Three vying to oust first-term incumbent McCarley

ROCHESTER - A crowded field has emerged for this fall's mayoral race.

With potential candidates having until Monday afternoon to file nomination papers, it can now be announced that three challengers have come forward to toss their hat into the ring in a bid to oust current first-term mayor Caroline McCarley.

Among the candidates are former mayor Doug Lachance, who won two terms in the late '90s, State Rep. Matt Scruton, R-Rochester; and Donald Barnes, a Safran Aerospace Composites manager.

Some of the issues seen as driving the election are continued concerns over a commercially challenged downtown, crime, the opioid crisis that plagues Rochester and whether or not the city should allow Keno gambling to help fund kindergarten.

The public will get a chance to hear the candidates at a Mayor/City Council Candidate Forum on Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

This Candidate Forum will feature mayoral candidates and candidates for city council, who will answer questions from a media panel including The Rochester Voice and the public on various local issues. Moderator for the event is former mayor T.J. Jean, current administrator of The Gafney Home.
The forum will be televised live and also taped by Cremmen Creative and rebroadcast prior to Election Day on Rochester Community Channel 12, courtesy of MetroCast.
Questions for candidates can be emailed to forum@rochesternh.net or can be called in during the live event only to 603-335-7557.