AUBURN – John Jenkins claimed the job of Auburn mayor Tuesday, defeating Tammie Grieshaber 5,712 to 3,031.

That will make him the first person to serve as mayor of both Lewiston and Auburn. He served as Lewiston mayor from 1994 to 1998.

“I was very excited when I found out about that,” Jenkins said.

And he’s ready to get busy. His term is short – all elected officials in Auburn will serve one-year terms this year to bring the city’s election schedule in line with Lewiston’s.

That means Jenkins will have to hit the ground running, he said.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, and I’m really excited about getting started,” he said.

Jenkins’ history as the mayor of Lewiston didn’t hurt him at the polls. Several voters said they didn’t know much else about him.

“I’ve heard his name for a long time,” said Nicole Gagne Charpentier, 34, of Summer Street. “He seems like a good choice.”

Kirk Smith of Maple Point also recognized Jenkins’ name, and that was enough to get his vote.

But name recognition was working against the former Lewiston mayor in the case of Corrine Bolduc, 70, of 2nd Street.

“I remember him from when he was in Lewiston,” she said. “That’s why I voted against him.”

Likewise for Aline Provencher of Bowdoin Street.

“I just didn’t want him,” she said.

Candice Northrup said Jenkins’ tax plan convinced her.

“I heard him on the radio and he said he wanted to change the city’s tax structure, which needs to happen,” Northrup said. “He talked about not sending the assessor over right after somebody renovates their house.”

That struck a cord with Northrup. She and her husband are having work done on their house and aren’t anxious for a bigger tax bill, she said.

Jeannine Pelletier of Valley Street in Auburn said she knew Grieshaber.

“And that’s who I voted for,” Pelletier said. “I’ve heard her speak and I really liked what she said.”

Grieshaber said she was disappointed Tuesday night. She didn’t rule out running again next year, but she said she would wait and see.

“We’ll see what turns up, and we’ll see what kind of a job John does,” Grieshaber said.

The new mayor is going to have his hands full, she said early in the day, before the votes were tallied.

“With the new council, there are some very independent people there,” she said. It might be difficult to help build consensus.

“No matter what, it’s going to be a challenge,” she said.