PORTLAND — The Cumberland County commissioner-elect in District 3 called election night a “great night for independents and underdogs” after he won by a wide margin.

Mark Grover, I-Yarmouth, defeated incumbent Stephen Gorden, R-North Yarmouth, by a vote of 16,756 to 10,480 for the seat covering Freeport, North Yarmouth, Brunswick, Harpswell, Pownal, Gray and New Gloucester.

“I am humbled by the support shown to me by the voters of the 3rd District,” Grover said Tuesday. “I promise to keep listening to the voice of the public as I strive to represent all 54,000 people and seven towns of District 3.”

The race was a rematch of last year’s District 3 special election, where Gorden beat Grover by nearly 1,300 votes, 6,899 to 5,617.

Grover ran on a platform of transparency and said he wants to see new bylaws be created for county government, as stipulated in the County Charter that was passed two years ago. He said that even though it sounds dull, bylaws are what keep the government in check and they are necessary.

His proposed rules include banning emergency meetings conducted via e-mail, requiring ethics rules for such things as disclosure of income sources and “hundreds of other rules intended to help regulate county government and increase public involvement,” he said last month.

He praised Gorden for his dedication to the people of Cumberland County over the last year and for running a clean campaign, adding that he hopes the positive attitude of this race’s campaign could spill over into others.

“Fortunately, we both respect each other, and we have both run positive campaigns,” he said. “No matter which of us had won, Cumberland County would still have been well-served. I wish this attitude were common elsewhere in politics.”

Gorden could not be reached for comment.

Amber Cronin can be reached at acronin@theforecaster.net or 781-3661 ext. 125. Follow her on Twitter @croninamber.

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