View the Attleboro Handbook
City Leadership
Mayor’s Office
The Mayor
Cathleen DeSimone
Cathleen DeSimone is Attleboro’s 19th mayor. She was first elected in a February 2023 special election to succeed Paul Heroux, who left to become Bristol County Sheriff, and was re-elected to a full term in November 2025. An attorney by training, she previously served as an at-large member of the Municipal Council, where she authored the city’s first accessory dwelling unit ordinance. As mayor she has made housing a priority, redeveloping vacant municipal and former school buildings into affordable units, alongside work on infrastructure, fiscal stability, and expanded support for residents facing mental-health and addiction challenges. She holds a BA in journalism from the University of Rhode Island, a Juris Doctor from Roger Williams University School of Law, and a master’s in higher education administration from Eastern Nazarene College. A longtime community volunteer, she has served on the Attleboro Public Library Board of Trustees and with local education and civic groups.
| In office | Since March 2023 |
|---|---|
| Office | Mayor’s Office, Government Center, 77 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703 |
| Phone | 508-223-2222 |
| Mayor@cityofattleboro.us | |
| Website | cityofattleboro.us |
What the Mayor Does
Attleboro is a strong-mayor city, which means the mayor is both the elected head of government and the city’s chief administrator. The mayor’s core powers and duties include:
- Proposes the budget. The mayor prepares the annual city budget and presents it to the Municipal Council each spring.
- Appoints department heads. The mayor nominates the leaders of city departments and many board and commission members.
- Can veto ordinances. The mayor may veto measures passed by the Council, which the Council can override with a supermajority.
- Runs day-to-day operations. The mayor oversees the departments that deliver city services, from public works to public safety.
The Administration
The mayor leads a team of department heads and constitutional officers who manage the city’s finances, records, and services. Key offices include:
- City Clerk, Kate M. Jackson. Keeps the city’s records, vital statistics, and election filings, and serves as clerk of the Municipal Council.
- City Collector, Zaida Keefer. Collects property taxes, excise taxes, and municipal fees.
- City Treasurer, Laura Gignac. Manages the city’s cash, debt, and payroll.
- Department heads for public works, police, fire, health, planning, and other services report to the mayor.
Contact & Engage
- By phone: 508-223-2222 (City Hall main line).
- By email: Mayor@cityofattleboro.us.
- In person: Mayor’s Office, Government Center, 77 Park Street. City Hall hours run Monday through Friday, with extended Tuesday hours.
- To request a meeting or raise an issue, contact the Mayor’s Office directly or reach out to your ward councilor.
The mayor sets the agenda, but the Municipal Council writes the laws and approves the budget. See who represents your ward.