For more than four months, Springfield has been without a mayor ever since longtime mayor Christine Lundberg abruptly resigned in August. Council President Joe Pishioneri took on acting mayoral duties, but a new mayor will be appointed sometime in January 2021. The person stepping into the largely ceremonial role can set a political vision for the city as it deals with big issues and experiences a change in demographics.
The city charter prohibits a special election to replace Lundberg, so the next mayor could be one of two councilors: Ward 4’s Leonard Stoehr, who was elected to council in 2016 and re-elected this year, and Ward 1’s Sean VanGordon, a councilor since 2011. Pishioneri applied but after community pressure, he said he would withdraw to focus on his ward.