Joyce Craig is the 48th Mayor of Manchester. Born and raised in Manchester, Mayor Craig strives to continue the city’s progress as a statewide leader in economic development. She’s committed to tackling the city’s challenges head-on through collaboration with residents, businesses and non-profit organizations.

The first woman to be elected to Manchester’s highest office, Mayor Craig has addressed some of Manchester’s most pressing challenges and delivered on the promises she made to voters. In her time in office, Mayor Craig has:

• Grown Manchester’s economy through innovative partnerships that bring new jobs and opportunities, including working with the state to develop a comprehensive proposal that resulted in BAE Systems coming to Manchester, along with up to 800 new, high-paying jobs.
• Prioritized improving public education to attract and keep families and businesses in Manchester, including working with the NH College and University Council to secure more than $10.5 million to the school district over the next seven years through the competitive GEAR UP grant.
• Made our neighborhoods safer by combating the substance use disorder crisis and addressing crime, resulting in a 19% decrease in opioid overdoses and an overall decrease in crime, including a 9% decrease in violent crime.
• Made smarter decisions that reflect our priorities to protect your hard-earned tax dollars, and respect the tax cap

Mayor Craig began her public service in 2007. As the mother of three young children, she was concerned by the many challenges facing Manchester’s schools, and she ran for and won a seat on the Manchester School Board. She was then elected to the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

As an Alderman, Mayor Craig authored three city budgets adopted by the majority of the Board of Mayor and Alderman, investing in our roads and schools while holding the line on property taxes. These budgets also supported essential city services such as citywide bus service and allowed the Westside Library to remain open.

A product of Manchester public schools, Mayor Craig grew up in Ward 8 and attended Green Acres, Southside, and Memorial High School. She then went on to earn her degree in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire.

Mayor Craig and her husband, Michael, have three children, William, Sarah, and Kathryn.

Email Mayor Craig

• Shannon MacLeod, Chief of Staff  
• Marina Vaz, Community Engagement Manager

Request an Appearance 

Please email us if you would like to request that the Mayor speak, attend, or otherwise participate in your Manchester community event. For ribbon cutting requests, please be sure to indicate whether you are already working with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Request a Proclamation

Proclamation requests should be submitted via the city's "Request a Proclamation" page.