Christian Wulf, Democrat, won his election for town board member against Republican and Conservative Party candidate Lene Fornino with about 57 percent of the votes. Erin Enouen, as well, was re-elected as town supervisor.

Wulf was sworn in early on the Nov. 5 board meeting to fill the vacancy left by Alexis Albaugh through Dec. 31, as it was decided by the Rochester town board that the election winner would cover the remainder of Albaugh’s term for a “head start.” Wulf will be sworn in again come January when his actual term begins.

After taking his oath, Wulf shared a statement with the board and those in attendance. He thanked voters, election workers, volunteers, candidates and fellow board members. Wulf also addressed his opponent, Fornino, who had also attended the meeting, for “the energy she brought to the race.”

“I was happy when you messaged me this morning, sharing that you'd be here tonight, and I'm very much looking forward to meeting with you in the coming weeks so that we can speak about working together on our shared goal of helping the town thrive,” Wulf said to Fornino.

The midterm elections brought a historic victory for Democrats nationwide in what is being called a “blue tsunami.” Wulf said that while he is thankful for the election results, he does not view his duties as a town board member as something that comes “in red or blue,” and does not support language that describe the elections as a wave or tsunami.

“Our neighbors who voted differently aren't to be washed over by a wave or tsunami. They're the people we share roads, schools, and volunteer fire companies with,” Wulf said. “My hope for my time on this board is to build coalitions across the spectrum around the practical questions in front of us, and to help get the town of Rochester ready for the future. Its budget, its infrastructure, its hamlets, and doing all of that together.”

Wulf invited members of the public to contact him when his information is posted on the town board website, and through his personal website he created during his campaign. Wulf closed his statement by saying his current focus will be on the budget, which the board is working on right now.

Charlotte Smiseth won her election for highway superintendent and will be leaving her town board seat in January, creating another vacancy on the board. It was not said how this vacancy will be handled at the town board meeting, but Smiseth expressed support for the town board to replace her seat to not “be without a member for long.”

The next town board meeting will be on Nov. 18.