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City Leadership
The Mayor’s Office
The Mayor
Joshua A. Garcia
Joshua A. Garcia is the 45th Mayor of Holyoke and the first Latino to hold the office. A lifelong Holyoke resident, he graduated from Holyoke High School and earned both a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Public Administration from Westfield State University. Before becoming mayor he served as Town Administrator of Blandford and worked at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the Holyoke Housing Authority, and he served on the Holyoke School Committee and Fire Commission. He was first elected on November 2, 2021, took office that November, and was sworn in for a second four-year term on January 5, 2026. He lives in Holyoke with his wife, Stefany, and their two children.
| In office | Since November 2021 (2nd term began January 2026) |
|---|---|
| Office | City Hall, 536 Dwight Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 |
| Phone | (413) 322-5510 |
| MayorsOffice@Holyoke.org | |
| Website | holyoke.org/departments/mayors-office |
What the Mayor Does
Under Holyoke’s strong-mayor charter, the Mayor is both the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the city, elected to a four-year term.
- Prepares the budget and presents it to the City Council each year.
- Appoints department heads and many board and commission members.
- Signs or vetoes ordinances passed by the City Council; the Council can override a veto with a two-thirds vote.
- Oversees daily operations — public safety, public works, finance, and constituent services.
The Administration
The Mayor leads a team of department heads who manage the city’s day-to-day services. Key offices include Administration, the Office of Planning & Economic Development, Finance and the Treasurer/Collector, Public Works, Police and Fire, and the Personnel Department. Holyoke also owns its own municipal utility, Holyoke Gas & Electric.
Contact & Engage
- Visit: City Hall, 536 Dwight Street, open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Call: (413) 322-5510
- Email: MayorsOffice@Holyoke.org
- Request a meeting or share a concern through the Mayor’s Office; constituent staff route issues to the right department.
The Mayor sets the agenda, but the Council writes the ordinances. See who represents your ward and how to weigh in.