McCarley voted Rochester's first woman mayor

Caroline McCarley holds a sign urging a vote for her on Tuesday at the Elks Club polling center. At right, Donna Bogan who retained her City Council spot over Human, at left behind sign. (Lebanon Voice/Harrison Thorp photo)

ROCHESTER - Rochester has its first-ever woman mayor.

Caroline McCarley, who defeated her closest competitor by more than 400 votes, takes over the corner office for outgoing mayor T.J. Jean who won a spot on the School Board.

In a day that saw scant voters take to the polls, McCarley took home 1,529 votes, followed by City Councilor David Walker with 1,104 votes and Omer Ouellette Jr., who garnered 241.

McCarley, who spent time at the Elks polling center on Tuesday, said one building block of her upcoming mayoral tenure will be to focus with the City Council on the future of Rochester's image.

According to City Clerk Kelly Walters, only 16 percent of registered Rochester voters went to the polls.

Reasons for such a low turnout included the fact there were no ballot questions and just six contested races overall.

Three newcomers, however, were elected to the City Council, including Ray Barnett over Shawn Mickelonis in Ward 1A; Thomas Willis Jr. besting Eric Sirles in Ward 4A; and Thomas Abbott in a Ward 3B uncontested race.

In another City Council tilt, incumbent City Councilor Donna Bogan beat out Human for a Ward 6A seat, 322-39.

Meanwhile, on the school side, Jean handily won his at-large school board slot with 1,981 votes, beating out Kathy Dunton with 879. Dunton failed to outscore Jean in any of the town's six precincts.

In other contested school board races, Ward two Seat A went to Amy Malone over James McManus Jr., 354-22.

Of the city's 18,154 registered voters, only 2,929 cast votes.