AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Maine Gov. Paul LePage says he’s nominating a veteran of the Maine State Police to serve as the agency’s new chief.

LePage, a Republican, is nominating Lt. Col. John Cote to replace Col. Robert Williams as Chief of the State Police. Williams retired earlier this year.

Cote has been with Maine State Police for almost three decades and has spent the last two years as the agency’s deputy chief. He has also served as a commanding officer of a northern Maine troop, and was previously a deputy with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office.

Cote is a native of Aroostook County and has lived in Mars Hill for most of his tenure with the state police. A committee of the Maine Legislature will hold a public hearing on the nomination.