Mayor’s Office
The Mayor of New Bedford
New Bedford is a strong mayor city. The Mayor is the chief executive, elected city-wide to a four-year term. The Mayor runs every city department, prepares and manages the budget, makes appointments, and chairs the School Committee, while the City Council writes the city’s laws and adopts the budget.
The Mayor
Jon Mitchell
Jon Mitchell has served as Mayor of New Bedford since January 2012. A former federal prosecutor, he was first elected in 2011, and in 2019 he won the city’s first four-year mayoral term. As the city’s chief executive he appoints department heads, proposes the annual budget, oversees daily operations, and chairs the School Committee, setting the priorities that decide whether a street gets repaved or a park gets funded.
| Role | Mayor (chief executive) |
|---|---|
| In office | Since January 2012 |
| Term | Four years |
| Office | City Hall, 133 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 |
| Phone | 508-979-1410 |
| Website | newbedford-ma.gov/mayor |
What the Mayor Does
- Runs the city by appointing and directing department heads and managing daily operations.
- Proposes the budget each year for the Council to review and adopt.
- Makes appointments to boards, commissions, and senior staff, many subject to Council confirmation.
- Chairs the School Committee as an ex officio member and sets its agenda.
Contact & Engage
- City Hall hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Main line: 508-979-1400 at 133 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.
- Service requests: report potholes, missed trash, and other issues through the city’s customer service line.
- Watch: City meetings are broadcast on New Bedford’s public access channel and streamed online.
Sources
New Bedford government website (newbedford-ma.gov). Verified July 2026.
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