Bangor council elects new mayor > Special election favored to fill vacancy

BANGOR – City Councilor John M. Rohman was elected Monday to serve as the city’s next mayor.

Rohman is the 54-year-old president and chief executive officer at WBRC Architects. He took office after a unanimous City Council vote and took the gavel from outgoing Mayor Michael Aube, who resigned the post last month.

In his Monday morning inaugural address, Rohman said he would continue the board’s efforts to attract development to the downtown and waterfront, while strengthening state and federal ties to the area.

“The most long-lasting and usually the best projects take years to develop, and the focus we have this year is no different,” Rohman said, forecasting the fruition of significant economic development efforts in the next session.

In her 12 years on the council, City Councilor Patricia Blanchette has seen as many mayors – including herself – preside over the nine-member board.

She said Rohman was the “right choice for the right time.”

“He’s going to bring a level of expertise to the council in the area of waterfront development like we haven’t seen before,” Blanchette said, noting Rohman’s experience as an architect and planner. “He’s kind of like a good pair of shoes. You know when they fit right.”

Blanchette also said Rohman’s link to the artistic community was an asset considering the council’s work on the Maine Discovery Museum, formerly the Eastern Maine Children’s Museum, and the University of Maine art museum, both of which are to be located in the city’s downtown.

Also at Monday morning’s organizational meeting, incumbent councilors Rohman, Nichi Farnham and Michael Crowley were sworn in after being returned to their seats on Election Day.

Councilors at the meeting lauded Aube for his work on the board. Aube resigned his posts earlier this month, citing a conflict with his federal job as a reason for stepping down.

In a Monday evening workshop, the majority of councilors favored holding a special election to fill Aube’s vacant post instead of waiting for the November 2001 election.

“I don’t think the community will be as well served with eight instead of nine,” Crowley said.

City Councilor Dan Tremble questioned the need for a special election considering the cost, estimated at between $8,000 and $10,000.

The council likely will discuss and vote on the matter at its Nov. 27 meeting.