List of mayors of Williamsport, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Like many cities, it has a leader called a mayor. The mayor is the head of the city government and helps make important decisions for everyone living there. This page lists all the people who have served as mayor of Williamsport, starting from 1866 up to today.
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What Does a Mayor Do?
A mayor is like the chief executive officer of a city. They work to make sure the city runs smoothly and that its residents have the services they need. This includes things like public safety, parks, roads, and community programs. Mayors often lead city council meetings, represent the city at events, and work with other leaders to improve the community. They are elected by the people of the city to serve a specific term, which is usually a few years.
Williamsport's Mayors Through the Years
Here is a list of the mayors who have led the City of Williamsport since it was founded in 1866:
- Maj. James M. Wood, 1866–1867
- Dr. William F. Logan, 1867–1869
- Peter Herdic, 1869–1870
- Maj. James H. Perkins, 1870–1872
- Seth W. Starkweather, 1872–1874
- Martin Powell, 1874–1876
- Seth W. Starkweather, 1876–1878
- Henry C. Parsons, 1882–1884
- Samuel M. Crans, 1884–1886
- William N. Jones, 1886–1888
- James S. Foresman, 1888–1890
- Frederick H. Keller, 1890–1893
- William G. Elliot, 1893–1896
- James Mansel, 1896–1899
- Samuel N. Williams, 1899–1902
- John F. Laedlein, 1902–1905
- Seth T. Foresman, 1905–1908
- Charles D. Wolfe, 1908–1911
- Samuel Stabler, 1911–1916
- Jonas Fischer, 1916–1917
- Archibald M. Hoagland, 1917–1924
- Hugh Gilmore, 1924–1928
- Herbert T. Ames, 1928–1932
- George K. Harris, 1932–1936
- Charles D. Wolfe, 1936–1940
- Leo C. Williamson, 1940–1952
- Clifford L. Harman, 1952–1956
- Thomas H. Levering, 1956–1964
- Raymond M. Knaur, 1964–1968
- Richard J. Carey, 1968–1972
- John R. Coder, 1972–1976
- Daniel P. Kirby, 1976–1980
- Stephen J. Lucasi, 1980–1988
Important Mayors in Williamsport's History
Some mayors have made special contributions or achieved notable firsts during their time in office.
- Jessica L. Bloom, 1988–1992 – She was the first female mayor of Williamsport. Before becoming mayor, Bloom was a member of the City Council. She was also a leader in the Lycoming County Democratic Party until her passing in 2023.
- Phillip E. Preziosi, 1992–1996 – He had previously served as a member of the City Police Department. He was the second police officer to be elected mayor.
- Steven W. Cappelli, 1996–2000 – He resigned from his role as mayor to become a State Representative for the 83rd legislative district, serving from 2001 to 2009.
- Michael R. Rafferty, 2000–2004 – Before becoming mayor, he served nine years on the City Council, including six years as the council president.
- Mary B. Wolf, 2004–2008 – She was the second female mayor of Williamsport. Wolf had also been a member of the City Council and worked as a college professor.
- Gabriel J. Campana, 2008–2020
- Derek Slaughter, 2020–present – He is the first African-American male Democratic mayor of Williamsport. Before his time as mayor, Slaughter worked as a school teacher. He is currently serving as mayor.
See also
