City Legislature
Springfield City Council
About the Council
Springfield’s City Council is a 13-member legislature: five members elected at-large by the whole city and one from each of the eight wards, all serving two-year terms. Each January the Council picks its own President and Vice President, and if the mayor’s seat falls vacant, the Council President steps in as acting mayor until voters choose a new one.
- Legislative authority: writes and passes the city’s ordinances, financial orders, and resolutions.
- Budget oversight: reviews and votes on the annual budget the Mayor submits.
- Land use: sets zoning ordinances and grants special permits.
- Veto override: can override a mayoral veto with a supermajority vote.
- Council office: 36 Court Street, Room 200, (413) 787-6170
Council Members
Tracye Whitfield, a Councilor at Large, serves as Council President, the first woman of color to lead the body; Jose M. Delgado, also at large, serves as Vice President. All 13 members won election on November 4, 2025 to 2-year terms running through 2027.
At-Large · Council President
Tracye Whitfield
At-Large
Justin J. Hurst
At-Large
Jose M. Delgado
At-Large
Kateri B. Walsh
At-Large
Brian Santaniello
Ward 1
Maria E. Perez
Ward 2
Michael A. Fenton
Ward 3
Melvin A. Edwards
Ward 4
Malo L. Brown
Ward 5
Lavar W. Click-Bruce
Ward 6
Victor G. Davila
Ward 7
Gerry J. Martin
Ward 8
Zaida Govan
Meetings & How to Participate
- When: regular meetings on Monday evenings in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 36 Court Street. The Council meets on a hybrid basis, so you can take part virtually.
- Public speak-out: held at 6:30 PM before regular meetings. To sign up, call the Council office at (413) 787-6170 by noon on the Friday before the Monday meeting.
- Sub-committee meetings: fully virtual. Reach the Committee Chair through the Council office to sign up.
- Watch live: Meetings stream on Focus Springfield (focusspringfield.com) and the Springfield Municipal Meetings YouTube page.
- Write to the Council: City Council, 36 Court Street Room 200, Springfield, MA 01103.
Sources
Springfield City Council (springfield-ma.gov). Verified July 2026.
Springfield government website (springfield-ma.gov). Verified July 2026.
What this seat decides
Your Town or City Council
A local ordinance, the city or town budget, or a problem in your own ward or district. The real testimony happens at committee hearings rather than at the full council meeting.
The School Committee sets education policy for Springfield’s roughly 23,600 students and oversees the Superintendent.