Candidates share why they are the best fit at Rochester Candidates Night

ROCHESTER — The night after Town Meeting, residents showed up to hear from multiple candidates who shared why they would be the best fit for each position on Tuesday, May 19.

Rochester elections will take place on Wednesday, May 27 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Rochester Senior Center located at 67 Dexter Lane. 

The most contested election is for Rochester Memorial School with four candidates running for two positions. Kate Duggan and Isabel Gomes-McCann were present and explained what they hope to do on the Committee. 

Barbara Lee and Stacie Noble Shriver were not present. 

Duggan said she wants to focus on the school budget and lobby for more funding for Rochester schools. 

“Being fiscally responsible isn't just about managing the money we have, it's about fighting to fix a system that structurally disadvantages small towns like Rochester,” Duggan said. 

Gomes-McCann said she also wants to focus on the budget and finding more revenue sources for the school. 

“I feel that I can also work very hard in advocating for more funding and looking for avenues to bring in funding, because we can spend money very easily, but it's really hard to find the sources to bring it in,” Gomes-McCann said. 

Incumbent Beatrice Renauld and Judith Shepley are running for Tax Collector. 

Renauld has lived in Rochester since 1980 and has been the Tax Collector since 2011. She said she loves her job and the Rochester residents she interacts with day to day. 

“I truly enjoy my job and enjoy the people of this town and hope to continue to be the Tax Collector for the next few years,” Renauld said. 

Shepley said she is interested in using her time to serve Rochester with her skills in bookkeeping and accounting.

“I enjoy doing bookkeeping and working with numbers and obviously you have to do that when you're the Tax Collector,” Shepley said. 

Incumbent Kelvin Douglas Sims Sr. and Brian Berube are running for Park Commission.  

Berube was not present at the forum event. 

Sims said he understands that the budgets are tight right now and he will actively explore state and federal grant opportunities to help offset park improvements. 

He wants to continue to support the nonprofit organizations and the parks that benefit children and families of Rochester.

“We need to get the parks commission back on track and keep doing it for the kids of Rochester,” Sims said.