Farmington man new chairman of Maine GOP

Charlie Webster, a former state legislator, was chosen Saturday to serve as chairman of the Maine Republican Party for the next two years. "I'm going to lead a discussion in the state on who better represents the working people of Maine," he said via cell phone on Monday. Webster, 53, is a self-described "oil burner repair man." First elected to the Legislature in 1980 as a Democrat, he switched parties and went on to be Republican minority leader in the state Senate. He said he retired from politics, but decided to get involved again after attending his 35th high school class reunion where he got an earful from people disappointed in their government. "We can no longer be the place where people move to to be on programs," Webster said. Another Charlie, Charlie Summers of Scarborough, will serve as vice-chairman.