ROCHESTER — Rochester voters narrowly favored Kirstin Jimenez for the Rochester School Committee and Nate Reece for a seat on the Park Commission in the Wednesday, May 28 election.

The ballot question, which asked voters to approve of having the elected town clerk become an appointed town clerk failed to pass, with 514 people voting “No” and 349 voting “Yes.”

Out of the 978 ballots cast, Jimenez received 497 votes to opponent Barbara Lee’s 460 to win the seat on the Rochester School Committee.

Jimenez said the election was “mildly stressful” but that she’s excited that she won.

“I’m excited to see what can be done,” she said. “Pretty much my next steps are just learning everything that being on the school committee entails.”

Lee weren’t immediately available for comment.

Newcomer Reece beat incumbent David Hughes, receiving 479 votes to Hughes’ 470 for a seat on the Park Commission.

Reece said he thinks the town is ready to hear “from a fresh voice” and someone who is younger and has kids in the school system.

He added that he is a “little shocked” by the election’s outcome.

“If I had lost, I wouldn’t have been surprised if it was a landslide,” Reece said.

Reece said his first step will be to speak with the other park commissioners and learn what’s important to them.

“My goal is to get the residents engaged,” he added.

Hughes, who expressed disappointment in the voter turnout, said he’s going to sit back and wait to see what happens.

“I still have my fingers in other activities in the town, and I’ll just stay with them, and I’ll be fine,” he said.

Town Clerk Marjorie Barrows commented on the outcome of the ballot question, noting “people had their choice” and that she respects the vote.

“That’s the power of voting,” she said.

Resident Luis Rivera said he was 50/50 on whether the town clerk should be appointed.

“If it's an elected position, or if it's a hired position, [it] should be somebody that's really qualified for it,” he said. “I wouldn't oppose having the people vote for it. That's okay with me.”

Barrows said turnout this year was “very good” for a local election, with an unofficial 20% of registered voters casting ballots.

Rivera said he decided to vote to see some changes in the town’s positions, noting, “We needed some fresh new eyes.”