Secretary of State rules Androscoggin sheriff candidate ineligible due to lack of experience

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ruled Wednesday night that Kevin Nichols does not meet the requirements to run for Androscoggin County Sheriff. 

“Based on the proceedings and the evidence, I agree with the conclusion and recommendation submitted by the hearings officer that Mr. Nichols lacks the supervisory experience required by law to hold this position,” Bellows said in a statement. 

Maine state law requires that a candidate for sheriff must have “at least 2 years of supervisory employment experience in law enforcement or corrections.”

Eric Samson, the current Androscoggin County sheriff, challenged Nichols’ candidacy with the Secretary of State’s Office, arguing Nicols had no record of holding a supervisory position.

Samson ran uncontested as a Democrat in Tuesday’s primary. Nichols had sought to challenge him in November as a non-party candidate.

The office held a hearing on the challenge June 3, and presiding hearing office Deputy Secretary Julie Flynn, concluded that Nichols lacked sufficient supervisory experience, and therefore his nomination petition for candidacy was invalid.