ALFRED – Former state Senate President Mark Lawrence has been selected by Gov. John Baldacci to serve as York County’s district attorney.

Lawrence, 44, of South Berwick, will complete the term of Michael Cantara, who left the post to become Baldacci’s public safety commissioner.

Baldacci chose Lawrence after the only other candidate for the job, Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Moskowitz, withdrew from consideration.

Lawrence, a Democrat who served as Senate president from 1996 to 2000 before his unsuccessful challenge of U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, said Moskowitz told him that he wanted to withdraw and endorse the former state lawmaker.

Lawrence spent part of Monday at the York County Courthouse and said he expects to be on the job full-time after he closes his law practice.

He received his degree from the University of Maine School of Law, was a member of Baldacci’s transition team, and has a general law practice in South Berwick.