Maine Gov. Paul LePage says he plans to forgo the process of selecting a new commissioner for the state education department and will instead take on the role himself.
The governor will retain acting Commissioner William Beardsley for the remainder of the governor’s term in office, which ends in 2018. LePage told one schools superintendent that Beardsley will become a deputy commissioner after his six-month term as acting commissioner expires.
LePage said earlier this month that he was temporarily withdrawing Beardsley’s nomination before the legislature because he believed it was going to be defeated by Democratic lawmakers.
