Portland Mayor Mark Dion says he’s regrouping after the city council recently rejected his plan to change the city’s needle exchange program.

Dion wants to reduce the program from offering 100 new syringes for every dirty one to a 1-for-1 exchange rate.

He says he’ll continue to push his plan, especially with city council changes after this month’s election.

“I put up a good fight,” said Dion. “The majority of the council decided otherwise, I’m not going away because the needles are not going away. So maybe with this new council, I’ll get an opportunity to revisit it. We’ll see how that goes. I see Augusta rushed forward and said, we’re going to do that too.”

Augusta is actually looking at offering five cents for every needle turned in under a suggestion from city councilor Kevin Judkins. It was the city council in Sanford that voted this month to limit its used needle exchange program to a one-for-one rate. Previously, people there, like Portland, could get up to 100 syringes in return for a used needle.

Dion has also been asked recently if he would consider running for governor.

“I was kind of surprised,” Dion said. “Well, it’s not surprising. It comes up. Here’s my response. I have a job to do right now. I’m working on that job period. I mean, technically I haven’t finished my first year as mayor. That’s on December 7.”

Dion is a Democratic mayor in the heavily Democratic city of Portland. He’s seen in some circles as a moderate, who could have a broad statewide appeal.

Dion spoke with WGAN’s Matt Gagnon this week on the WGAN Morning News.