Two candidates drop out, two drop in to Rochester's race for mayor's office

ROCHESTER - On Saturday at the Granite State Fair State Senator James Gray told The Rochester Voice he was getting out of the city's mayoral race, because while politics aren't supposed to play a role in city elections, it ends up playing a role in everything.
Today the field for the city's top elective office has been totally revamped, with Gray and state rep Kelley Potenza, both Republicans, getting out of the race.
The field now includes NH Home Builders Association CEO Matt Mayberry, a Republican who ran for the state's 1st Congressional District in 2020; former city councilor and Democrat state rep Chuck Grassie, former Rochester city councilor Pete Lachapelle and Douglas Robbins.
Gray said the initial list pitted three Republicans against one Democrat and that would've put Grassie in the driver's seat to easily win the mayor's office.

The filing period for municipal elections ended Monday at 5 p.m., so this is the final slate of mayoral candidates.