Inauguration of newly elected City Council and School Board is Jan. 5

posted on: 12/28/2025

The newly elected Dover City Council and School Board will be inaugurated on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026,, during a 7 p.m. ceremony in the City Hall auditorium. Don Briand will serve as master of ceremonies for the event, which is open to the public.

Prior to the ceremony, the incoming City Council will meet at 6 p.m. in the City Manager's office to elect a deputy mayor, make committee appointments, adopt procedural rules for the upcoming term, and take the official oath of office.

The incoming School Board will also meet at 5:15 p.m. in the City Hall Council Conference Room to elect a chair, vice-chair and secretary, as well as vote on School Board bylaws.

Those elected to serve on the 2026-2027 Dover City Council are:

• Mayor Dennis Shanahan
• At Large – Lindsey Williams
• At Large – Bret Carmichael
• Ward 1 – S. April Richer
• Ward 2 – Lucas Veitch
• Ward 3 – Anthony "Tony" Retrosi
• Ward 4 – Timothy Granfield
• Ward 5 – Richard L. Robison, Jr.
• Ward 6 – Fergus Cullen

Elected to the 2026-2027 Dover School Board are:

• At Large – Robin Trefethen
• Ward 1 – Margaret "Maggie" Fogarty
• Ward 2 – Elizabeth Goldman
• Ward 3 – Seana Hallberg
• Ward 4 – Micaela Demeter
• Ward 5 – Craig Flynn
• Ward 6 – Michelle Clancy

The inauguration ceremony will include the elected officials taking the oath of office. It represents the formal start of the new term for the City Council and School Board.