborough, 51 people voted for Thorsen and 542 voted for him in Gorham, for a total of 593.

Boyle formerly served one term as a state senator representing Maine’s 6th district from 2012-2014 and as a member of the Efficiency Maine Trust Board, according to a press release from the Maine Democrats.

“We hope to have the certified results over to the governor sometime on Wednesday (Jan. 12),” said Emily Cook, communications director at the Office of the Secretary of State. “Representatives elected in special elections are typically sworn in by the governor a few days following the transmission of the certified results,” Cook said.