Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
State University of New York at Albany
Master of Arts, Public Affairs/Administration, May 1984
Summa Cum Laude
State University of New York at Buffalo
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, May 1982
Summa Cum Laude
Jamestown Community College
Associate of Arts, December 1980
Highest Honors
EXPERIENCE
January 1, 2000 – Present:
Mayor, City of Jamestown, New York
Elected – November 1999
Re-elected – November 2003
Re-elected – November 2007
Re-elected – November 2011
Re-elected – November 2015
Chief Executive Officer of the City of Jamestown, New York, a Class A City with a population of 31,146, maintaining 450 employees and total annual budget in excess of $90 million. Responsible for policy-making matters, annual budget preparation and the day-to-day management of twelve departments and municipal utility operations (including electric, water, waste water, sanitation, and district heating/cooling).
June 1988 – July 1999:
Director of Development, City of Jamestown, New York
Directed a community planning and development operation maintaining 16 staff professionals and an annual administrative budget of $800,000. Administered annual program budget in excess of $2.5 million, a $6 million economic development revolving loan fund and a code enforcement operation handling more than 10,000 code compliance cases per year. Specific activities of the Department of Development and the agencies that operate under its umbrella include the following:
- Housing Code Enforcement
- Building Code Administration
- Housing Rehabilitation/Neighborhood Development Activities
- Planning and Environmental Compliance Activities
- Grants Seeking/Administration
- Economic Development Assistance/State Empire Zone Administration
July 1986 – June 1988:
Executive Director, Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation, Jamestown, New York
Established and operated a private, not for profit development organization comprised of more than 125 member businesses. Corporation activities included the marketing of the city\’s central business district, recruitment of new businesses, organization of monthly retail promotional activities, development of business financing programs, publication of a monthly newsletter, and the resolution of problems/concerns for member businesses.
February 1984 – July 1986:
Grants Coordinator, Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency, Jamestown, New York
Coordinated the application and management of all federal and state community development grant programs for the City of Jamestown. Obtained $7 million in assistance through a variety of programs including CDBG, UDAG, ARC, and EDA.
RELATED ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Board Member/Past President, New York Conference of Mayors
- Member, National Policy Makers Council, American Public Power Association (APPA)
- Member, Western New York Regional Economic Development Council
- President, Jamestown Board of Public Utilities
- Chairman, Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency
- President, Jamestown Local Development Corporation
- President, Greater Jamestown Zone Capital Corporation
- Co-Chair, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation
ACTIVITIES / COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Board of Directors, Babe Ruth Baseball World Series, Inc.
- Advisory Board, Jamestown Jammers Baseball
- St. James Roman Catholic Church
- Jamestown Kiwanis Club, Past President
- Prior Affiliations
- Board of Directors, Jamestown YMCA
- Board of Directors, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
- Board of Directors, Jamestown Boys and Girls Club
- Board of Directors, Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation
- Jamestown Parks, Recreation and Conservation Commission
- Jamestown Environmental Council
AWARDS
- Recipient, “40 Under 40” Award recognizing the top 40 business and community leaders in Western New York under the age of 40, Business First of Western New York
- Jamestown Community College Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Delta Kappa Gamma, Friend of Education Award
PERSONAL
- Married (32 years) to Becky Peterson
- Father of two sons: Joe (26) and John (24)
- Enjoys Basketball, Cycling, Tennis, Reading, Travelling