City Leadership
The Mayor’s Office
The Mayor
J. Christian Dumais
When a Marlborough street goes unplowed or a new lab rises off Route 20, one elected official owns the result. J. Christian Dumais is the chief executive of Marlborough under the city’s strong-mayor charter, which makes him responsible for running the city day to day. He oversees every department, appoints most department heads and board members, and builds the budget the City Council then votes on. Dumais is a fifth-generation Marlborough resident who grew up downtown, graduated from Marlborough High School, and ran a small business on Main Street before he served three terms as the Ward 3 city councilor. He took office as the city’s 44th mayor in January 2024 and won a second two-year term in November 2025. Because Marlborough hands real power to an elected mayor, when a city service works or fails the responsibility lands on this desk.
| Role | Mayor (chief executive) |
|---|---|
| In office | Since January 2024 |
| Term | Two-year term |
| Office | City Hall, 140 Main Street, Marlborough, MA 01752 |
| Phone | 508-460-3770 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | marlborough-ma.gov |
What the Mayor Does
- Runs the departments. Police, fire, public works, health, recreation, and the rest all answer to the Mayor, who appoints their leaders.
- Builds the budget. Each spring the Mayor proposes how the city will spend its money, then sends the plan to the Council.
- Signs or vetoes. When the Council passes an order, the Mayor can sign it into law or veto it. A two-thirds Council vote can override.
- Chairs the schools. Under the charter the Mayor sits as chair of the School Committee, linking City Hall and the classroom.
The Administration
- Department heads are appointed by the Mayor and carry out policy, from plowing snow to inspecting restaurants.
- The City Council is the check: it must approve the budget and major appointments, and it can override a veto.
- Boards and commissions, most of them appointed by the Mayor, decide questions like zoning, conservation, and licensing.
Contact & Engage
- City Hall: 140 Main Street, Marlborough, MA 01752.
- Mayor’s Office: 508-460-3770, open weekdays 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Email mayor@marlborough-ma.gov.
- Report a problem: potholes, missed trash, and other service requests go through the city’s online SeeClickFix tool.
- Show up: the Council meets in the Council Chambers on Monday evenings, and the public is welcome.
Sources
Marlborough government website (marlborough-ma.gov). Verified July 2026.
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