Joseph E. Sinnott, Mayor

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am  - 4:30 pm

Phone: (814) 870-1200

Fax: (814) 870-1208

Mayor Joe Sinnott is a lifelong resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, the son of two public school teachers. He graduated from Academy High School in 1984 and Gannon University in 1988, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.

Following his undergraduate work, Mayor Sinnott worked for eight years, in the environmental field, serving as the City of Erie’s Industrial Pre-Treatment Coordinator. In this capacity, he helped local industry to solve environmental problems and achieve compliance with federal, state and local environmental regulations.

In 1996, Mayor Sinnott entered Case Western Reserve University School of Law and received his Juris Doctorate degree in May 1999. He returned to Erie and joined the firm of Quinn, Buseck, Leemhuis, Toohey & Kroto, concentrating his practice in the areas of environmental, commercial and bankruptcy litigation. He later practiced domestic and family law with the firm of Carney & Good.

In November 2003, Mayor Sinnott was elected to Erie City Council. He served just two years on Council before being elected Erie’s 50th Mayor, in November 2005.

Immediately upon taking office, Mayor Sinnott began working on the fiscal dilemma facing Erie, as well as municipalities across Pennsylvania and the country. He has gained the distinction of being the only Mayor in Pennsylvania who, when faced with dire financial crisis, was able to turn his city around and avoid Act 47 state intervention, a program which nearly 30 cities across the Commonwealth have entered, to avoid insolvency. Erie now enjoys financial stability and the threat of municipal bankruptcy has been eradicated.

Based upon his work in Erie, Mayor Sinnott reached out to Mayors across Pennsylvania to join in his efforts to seek legislative changes in Harrisburg and Washington that will serve as the foundation for long-term stability and growth for municipalities. This led to the formation of the “Communities in Crisis Task Force” through the Pennsylvania League of Cities. This task force has developed an agenda for change that will help all municipalities emerge from financial crisis and grow the central communities.

Mayor Sinnott was elected to his second term in November 2009. He continues to pursue a holistic approach to municipal success, being fiscally responsible and growing Erie through revitalization and economic development opportunities.