PARIS — Selectmen unanimously elected Ryan Lorrain chairman of the board Monday.

Lorrain, 26, was first elected selectman in 2011 as a 23-year old, and at the time was reportedly the youngest selectman ever to join the board.

At their meeting Monday night, selectmen said Lorrain was mature beyond his years and would serve the board well.

“I’m excited. It’s something I’ve always wanted,” Lorrain said.

On June 10, voters re-elected Lorrain to his second three-year term.

A senior manager at Argo Marketing in Lewiston, Lorrain has a long history of public service. He has served as the sergeant-at-arms in the Maine House of Representatives, aiding the Speaker of the House with running legislative sessions.

He narrowly lost election to the House of Representatives in 2011.

Ryan said his experience was transferable to administering Paris’ board meetings.

A Paris native, Lorrain graduated from Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris and Thomas College in Waterville.

Lorrain succeeds board Chairman Robert Kirchherr, who is running for the House of Representatives.

Selectman Robert Wessels was unanimously elected vice chairman.

Wessels, who works of U.S. Cellular, said he has always been drawn to leadership roles and contemplated running for the chairman’s position, but didn’t believe he could find the time. 

“I refuse to do something I can’t do well,” he said.

Monday also marked Janet Jamison’s first meeting since being elected June 10.

Jamison, who received more votes than any other candidate in the election, said she was too busy with active roles on the Norway-Paris Community TV station board of directors and Norway-Paris Solid Waste Committee to seek a leadership role.

“Ryan and Bob stepping up is fantastic,” Jamison said. She’ll try and get new people to take an interest in the town’s committees, she said. 

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