Rochester School Committee incumbent Kate Duggan topped a four-way race for two spots on the committee in the Rochester Annual Town Election on May 27. Duggan earned 624 votes to keep her seat and begin a third term.
“I’m just glad it’s all over,” Duggan said when asked how she felt about her win. She attributed winning the most votes in the race to her steady presence on the school board for the past six years. “Just being present was important for a lot of voters and important for the challenges that the school is facing. I say thank you to the voters. I know this is a big show of support for the direction we’re on. And I look forward to what’s next.”
For the second open spot, Isabel Gomes-McCann, a stay-at-home mom and former biologist with 19 years of experience as a school-district volunteer, and Barbara Lee, a member of the Rochester Memorial School Council, are tied with 544 votes each. Town Clerk Marjorie Barrows said on Thursday there will be a recount. The fourth-place finisher was Stacie Noble Shriver, with 480 votes.
Wednesday night, Isabel Gomes-McCann speculated on why she was one of the top vote getters. “It’s hard to say but I’d say they looked at my experience, and they saw the skills that make up what’s needed on the school committee,” she said. “Hopefully, this school committee will work to really be there for every single child.”
In the election’s other contested races, incumbent Tax Collector Beatrice Renauld, with 850 votes, bested challenger Judith Shepley, who tallied 181 votes. “I’ve been in the office since 2011,” Renauld said, speculating on the reasons for her win. “Hopefully, it’s because the voters are happy that the Tax Collector’s office has done a good job, and that’s why the results were what they were.”
In the Park Commission race, Brian Berube, with 438 votes, earned a narrow victory over Zoning Board of Appeals member K. Douglas Sims, who garnered 430 votes.
Peter Damien McCann was elected as the new Rochester member of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee with 790 votes, replacing Joseph Pires, who did not seek re-election.
This year’s election saw a total of 1,132 voters cast their ballots.
Rochester 2026 Annual Town Election
By Michael J. DeCicco