Voters in Rochester, Lebanon head to the polls

Mark Pappas, a Ward 3 School Board candidate, 2nd from right, and Peter Lachapelle, right, City Councilor candidate, greet a couple of voters at Lilac City Estates West today. (Harrison Thorp photo)

Voters in Rochester and Lebanon headed to the polls today under sunny skies to cast ballots on a variety of issues and candidates.

In Rochester a hotly contest battle between incumbent Mayor T.J. Jean and challenger Fred Leonard highlighted several City Council and School Board races that are expected to be tight.

In Lebanon, voters will decide on what have become two controversial referendum questions: one on whether or not the so-called Metrocast option should be used to fund videotaping of government meetings, and the other on whether the town should enact an updated Mass Gathering ordinance.

Lebanon Town Clerk Laura Bragg said this morning voting was fairly light as is usually expected in a November election in which no candidates are running.

Bragg said one sign carrier who had approached the main door of Lebanon Elementary School had to be redirected to an area at least 250 feet from the door, according to Election Day rules, but other than that everything was going smoothly.

The polls close in Rochester at 7 p.m., and in Lebanon, at 8.