Rochester's three-term mayor has lighted her last Rochester Christmas tree

Posing immediately following the 2019 Christmas tree lighting are Anne Brown of Daystar, chairman of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley and some of her grandchildren.who assisted with the lighting. (Rochester Voice file p

ROCHESTER - Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley told The Rochester Voice today she would be stepping down on June 30 after only partially completing her third term.

The reason, she said, is she and her husband are moving to Cape Cod for their retirement years.

" My husband and I are building a house in Brewster, Mass., that will be ready to move in to then," she said.

She said she had immensely enjoyed her life in Rochester and being its mayor.

"I have had a wonderful life living in Rochester and will miss the people and the work," she added, "but I am looking forward to the next chapter in our lives."

Deputy Mayor Elaine Lauterborn will fill in for McCarley until Rochester's next mayor is elected in November.

McCarley has a long history of service to the city, having serving on the school board and in the state Senate.