SOUTH PORTLAND – Rosemarie De Angelis, one of two councilors critical of the high school renovation plan approved by voters Nov. 2, was named South Portland’s new mayor Monday night.

De Angelis, who was elected last year after serving on the council from 2003 to 2006, beat out Maxine Beecher by a 4-3 vote as councilors split over who could best lead the council in a year they feel will be marked by cooperation between the city and schools. Supporting De Angelis in her bid were Jim Hughes, Patti Smith and current Mayor Tom Coward, while Tom Blake and Councilor-elect Alan Livingston sided with Beecher.

De Angelis, who will serve a one-year term, will be sworn in at a City Hall ceremony Monday, Dec. 6, at 4 p.m.

“In the year I have worked on the council with Councilor De Angelis, I’ve found her to be passionate about things that she believes in,” said Coward as he nominated De Angelis. “On a personal note, we agree a lot of the time, but not always. I think she has strong feelings about what she feels is important. She has been supportive of all the things I have tried to do as mayor and I think she’ll make an excellent mayor.”

The responsibilities of the mayor in South Portland are largely ceremonial, and include leading City Council meetings and attending community events.

De Angelis said she doesn’t see the position of mayor as a role of power, but a role of helping the council work effectively.

“Being that we are all elected from the same electorate, I don’t feel the position of mayor has any more authority or influence, but is really about who can offer openness and encourage input, both support, as well as criticism,” she said.

While Coward said that he felt it was De Angelis’ turn to take the role of mayor – Beecher held that position in 2006 – Blake argued that Beecher was simply the best candidate for the job.

“I think she is probably the hardest working councilor we have,” Blake said in his nomination. “I’ve never heard Maxine say she didn’t have time. In these times for the city, and America, we need someone who has the time. We need a leader that has the time to get the job done. I have been mayor and I am convinced the mayor’s position just takes more time.”

Two of Beecher’s recent accomplishments while on the council, Blake said, have been resurrecting the annual city volunteer appreciation breakfast, which had fallen by the wayside, and spearheading the medication collection and drop-off event that was held in the city Oct. 16 through a cooperation with Cape Elizabeth.

“I think Maxine is the best person at this time,” Blake said. “We owe it to our constituency to elect the best person we can.”

Now that the $47 million high school renovation project has been approved by voters, many of the councilors feel that one of the main goals of the next year is to foster a better relationship between the council and the Board of Education.

Beecher, due to her previous stint as mayor during what she called a “difficult managerial year,” said she was equipped to lead the council toward that goal.

“The whole school project is going to mandate us to communicate better with schools,” she said. “I have that relationship. I don’t need to build a bridge. The bridge is already there.”

“I think this is a pivotal year in working together and being able to communicate effectively and collaboratively,” Beecher continued. “I think I have that kind of experience. This year we elected a new governor and it is vitally important for the school district and the city to come before the state and the governor as a united front. I believe I have the track record to do that.”

Coward, however, argued that De Angelis, who was critical of the high school renovation project, which she felt came with too high a price tag, fit the bill because she is not afraid to ask tough questions to get answers. She also has experience on both sides, having worked in the South Portland School Department, he said.

“We need to look at the relationship between the school administration and the city,” Coward said. “I believe there is tremendous opportunities for combining resources and saving costs between the two pieces of city government. Councilor De Angelis has a great perspective on that because, as far as I know, she is the only person who has also worked in the school district.”

De Angelis, an educator at Southern Maine Community College, said her vote against the city borrowing $41.5 million to renovate and remodel the high school should not be seen as a vote against the high school and the education offered within the city, or indicate her lack of ability or willingness to work with school officials.

“I didn’t support the bond as presented, but I support education,” she said. “I believe in democracy. The vote was taken, the bond passed and I will stand behind it as a member of the council and will work cooperatively with the school to move it forward.”

Rosemarie De Angelis