Callaghan claims city's top spot as mayor with win over Hunt-Hawkins

Rochester Mayor-elect Paul Callaghan (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Career lawman and Rochester native Paul Callaghan swept to an easy win in Rochester's mayoral race on Tuesday, defeating City Councilor Palana Hunt-Hawkins 2,845-1,400.

Political newcomer Cassi Borne finished a distant third with 158 votes.

Callaghan's win comprised 65 percent of the vote compared to 32 percent for Hunt-Hawkins, who gave up her City Council seat in her bid for the city's top elective office.

Veteran City Councilor David Walker ousted by newcomer Ashley Desrochers by 24 votes

Another City Councilor who won't be returning is Ward 4 Seat A's David Walker, who was the longest standing member of the board. Walker lost to newcomer Ashley Desrochers, 387-363.

Meanwhile, Doug Lachance, who ran for City Council after resigning in April amid sex assault allegations from the early 2000s, lost his Ward 1 Seat decidedly to newcomer Skip Gilman, 555-264. The other Ward 1 seat went easily to Tim Fontneau after incumbent councilor Jeremy Hutchinson bowed out of the race in October. Fontneau ended with 578 votes to Hutchinson's 210.

In Ward 2, Rochester businessman Steve Beaudoin ousted former Rochester City Manager Daniel Fitzpatrick handily, 450-363. Fitzpatrick had been appointed to the board after current Mayor Elaine Lauterborn left her former City Council seat following the resignation of former mayor Caroline McCarley.

The other Ward 2 seat went to Amy Malone, who was unopposed.

Both Ward 3 seats went to men whose last names begins with an "L" and ends with an "elle." Both incumbent Pete Lachapelle and newcomer John Larochelle were unopposed.

Returning to the other Ward 4 seat will be Laura Hainey, who held on to her seat at the table by just 22 votes, defeating newcomer Laura Zimmerman, 288-266. Deanna Souza finished a distant third with 136.

In Ward 5, both Chris Rice and Donald Hamann ran unopposed, while Ward 6 seats went to incumbent Jim Gray over Matthew Richardson 376-237; and Dana Berlin, who bested downtown businessman Jamie Radloff, 307-287.

Voter turnout on Tuesday was dreadful at best, with just 25 percent of registered voters going to the polls compared to 70 percent for last November's general election.

The Nov. 2, 2020, vote comprised 17,163 ballots, compared to Tuesday's 4,469.

This story will be updated.