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Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut facts for kids

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Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut
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Incumbent
Caroline Simmons

since 2021
Term length 4 years
Formation 1894
First holder Charles H. Leeds

The mayor of Stamford, Connecticut is the city's main leader. Think of them as the chief executive officer, responsible for making sure the city runs smoothly.

How Stamford's Mayor Works

Before 1945, Stamford had a different way of being governed. The city was split into two parts. One part was a "central city" with a powerful mayor. The other part was a "town" that used a traditional town meeting style of government.

People thought this system was confusing and not very good for a growing city. They felt the mayor had too much power. So, they wanted to make a change.

In 1946, a special group called the Charter Consolidation Inquiry Commission suggested a new plan. They wanted Stamford to become one unified city. This new plan would still have a strong mayor. It would also have a city council (called the Board of Representatives) with forty members. These members would be elected from twenty different areas of the city.

Stamford voters approved these ideas, and the new system started on April 15, 1949.

The Mayor's Role Today

Today, Stamford still has a "strong-mayor" government. This means the mayor has a lot of important jobs.

The mayor chooses the people who lead different city departments. They are also the chief executive, which means they are in charge of the city's daily operations. The mayor also creates the city's budget. This budget is then presented to the board of finance, the city council, and the planning board for approval.

The city council's job is to approve the budget. They also pass laws and rules for the city. Both the mayor and the city council members serve for four years. There are no limits on how many times they can be elected.

List of Mayors of Stamford

This table shows the people who have served as mayor of Stamford. It includes when they were in office, their birth dates, and their death dates if they are no longer living.

Name Served Party Date of birth Date of death Notes
Charles H. Leeds 1894-1895 January 9, 1834 November 6, 1914
Edwin L. Scofield 1895-1897 June 18, 1852 January 14, 1918
William J. H. Bohannan 1897-1899 March 9, 1865 August 29, 1947
Edward J. Tupper 1899-1900 September 19, 1853 October 2, 1922
Homer Stille Cummings 1900-1902 Democrat April 30, 1870 September 10, 1956
Charles H. Leeds 1902-1904 January 6, 1873 February 7, 1967
Homer Stille Cummings 1904-1906 Democrat April 30, 1870 September 10, 1956 Later became the Attorney General of the United States (1933-1939)
Edward J. Tupper 1906-1910 September 19, 1853 October 2, 1922
Charles E. Rowell 1911-1913 May 3, 1849 March 29, 1914
Walter G. Austin 1913-1915 December 9, 1853 January 14, 1937
John M. Brown 1915-1915 November 7, 1856 December 10, 1915
John J. Treat 1916-1922 June 10, 1873 February 7, 1928
Alfred N. Phillips, Jr. 1923-1924 Democrat April 23, 1894 January 18, 1970
John F. Keating 1924-1926 September 8, 1876 September 15, 1946
Alfred N. Phillips, Jr. 1927-1928 Democrat April 23, 1894 January 18, 1970
William W. Graves 1928-1930 October 28, 1868 December 26, 1965
John F. Keating 1934-1935 September 8, 1876 September 15, 1946
Joseph P. Boyle 1930-1934 1883 May 25, 1948
Alfred N. Phillips, Jr. 1935-1936 Democrat April 23, 1894 January 18, 1970 Later became a representative for Connecticut's 4th congressional district
Edward A. Gonnoud 1936-1938 Democrat September 12, 1892 June 26, 1951
Charles E. Moore 1938-1940 Republican June 29, 1884 June 22, 1967
Edward A. Gonnoud 1940-1942 Democrat September 12, 1892 June 26, 1951
Charles E. Moore 1942-1949 Republican June 29, 1884 June 22, 1967
George T. Barrett 1949-1951 Republican November 29, 1884 October 11, 1954
Thomas F. J. Quigley 1951-1957 Democrat April 19, 1903 November 9, 1996
Webster C. Givens 1957-1959 Republican December 23, 1898 September 7, 1968
James Walter Kennedy 1959-1963 Democrat June 8, 1912 June 26, 1977 Later became the Commissioner of the NBA (1963–1975)
William F. Hickey Jr. 1963-1963 Democrat May 28, 1929 July 21, 2016
Thomas C. Mayers 1963-1967 Republican March 21, 1909 December 20, 1997
Bruno E. Giordano 1967-1969 Democrat July 29, 1929 May 27, 2016
Julius Morris Wilensky 1969-1973 Republican October 10, 1916 October 25, 2004
Frederick P. Lenz, Jr. 1973-1975 Democrat
Louis A. Clapes 1975-1983 Republican April 10, 1917 November 20, 1990
Thom Serrani 1983-1991 Democrat 1948
Stanley J. Esposito 1991-1995 Republican
Dannel Patrick "Dan" Malloy 1995-2009 Democrat July 21, 1955 Later became the governor of Connecticut
Michael Pavia 2009-2013 Republican
David R. Martin 2013–2021 Democrat February 23, 1953
Caroline Simmons 2021–Present Democrat February 10, 1986 The first female mayor in Stamford's history
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