City Leadership
The Mayor’s Office
Peabody is a strong-mayor city, and that one word, strong, tells you almost everything. The Mayor is the full-time chief executive, elected directly by the voters to run the city day to day, hire the department heads, write the budget, and chair the School Committee. No appointed manager sits in between. The executive power is the Mayor’s, while the City Council writes the laws and signs off on the spending.
The Mayor
Edward A. “Ted” Bettencourt Jr.
Ted Bettencourt has been Mayor of Peabody since January 2012, and in November 2025 voters returned him for an eighth term. A Peabody native and a lawyer by training, he runs the city full-time: every department reports up to him, he writes the budget the Council votes on, and he chairs the School Committee. Mayors here serve two-year terms, so the job is never far from the next election.
| Role | Mayor (chief executive) |
|---|---|
| In office | Since January 2012 (eighth term) |
| Term | Two years; current term through 2027 |
| Office | City Hall, 24 Lowell Street, Peabody, MA 01960 |
| Website | peabody-ma.gov |
What the Mayor Does
- Runs the city. Hires and directs the department heads, from police and fire to public services and planning, and owns the daily operations.
- Builds the budget. Writes the annual city budget and sends it to the Council, which can cut a line but cannot add one.
- Chairs the schools. Sits as chair of the seven-member School Committee.
- Speaks for Peabody. Signs the contracts, issues the proclamations, and represents the city to state and federal partners.
Contact & Engage
- City Hall: 24 Lowell Street, Peabody, MA 01960 · main line 978-538-5900.
- Get alerts: the city’s CodeRED system sends emergency and service notices directly to your phone.
- Use the app: report a pothole, a missed trash pickup, or any service problem through the city’s app and online portal.
- Watch: Council and School Committee meetings are broadcast on Peabody Access Television (PATV) and streamed online.
Sources
Peabody government website (peabody-ma.gov). Verified July 2026.
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