PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Former Maine Senate president and Portland mayor Gerard Conley Sr. has died.

A spokeswoman for the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home confirms Conley died Thursday at age 88.

The Portland Press Herald reports Conley began in the Maine House of Representatives in 1964. He would later be elected to the state Senate, where he served as assistant senate minority leader, minority leader and president. Conley served as a Portland City Councilman from 1968 to 1977, including a year as mayor.

Conley was appointed chairman of the Maine Turnpike Authority in 2004. He oversaw a 30-mile highway widening project and installation of the EZ Pass system.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Irish Heritage Center in Portland.