The Mayor of West Springfield, MA is William C. Reichelt, who was re-elected in November 2025 and has held the office since 2016. The position is a full-time chief executive role created by the town’s Home Rule Charter, which replaced the Board of Selectmen with a Mayor-Council form of government effective January 2001.1eCode360. Town of West Springfield Charter – Article 9 Transitional Provisions
What the Mayor Does
The charter makes the mayor the town’s chief executive, responsible for enforcing local laws and running the administrative departments. That includes appointing and removing department heads such as the Police Chief and the Commissioner of Public Works, with most high-level appointments subject to Town Council confirmation.
The mayor also holds veto power over Town Council measures under Charter Section 3-7, which the council can override by a supermajority. Collective bargaining with municipal unions and management of town-owned property fall to the office as well.
The budget is the mayor’s single largest responsibility. Each year the mayor prepares a balanced spending plan and submits it to the council, which reviews, amends, and votes on it before the fiscal year begins.2General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44 Section 32
Appointments extend well beyond paid staff. The mayor fills seats on more than two dozen citizen boards and commissions, including the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Board of Health, Board of Assessors, Housing Authority, and Council on Aging.3Town of West Springfield. Mayor Reichelt’s Office Residents interested in serving can contact the office about vacancies.
Seat on the School Committee
By virtue of office, the mayor holds a voting seat on the seven-member West Springfield School Committee alongside the six elected members, and can be elected chair or vice chair.4eCode360. Town of West Springfield Charter – Article 4 School Department That gives the office a direct hand in school budgets, superintendent hiring, and education policy.
Term, Elections, and Qualifications
The mayor serves a four-year term. Voters approved the switch from two years to four in November 2016, and the first four-year term began in January 2018.5Massachusetts Municipal Association. West Springfield Approves 4-Year Mayoral Term Municipal elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November during odd-numbered years, and the top vote-getter takes office the following January. The charter imposes no term limits.
Any registered voter in West Springfield is eligible to run. The job is full-time, and the mayor cannot hold another elective public office or be actively engaged in another business, occupation, or profession while serving.6eCode360. Town of West Springfield Charter – Article 3 Executive Branch Residency and voter registration in West Springfield must be maintained throughout the term; losing either creates a vacancy.
Salary and Staff
The mayor’s salary was $130,000 until the Town Council voted in late 2024 to raise it to $160,000, with the increase taking effect after the next mayoral election. Reichelt’s November 2025 re-election means the higher figure applies to his current term.
The office is staffed by a Chief of Staff, an Executive Assistant, and an Administrative Assistant. The Chief of Staff is the primary contact for residents seeking a meeting with the mayor.3Town of West Springfield. Mayor Reichelt’s Office
How to Reach the Office
The Mayor’s Office is on the second floor of the J. Edward Christian Municipal Office Building, 26 Central Street, West Springfield, MA 01089. The main phone line is 413-263-3041.3Town of West Springfield. Mayor Reichelt’s Office The town website also accepts questions and service requests electronically.
To schedule a meeting or request a ceremonial proclamation, submit a written request to the office explaining the purpose. The Chief of Staff handles meeting requests, and the administrative team manages the calendar.
Public records requests for documents or communications from the mayor’s office go through a dedicated online portal, where residents can submit and track requests with the Public Records Access Officer.7Town of West Springfield. Public Records Request