A lawyer will review if Penobscot County Commissioner Dan Tremble can simultaneously serve on that board and as a member of the Bangor City Council.
During public comment at Tuesday’s Penobscot County Commission meeting, a letter from three people was read that said the authors believe Tremble is violating the law by serving in both positions. The letter also asked commissioners to address the issue.
Tremble was elected to the county commission in November 2024, leaving a 10-month overlap with his term on the Bangor City Council that expires in November 2025.
“We ask that County Commission give resolution to this problem to determine in fact if Commissioner Tremble is in violation,” the letter signed by Gregory Peirce, Christopher Swift and Justin Cartier said.
Commissioners passed a motion 2-0, with Tremble abstaining, to send the issue to legal counsel for review.
It’s unclear if Tremble is violating state law by holding both offices. Under state law, county commission seats are listed alongside various local offices as incompatible to hold at the same time. City council seats are not included on that list.
In an interview with the Bangor Daily News before the November election, Tremble said he would resign his seat based on legal advice. After he was elected, Tremble said he may not resign the council seat before ultimately deciding in late December to keep his council seat.
In the letter, Peirce, Swift and Cartier said they do not have a preference about which seat Tremble vacates.
The Penobscot County Republican Committee also sent a letter to the commission to “register its concerns” about Tremble serving on both boards. The committee asked the commissioners to look into the matter in the Feb. 28 letter.
Tremble wants clarification on his ability to serve in both elected roles, but the action taken by Commissioners Andre Cushing and Dave Marshall won’t accomplish that, he told the BDN.
Instead, a ruling from the court is necessary to resolve the ambiguity, Tremble said.
“I don’t believe it should fall on the county taxpayers to pay to pursue this issue,” Tremble said. “In my opinion, the individuals that believe there is an issue should initiate legal action.”
