Mayor's Office
The Mayor of Ithaca is the chief elected official and political leader of the city. The mayor serves as the president of the Common Council, leads the Council in developing strategic vision and policy direction for the community, represents the city in intergovernmental affairs, and is the ceremonial head of government.
Mayor Cantelmo's 2026 State of the City Address
Meet the Mayor
Robert G. Cantelmo took office as Mayor of Ithaca in 2024. Prior to that he served on the Common Council representing Fall Creek and Cornell Heights from 2022-2023. Mayor Cantelmo leads the Common Council with a clear commitment to building an inclusive, affordable, sustainable, and dynamic Ithaca.
Mayor Cantelmo is the city’s first mayor following Ithaca’s transition to a council-manager form of government. He enthusiastically supports the increased efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness that comes with professional administration. The success of this transition will have tremendous benefits for our community.
Addressing the housing crisis is one of Mayor Cantelmo’s chief objectives. In his inaugural state of the city address, he announced decisive action to simplify zoning codes to promote middle housing and mixed-use neighborhoods. Greater housing supply will promote more affordability for residents and will also directly support the resilience and growth of the city’s transit network.
Mayor Cantelmo has also called for the city to develop a comprehensive economic development strategy. Working with small businesses, institutes of higher education, and regional partners helps poise Ithaca to become an economic leader in the Southern Tier. He believes that community development and investment tackle the root causes of public insecurity in our community.
Sustainability is a key priority for the city. Mayor Cantelmo has been a vocal supporter of decarbonization and electrification efforts and supports significant federal and state investment in mitigation of greater flood risks brought on by climate change.
Mayor Cantelmo lives downtown, with his two boys, and his corgi. Before joining city government, he earned a B.A. in political science from American University, an M.A. in international affairs from George Washington University, and an M.A. in government from Cornell University.
