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Quincy, Massachusetts
Two presidents were born within a mile of each other in this city, and you can still walk to both birthplaces. Quincy is the City of Presidents, home to John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the place that quarried the granite for the Bunker Hill Monument and ran the first commercial railroad in the country. This guide shows you how Quincy works today: the people who run the city, the boards that shape your block, the legislators who carry your voice to Boston and Washington, and the data behind it all.
Quincy at a Glance
- County: Norfolk. Quincy sits on the shore of Quincy Bay, just south of Boston, and is the largest city on the South Shore.
- Government: Plan A strong-mayor charter. Mayor Thomas P. Koch has led the city since 2008.
- Schools: Quincy Public Schools, about 9,600 students across 19 schools, led by Superintendent Kevin W. Mulvey.
The Quincy Civics Handbook
A plain-language guide to how your city works: who represents you, how decisions get made, and how to make your voice heard. Read it free online.
How Quincy’s Government Works
Quincy runs on a strong-mayor charter, known as Plan A. Voters elect a Mayor to run the city and a nine-member City Council to make its laws, and they elect a School Committee to oversee the schools. The Mayor holds real executive power: appointing department heads, proposing the budget, and signing or vetoing what the Council passes.
The Mayor
The elected chief executive. Runs every department, appoints department heads and most board members, proposes the budget, and can veto Council ordinances.
City Council
The nine-member legislative body. Six councillors are elected by ward and three at large. The Council passes ordinances, sets the tax rate, and adopts the budget.
School Committee
Six members elected by voters, chaired by the Mayor. It sets school policy, approves the school budget, and hires the Superintendent.
- Residents elect the Mayor, the nine councillors, and the School Committee.
- The Mayor runs the city day to day and proposes the budget.
- The Council votes the budget and the ordinances up or down, and can override a veto.
- You take part: public comment, board service, and a call to your ward councillor all shape what happens next.
Civic Calendar
- City Council: meets the first and third Mondays at 7:30 PM in the Great Hall, Historic City Hall, 1305 Hancock Street.
- School Committee: meets at the Coddington Building, and its sessions are aired on QATV.
- Municipal elections: odd-numbered years. The Council and School Committee were last chosen in November 2025. The Mayor next runs in 2027.
- State and federal elections: even-numbered years. The 2026 primary and general are this fall.
City Government
Community & Data
Local government works best when residents show up. Find your ward councillor, speak at a Monday meeting, or apply to serve on a board.