Merry served more than 25 years as a Bath police officer before starting as Sagadahoc sheriff in 2009. He did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday morning, Skolfield conceded to Merry.

“It is difficult to unseat an incumbent,” Skolfield wrote. “I would like to thank you all for your support this year which has been the hardest to say. The overwhelming support you have provided has truly meant the world to me, beyond words. Without you I certainly wouldn’t have endured the way I did… The voters have spoken, congrats on your win Joel. God bless them all.”

A state commission investigating the shooting criticized the sheriff’s office and named Skolfield in an interim report in March for not intervening to remove Card’s firearms before he killed 18 people and wounded 13 more across county lines in Lewiston on the 25 October, despite ample evidence that he was a threat.

In his post, Skolfield said he is considering legal action against the Lewiston Commission and Gov. Janet Mills for defamation.

The state board’s interim report said the sheriff’s office had probable cause to take Card into protective custody in September under the state’s yellow flag law.

This process allows authorities to temporarily seize someone’s guns if they are in a mental health crisis and are a threat to themselves or others.

The commission’s report said Skolfield “should have realized” he had probable cause to start the trial after responding to a report that Card suffered a mental health crisis, threatened to shoot up the Saco Army base Reserve, hit a friend and possess firearms. .

Tonya Alanez can be reached at [email protected]. Follow a @talanez.