LEWISTON – Republican City Councilor Rick LaChappelle is running for an open state Senate seat this year.

Rick LaChappelle Submitted photo

LaChappelle, who owns three local businesses, is taking on Democrat Peggy Rotundo in the newly redrawn 21st District that covers Lewiston.

“As an employer, as an elected official in Lewiston, as a parent and grandparent , I’ve seen up close the impact these last couple of years have had on people in our community and state,” LaChappelle said in a prepared release.

“I decided it was time to step up to take a more active role in getting Maine back on track,” he said. “I look forward to having conversations with many people in Lewiston over the next several months to hear about your concerns, your ideas, and what you want from your state government.”

Lewiston’s current state senator, Democrat Nate Libby, cannot run for reelection because of term limits. He has served in the post since 2014.

State Sen. Jeff Timberlake of Turner, the Republican leader in the Senate, said LaChappelle has “shown through his volunteer work and public service in Lewiston” that he “deeply cares about his community and is always ready to step up to help when needed.”

“He will be an excellent state senator and I look forward to working with him as a fellow senator from Androscoggin County,” Timberlake said.

LaChapelle, elected to the council last year, is the owner of M&B LLC, Advanced Heating Solutions and Lewiston Pawn Shop.

For the last three decades, he has been involved in many positions, including serving on the Lewiston School Committee, the Mayor’s Housing Committee, the Lewiston Bicentennial Committee, the Citizens Advisory Committee, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport board of directors.

He is a past president of the McMahon School PTO and coached youth baseball, soccer and basketball.

LaChapelle and his wife, Monique, have two grown children and two grandchildren.

The election is Nov. 8.