The 25-9 Senate vote, during the October 23 special session, followed a confirmation hearing last Friday in the Legislature's Health & Human Services Committee, where the vote to recommend confirmation was 10-1. Hamilton has worked in the department many years and was nominated for the position by Governor Paul LePage after the former Commissioner, Mary Mayhew, resigned recently to run for governor.

Hamilton vowed to maintain open communications with the committee about the operations of the department, including monthly meetings where he would be available to answer the committee's questions. He also promised to recruit strenuously to comply with the legislature's mandate that all 50 public health nursing positions be filled. At present there are approximately 12 public health nurses in the field, and no supervisors.