Councilor Lachance hints at Rochester mayoral run

Doug Lachance (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - He's not throwing his hat into the ring to run for mayor just yet, but City Councilor and former mayor Doug Lachance has it off the rack and ready to toss.

Lachance, a Realtor and owner of Stump City Cider, said he was not ready to make a public declaration on Friday, but said, "I am leaning toward it."

Lachance served two terms as Rochester mayor beginning in 1997.

Current Mayor Caroline McCarley announced earlier this month she would be stepping down at the end of June to begin a retirement on Cape Cod, which would place Deputy Mayor Elaine Lauterborn as mayor until next November's election.

No one else beside Lachance as announced or hinted at a run.

In the last several years Lachance has battled skin cancer and COVID-19 and continues to be an active voice on the City Council, including condemning the partisanship he said boiled over in the last meeting when City Councilor Chris Rice put forth a motion criticizing the GOP's 2010 redistricting.

Lachance as well as Lauterborn and Councilor Palana Belken also agreed the partisanship evidenced at the meeting made them feel "uncomfortable" in a council setting that has always sought to keep things nonpartisan, only focusing on what's best for the people of Rochester.

"Even though there is no statute to be nonpartisan it was an inappropriate resolution," Lachance said.