Mayor Thomas S. Richards
Mayor 
Richards was sworn in as Mayor on April 11, 2011 after a special election decided who would succeed former Mayor Robert J. Duffy, who became Lieutenant Governor. Richards stepped into the Mayor's office after serving more than four years as Corporation Counsel and two months as Deputy Mayor.
In his previous roles, Mayor Richards oversaw the sale of the fast ferry and the termination of costly long-term leases for the Port Terminal building and with the Toronto Port Authority. The Mayor is also overseeing the ongoing conversion of Midtown Plaza from a nearly vacant downtown mall to an 8.6-acre shovel-ready development site in the heart of the city. Under Mayor Richards' leadership, the project remains on time and on budget.
Prior to his service as Corporation Counsel Mayor Richards was the chairman, president and chief executive officer of RGS Energy Group, the parent company of Rochester Gas & Electric from 1998 to 2002. After joining RG&E in 1991 as general counsel, he served as senior vice president for corporate services, senior vice president for finance and as president and chief operating officer. Prior to joining RG&E, Mayor Richards was a partner in the Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle (now Nixon Peabody) law firm. During his 20 years there, he specialized in civil litigation and served at various times as the managing partner and chairman of the management committee.
Administration - The Executive Branch of City Government
The Mayor’s Office represents the head of the executive / administrative branch of City Government. The Mayor is responsible for the administration of all City affairs, including approving local laws and ordinances; enforcing laws; and appointing department heads and members of certain boards and commissions. All City operations are overseen by the Office through the direct supervision of the Mayor and appointed senior staff.
The administration performs the City's executive and central support functions. These include strategic planning, developing and implementing policy, preparing and administering the annual budget and capital improvement plan, and coordinating the submission of legislation to City Council. The offices of the administration are also responsible for several centralized functions of the City government: Personnel and civil service; communications and public information; examining and evaluating City programs and processes through the Office of Public Integrity; and the City's legal business.
More About the Mayor's Office
Keep reading for more information about the functions of the Mayor's Office and the Senior Management Team.