On Tuesday, October 29, during a special City Council meeting, Mayor Paul Callaghan announced a diagnosis of lymphoma. He reassured fellow councilors and residents that he feels great and is responding well to treatment.

Callaghan plans to continue serving as Mayor, though he noted there may be instances where Deputy Mayor will assume his duties. Mayor Callaghan remains dedicated to the city’s progress in areas such as housing, development, and public safety, stating with determination, “I’m not going anywhere.”

See below for Mayor Callaghan’s full statement:

In the spirit of full transparency and openness, I want to share some important personal news with the City Council, municipal staff, and, most importantly, our residents, business owners, and other stakeholders throughout the City of Rochester.

Recently, I was diagnosed with lymphoma.

First, I want to reassure everyone that I feel great, I’m responding well to treatment, and I’m working with an exceptional team of doctors and nurses to overcome this diagnosis. I’m confident in their care and fully determined to beat this.

I believe it’s important to be upfront about this diagnosis because, while I plan to continue serving as Mayor, there may be times when the Deputy Mayor will step in for me. Additionally, there may be times when I won’t be able to attend large public events due to concerns about my immune system and recovery.

That said, I want to make this absolutely clear: I’m not going anywhere. I am committed to continuing my service as Mayor and I remain fully dedicated to Rochester’s progress and growth. We have made great strides as leaders in housing and development, revitalization, education, arts and culture, public safety… and I intend to keep pushing this agenda forward.

Now, with that said — let’s get back to work!

Click here to watch the meeting.

Public Meetings are broadcast live on Comcast Channel 22 and Breezeline Channel 26 (formerly Atlantic Broadband/Metrocast Cablevision). Don’t have cable? You can stream GovTV live on the City’s website, watch videos on demand, and access the video archive. GovTV is also available for download in the Apple, Roku, and Fire TV app stores. Visit www.rochesternh.gov/govtv for more information.