PARIS — As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, acting Sheriff James Theriault of Rumford held a small lead over Chief Deputy Christopher Wainwright in the race for Oxford County sheriff.

As of 11 p.m., the vote total was 7,954 for Theriault and 7,644 for Wainwright.

Since early 2018, Theriault has served as acting sheriff in place of Wayne Gallant, who resigned from the position on Dec. 6 after allegations surfaced that he had sexually harassed members of his department.

Since Gallant’s term did not end until Dec. 31, Gov. Paul LePage appointed Theriault, the former police chief of Mexico, to fill the position until Tuesday’s election.

The nominee had to come from the Democratic Party because Gallant won the sheriff’s seat as a Democrat.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net

James Theriault

Christopher Wainwright

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