AUGUSTA –– Maine’s secretary of state has ruled against two challenges to a candidate’s fitness to run for York County Sheriff.

David Corbett of Lyman is running as a Republican against incumbent Sheriff William King, a Democrat.

But two separate challenges argued that Corbett was not fit to run, citing state law that a candidate must have held a supervisory position prior to running.

Corbett, according to court records, served as a full-time police officer with Saco and in the York County Sheriff’s department prior to July 1, 1990, but never as a supervisor. 

Following a hearing last week, Director of Elections Heidi Peckham found that Corbett was qualified to run. 

Peckham noted that the challengers were correct in that candidates must have served in a supervisory position. 

She added, however, that the law contains an exception for anyone who was a full-time law enforcement officer employed by a municipal or state agency on or before July 1, 1990.

Peckham recommended Secretary of State Shenna Bellows deny the challenges. In a statement issued April 3, Bellows said she agreed with Peckham’s findings.