Staff Writer 

For Cape Elizabeth Town Councilor Paul McKenney, answering the call of duty means abandoning another post. 

After serving on the Cape Elizabeth town council for more than four years, he will leave his unexpired town council term in December to accommodate a “military and civilian schedule for 2010,” according to a letter he sent Assistant Town Manager Deb Lane on Monday. 

“He is a truly outstanding individual,” Council Chairman Jim Rowe said. “He has had a very charming influence on us all and he will be missed.”

A lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves, McKenney isn’t the only member of his family whose lives have been marked by military obligations; he has a daughter in the Navy currently serving overseas and two sons both of whom recently graduated from West Point and are also serving overseas in the Army, according to an email from Town Manager Michael McGovern.

In his letter, McKenney writes that he intends to remain on the council until December, a year before his term is scheduled to expire. 

Lane said nominations for the unexpired seat will be accepted at the end of next month. Candidates must collect between 25 and 100 signatures to be considered for the seat on the Nov. 3 ballot. 

Other open council seats  are those currently filled by councilors David Backer, Sara Lennon and Rowe, as they are scheduled to expire this year.

   Staff Writer Nate Jones may be reached at 282-4337 ext. 233.