Ruthanne Fuller is the thirty-first Mayor of the City of Newton and the first woman Mayor in Newton’s history. She was sworn into office on January 1, 2018. Since then, Ruthanne:
- Led Newton’s thoughtful public health and economic response to COVID-19
- Invested over $150 million in roads, sidewalks, infrastructure, and parks and open spaces
- Supported Newton’s World-Class Public Schools
- Instituted full day Kindergarten for the first time in city history
- Implemented the City of Newton’s first-ever Climate Action Plan
- Created Newton PowerChoice, enabling city residents to run on 80% locally sourced renewable energies
- Preserved Newton’s largest public treasure, Webster Woods, from development in perpetuity
- Advocated for a diversified transit-oriented housing stock to benefit Newton’s vibrant Villages and small businesses
- Maintained Newton’s AAA bond rating
As Mayor, Ruthanne prioritizes making our schools the best in Massachusetts, modernizing city infrastructure like roads and sidewalks, strengthening our neighborhoods and villages, and leading Newton through the twin COVID-19 health and economic crises. Ruthanne cares deeply about making sure Newton is a city where we respect people with different opinions and stays true to being a city that is welcoming, inclusive, and diverse.
“I’ve never seen Ruthanne back down from a tough challenge. Her ability to identify and take on the city’s most pressing issues is an example of what I call true leadership and will make her an outstanding Mayor for our city.” – former Massachusetts State Treasurer Steve Grossman
Ruthanne served as City Councilor from Ward 7 starting in 2010. In that role, she was a leader on the reconstruction of outdated school buildings, the creation of long-term investment plans for water, sewer and stormwater systems, and the implementation of specific steps to ensure Newton’s long-term financial sustainability.
Prior to serving on the City Council, Ruthanne was asked to serve as Vice Chair of the Newton Citizen Advisory Group – a group tasked with improving operational efficiency and effectiveness and making choices about service levels in a period when the city was facing recurring structural deficits. When she lived in Brookline, Ruthanne co-chaired the town’s Financial Planning Advisory Committee from 1993-1994, as well as served on the town’s Finance Committee and chaired its Strategic Planning Sub-Committee. Ruthanne also has over two decades of experience as a Strategic Planner for non-profit organizations and businesses, including eight years at WGBH, including creating its first strategic master plan.
Ruthanne and her husband, Joe, have lived in Newton over twenty-five years, where they raised their sons – twins Mark and Chris, and David. She is now the proud grandmother of her first grandchild, Henry, and co-parent of nine-year-old Argus and a puppy Callie, her beloved Pointers. Ruthanne is a graduate of Brown University and Harvard Business School.