Harrison Thorp 6:14 a.m.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 6:22 am

Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley breezed to an unexpected easy win on Tuesday. (Rochester Voice file photos)

ROCHESER - Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley swept to an impressive second mayoral victory on Tuesday, winning every city ward and grabbing almost 46 percent of the general vote along the way.

Former mayor Doug Lachance came in a distant second, with 24.7 percent of the vote, followed by State Rep. Matt Scruton with 22.6 percent and Safran project manager Don Barnes with 5.6 percent.

Clearly the most hotly contested race of the night was in Ward Five, City Council Seat B, where incumbent Robert W. Gates held off challenger Sam A. Oliver III by just five votes, 193-188. Among the returns for that contest were three write-ins and 34 blanks, according to Rochester voting returns sent Tuesday night.

The only other City Council contested race in the city was for Ward 1, City Council Seat A, where Jeremy Hutchinson took 55 percent of the vote, easing by Ray Barnett, 309-169.

City Council member Robert Gates eked out a five-vote win on Tuesday. It wasn't clear early today whether there would be a recount.

All of the election officials races were uncontested except for Ward 4 Supervisor of the Checklist, where Patricia Dunlap defeated Donald Hamann, 312-142.

Meanwhile, the Keno vote was so close it will likely trigger an automatic recount. Uncertified results show the gambling game winning by a single vote citywide, 1,036-1,035. Somersworth voters narrowly passed Keno 420-391.

All three police commissioner slots were also uncontested, with David R. Stevens, Derek Peters and Lisa Stanley winning seats.

Pete Scala chats with Ward 1 City Councilman Ray Varney, and his wife, Gail, before heading into the polls at the East Rochester Elementary School to vote on Tuesday. Also, from left, Brandon Hutchinson, Jeremy Hutchinson, who won a City Council seat; and Ezra Kovates, supporting mayoral candidate Doug Lachance. (Rochester Voice photo)