Andre Cushing was reelected chair of the Penobscot County Commissioners with a 2-1 vote at the Commissioners meeting Wednesday.
Cushing has been a commissioner since 2018 and chair since 2024.
Cushing, the longest tenured of the commissioners, was chair during last year’s tumultuous budget process that saw the county budget increase by nearly 16% due to a $3.5 million shortfall in the county jail budget. The county had previously been funding the jail through undesignated funds for years, creating a $7 million crisis.
Cushing will now lead the county during a time when a new county administrator will be hired and changes to the budget process have been called for by the public and elected officials.
Cushing was elected with a 2-1 vote. Commissioner Dan Tremble voted against.
Commissioner Dave Marshall nominated Cushing, saying he will be able to lead the county during the transition.
“At least for the next three or four months, I think it’s critical to have continuity of leadership and I’m comfortable with Commissioner Cushing and the job he’s done,” Marshall said.
Before a vote for Cushing, Tremble nominated Marshall. Previous commissions Tremble said he interacted with as treasurer changed who the chair was and he thought it would be beneficial if the position wasn’t held by one person for multiple years.
“I have no problem with the current chair. I think he’s done a fine job this year. I just think it’s better to move the position around,” Tremble said.
Tremble noted that Marshall and Cushing were both Republican, so even if Marshall was chair, the position would still be held by the party.
Marshall did not accept the nomination, saying he lived too far from Bangor to be able to commute as often as the transition will require and Cushing would add continuity to leadership that would be needed for the new county administrator.
“I normally would’ve accepted [the nomination] with honor, but given the fact that we are transitioning for the next two or three months, it’s going to be a requirement to be here almost on a daily basis,” Marshall said.
After the vote, Tremble said he and Cushing work well together and will continue to. Tremble also reiterated that he voted against because he wanted to see a change in who held the chair position.
Cushing accepted the position and said he would take the comments of the other commissioners into consideration.
“At this point, as we transition, I am happy to continue in this role for the immediate future, but I would welcome the ability to address what Commissioners Tremble and Marshall have brought up,” Cushing said.
