AUBURN – A day after a surprise tide of write-in votes swept him back into the mayor’s office, John Jenkins still had trouble believing he’d made political history – again.

“I’m just humbled by the magnitude of what this means,” he said Wednesday. “I’m just in awe of what the citizens have done. I’m just humbled.”

Jenkins spent the day after Election Day attending a conference on regional partnerships in Lewiston. Or at least he attempted to attend. Aside from the friends, citizens and conference participants who offered constant congratulations, at least nine TV news stations – some from as far away as Boston and New York – vied for Jenkins’ attention, clamoring for an interview with the first Auburn mayor, and perhaps the first Maine mayor, to be elected by write-in votes.

“I kept reiterating the fact this moment belongs to the citizens, because I was truly the citizens’ hand-chosen candidate,” he said. “And when you have the people speak with that loud of a voice, my gosh, it’s just awe-inspiring.”

Jenkins, 55, has made history before. In the mid-1990s he became the first black mayor of Lewiston. Last December, he became the first black mayor of Auburn, taking office for a one-year term.

He proved popular during that short period. He promised a more open, inclusive government. He reached out to neighborhoods by holding city council meetings in different wards. He brought back spring trash pickup, a service many residents prized.

But nine months into his term, Jenkins said he wouldn’t run for a second. His role as mayor simply took too much time away from his day jobs.

Several people, including Ed and Sheila Desgrosseillers, refused to accept Jenkins’ decision.

“We didn’t feel we had a good choice for mayor, and we wanted to add one,” Ed Desgrosseillers said.

He, his wife and seven others mounted their own Jenkins campaign, even though Jenkins’ name wouldn’t appear on the ballot.

“We were told from the start a write-in campaign would never be a success, had never been a success,” he said.

Undaunted, the group distributed fliers, posted campaign signs, called voters and placed ads in the paper. And since other write-in campaigns failed because voters didn’t fill out the ballot correctly, the group handed out instruction cards that explained exactly what a Jenkins voter would have to do.

Jenkins, for his part, simply agreed to serve if elected.

“I kind of said it’s a nice gesture, but let’s get real here. No one’s ever won,” he said. “But the citizens were so adamant and so focused.”

On Tuesday, Jenkins received 2,166 write-in votes, or more than half of the nearly 4,000 votes cast. The write-in mayoral win was a first in Auburn. Jenkins said he’s spoken with several state historians who believe it’s a first in Maine as well.

Although the win took him by surprise, Jenkins said he won’t back out on his agreement. He was elected. He’ll serve.

“Everybody knows where I live now. I think they’d come get me,” he joked.

Eric Samson, who was listed on the ballot, came in second with 1,305 votes. Fred Sanborn, who was also on the ballot, came in third with 514 votes. Both men said Wednesday they were concerned that the write-in instruction cards with Jenkins name and address were distributed outside the polling places on Election Day and that some of those cards were found in voting booths. Desgrosseillers said voters brought the cards with them to ensure they filled out the ballot correctly, while some people accidentally left them behind.

But despite that irregularity, neither Samson nor Sanborn plans to challenge the results.

“I believe 2,100 showed up to vote, and 2,100 people took the time to write in John Jenkins’ name,” Samson said. “I don’t think a recount would be worth anyone’s time.”

Even though Jenkins vowed to spend less time at city hall in order to focus more time on his day jobs, he said Wednesday he could still accomplish a lot as mayor. All with the help of the new City Council.

“I think we’re going to have an excellent, excellent team coming up,” he said.

With his surprise win less than 24 hours old, Jenkins was already framing some lofty goals: Turn Auburn into the healthiest community in Maine as a way to attract employers, address domestic violence, hold a conference involving women and working families and talk livable wages.

“I am so excited. I am fired up,” he said. “It’s good to be needed.”