List of mayors of Erie, Pennsylvania facts for kids
This article is about the people who have served as the mayor of the city of Erie, located in northwestern Pennsylvania. The mayor is the top leader of the city government.
Erie's city government has a mayor and a city council. The mayor's office also includes an elected city treasurer (who handles money) and a city controller (who checks the city's finances). For the first nine years that Erie was a city, the mayor was also the head of the Select Council.
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What Does a Mayor Do?
The mayor is like the chief executive officer of the city. They are in charge of making sure the city runs smoothly. This includes things like public safety, city services, and managing the city's budget. They work with the city council to make decisions that help Erie grow and improve for everyone who lives there.
How Mayors Are Chosen
For a long time, mayors in Erie could only serve one two-year term. But this changed in 1890. After that, mayors could serve for three years, and there was no limit to how many terms they could have. A great example of this is Mayor Louis J. Tullio. He was mayor for eight terms in a row, from 1966 to 1989! This shows how much trust the people of Erie had in him.
Erie's Current Mayor
The current mayor of Erie is Joseph Schember. He started his term on January 2, 2018, and is still serving the city today. He is the 48th mayor of Erie.
A Look at Past Mayors
Many different people have served as mayor of Erie over the years. Each mayor has helped shape the city in their own way. Here are some of the more recent mayors and a very important long-serving one:
| # | Name | Term | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | Joseph Schember | January 2, 2018– present | Democratic | Current mayor |
| 47 | Joseph E. Sinnott | January 2, 2006–January 2, 2018 | Democratic | |
| 46 | Richard E. Filippi | 2002–2006 | Democratic | |
| 45 | Joyce A. Savocchio | 1990–2002 | Democratic | |
| * | Patricia Liebel | November 12, 1989–1990 | Democratic | Served as Acting mayor |
| 44 | Louis J. Tullio | 1966–November 12, 1989 | Democratic | Served for 8 terms, longest-serving mayor |
Before Mayors: The Burgesses
Before Erie became a city in 1851, it was a "borough." From 1805 until 1850, the leader of the Borough of Erie was called a "burgess." The title of mayor has been used ever since Erie officially became a city on April 14, 1851. The burgess had a similar role to a mayor, leading the local government.
Here are some of the people who served as burgess before Erie had mayors:
| Name | Starting Year | Ending Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| B. B. Vincent | 1850 | 1850 | Last burgess of Erie |
| Alexander W. Brewster | 1849 | 1849 | |
| Charles W. Kelso | 1848 | 1848 | |
| William Kelley | 1846 | 1847 | |
| Charles W. Kelso | 1845 | 1845 | |
| Thomas H. Sill | 1843 | 1844 | |
| Thomas Stewart | 1842 | 1842 | |
| Rufus S. Reed | 1841 | 1841 | |
| Myron Goodwin | 1840 | 1840 | |
| William Kelley | 1839 | 1839 | |
| James L. White | 1838 | 1838 | |
| J. B. Laughead | 1836 | 1837 | |
| Joseph M. Sterrett | 1834 | 1835 | |
| Thomas H. Sill | 1833 | 1833 | |
| Tabor Beebe | 1832 | 1832 | Acted for Forster |
| Thomas Forster | 1832 | 1832 | Elected but did not serve |
| George A. Eliot | 1831 | 1831 | |
| William Johns | 1830 | 1830 | |
| Thomas H. Sill | 1829 | 1829 | |
| Tabor Beebe | 1828 | 1828 | |
| John C. Wallace | 1825 | 1827 | |
| John Morris | 1822 | 1824 | |
| Judah Colt | 1820 | 1821 | |
| George Moore | 1818 | 1819 | |
| Thomas H. Sill | 1816 | 1817 | |
| George Moore | 1814 | 1815 | |
| Judah Colt | 1813 | 1813 | |
| Samuel Hays | 1812 | 1812 | |
| John C. Wallace | 1810 | 1811 | |
| George Buehler | 1808 | 1809 | |
| Thomas Wilson | 1807 | 1807 | |
| John C. Wallace | May 5, 1806 | 1806 |
