SACO — Sandra Guay was unanimously sworn in to the City Council on Monday night, becoming Saco’s third Ward 3 councilor in eight months.
The former Ward 3 councilor, William “Bill” Doyle, resigned from his seat in July after accepting a role as town manager in New Gloucester in February.
Doyle, who served as the Ward 3 City Councilor from 2015-19 and also as Saco mayor from 2019-23, was reelected to the council in a special election in January.
He succeeded Councilor Joseph Gunn, who resigned after moving out of the ward.
Guay and longtime Saco resident and public servant John Shannon were both in the running for the seat. Guay will serve in the role until Dec. 7.
Guay has a long history of serving Saco in various roles. A land use attorney, she is on Saco’s Long Range Planning Committee and also serves on the board of directors at Saco’s Dyer Library.
On Monday night, Guay said she would advocate for mixed-use development in Saco, increase access to the Eastern Trail for cyclists and walkers, and advocate for farmland, conservation land and a working waterfront.
Guay also said she would focus on housing costs in Saco.
“Housing costs have become unaffordable to many young people starting out, and underprivileged people,” she told the City Council Monday.
As a councilor, Guay said she would work to compromise with other city leaders, and use her experience on the Saco Planning Board to help influence her new role.
“People come from very different backgrounds, and the black and white is never really black and white,” Guay said. “It’s gray.”
Saco residents spoke in support for Guay on Monday night, leading to councilors noting a difficulty to choose between Guay and Shannon.
After receiving a unanimous positive vote, Guay expressed her gratitude for the Saco community.
“I’ve worked in many communities. Saco is exceptional, and I really have to say that,” she said. “Everybody is exceptional and I am really proud to say I live in Saco.”