Rochester elects newcomer Sarah Eby to Board of Health

Town government veteran David Hughes elected to Water Commission
May 26, 2021

ROCHESTER — Just 347 voters decided the outcome of three contested elections on May 26.

Newcomer Sarah Eby ousted 26-year incumbent Dale Barrows for a spot on the Board of Health, Rochester government veteran David Hughes won a seat on the Water Commission over Selectman Brad Morse, and Marc Rousseau and incumbent Lee Carr edged out newcomer Dennis McCarthy for a position on the Planning Board.

Eby received 182 votes for the Board of Health and Barrows received 154.

“I’m just excited to help care for our town,” Eby said, adding she’s excited “just to work with the other two members of the board to move forward post-pandemic and to grow safely.”

Hughes, who said he’s “very happy” to have won the election, received 232 votes for the Water Commission to defeat Morse, who received 98.

“I’m just going to sit back and see what my other two board members are up to, and then we’ll pursue from there,” he said of his plans for the position.

Carr received the most votes for Planning Board, with 204. The other open seat was decided in a close race, where Rousseau received 172 votes and McCarthy received 162.

A number of elected positions which had only write-in candidates will be decided at a later date.

An open position on the Rochester Memorial School Committee received 10 write-in candidates; an position on the Cemetery Committee received 30 write-ins; the open position of Moderator received 66 write-ins.

Selectman Paul Ciaburri, running unopposed, retained his position with 258 votes. There were six write-ins and 83 blank ballots.

Also running unopposed were Jana Cavanaugh with 262 votes for the Board of Assessors, Jeffrey Eldridge with 290 votes for Tree Warden, Shauna Makuch and Kelly Murray Medeiros with 255 and 280 votes respectively for the Board of Library Trustees, Matthew Monteiro with 274 votes for the Old Rochester Regional School Committee and Kenneth Ross with 285 votes for Park Commission.