ASSOCIATED PRESS • January 26, 2022
Maine lawmakers met Wednesday in person for the second time this month. The Senate quickly confirmed the state’s new public advocate. William Harwood is a utilities lawyer who served as a senior adviser in Gov. Janet Mills’ energy office, and received a unanimous endorsement from the Joint Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology. Rep. Jim Boyle, D-Gorham, was seated after winning a special election to fill a seat vacated by Democrat Kyle Bailey because of a job conflict. Boyle will serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.