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City Leadership
The City Manager & the Mayor
Lowell splits its executive leadership between two roles. The City Manager is the professional chief executive who runs the city day to day. The Mayor — a city councilor chosen by colleagues — is the city’s official head and chairs both the City Council and the School Committee. Understanding the difference is the key to understanding how Lowell is governed.
The City Manager
Thomas A. Golden Jr.
Thomas A. Golden Jr. has served as Lowell’s City Manager since April 2022. A Lowell native and graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, he represented the city’s 16th Middlesex district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1995 to 2022, where he co-chaired the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. As City Manager he is appointed by and accountable to the City Council, oversees every city department, prepares the annual budget, and carries out the policies the Council sets.
| Role | City Manager (chief executive) |
|---|---|
| In office | Since April 2022 |
| Office | City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852 |
| Phone | 978-674-4400 |
| Website | lowellma.gov |
The Mayor
Erik Gitschier
Erik Gitschier became Mayor of Lowell in January 2026, elected by his fellow councilors. First elected to the Council representing District 8 and now serving as one of three at-large councilors, he holds the city’s highest ceremonial office. As Mayor he presides over City Council meetings and chairs the School Committee, making him a central figure in both city and school governance — even though the day-to-day administration of the city rests with the City Manager.
| Role | Mayor & Council Chair (at-large councilor) |
|---|---|
| In office | Mayor since January 2026 |
| Office | Mayor’s Office, City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street |
| Phone | 978-674-4040 |
| Website | lowellma.gov |
Who Does What
- The City Manager appoints department heads, prepares and manages the budget, signs contracts, and runs the city’s daily operations. The Manager is hired by the Council and can be replaced by it.
- The Mayor sets Council and School Committee agendas as chair, represents the city at official functions, and is a voting member of both bodies — but does not run city departments or hold veto power.
- Together they balance professional administration with elected accountability — the defining feature of Plan E government.
Contact & Engage
- City Hall hours: Mon, Wed, Thu 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Tue 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m.–noon.
- Main line: 978-674-4000 · 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852.
- Lowell 311: report potholes, missed trash, and other service requests online or by phone.
- Watch: Council and School Committee meetings air on LTC and are streamed online.
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