Mayors of Main Street

About Mayors of Main Street

Welcome to Mayors of Main Street—the podcast that delves into the heart of American communities by exploring the experiences and insights of some of the longest-serving mayors in the country. Hosted by Mayor Kristine Lott, this podcast brings you compelling stories of public service, community challenges, and the triumphs that define local leadership. Mayor Kristine Lott, the first woman to hold the mayoral office in Winooski, Vermont, is no stranger to community engagement and leadership. Her journey into local politics began in 2017 when she was appointed to the Housing Commission for Winooski. In 2018, she took a bold step by running for a City Council seat, which she won and served with distinction. By January 2019, the incumbent mayor's resignation paved the way for her to run for mayor, and she was elected on March 5, 2019, with a platform centered on financial sustainability, housing affordability, and active community involvement. Since then, she has been re-elected and continues to serve her community with vigor and vision. Throughout her tenure, Mayor Lott has made significant strides in formalizing and expanding community engagement, improving local ordinances to boost voting participation and housing affordability, and steering through key infrastructure projects despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Notable projects under her leadership include the revitalization of Main Street, the rehabilitation of a community pool, and the development of a municipal parking garage, hotel, and workforce housing. Born in Southwest Michigan, Mayor Lott earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University. In 2009, she moved to Vermont, where she now resides with her husband, a lifelong Winooski resident. Balancing her mayoral duties with her role as Director of Operations for an education non-profit, she embodies dedication and resilience. Join Mayor Kristine Lott on Mayors of Main Street as she interviews fellow mayors delving into their personal journeys, the issues they face, and the impactful decisions they make every day. Each episode provides an in-depth look at the unique challenges and rewards of leading a community, offering herself and listeners valuable insights and inspiration from the frontlines of local governance.

Publisher

Kristine Lott

Category

government · news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Mar 2025

Latest episode

7 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Oct 2025

   Mayor Thomas McDermott of Hammond, Indiana

   Mayor Thomas McDermott discusses his long tenure as Mayor of Hammond, Indiana, and the city's relationship with Chicago in an interview with Mayor Kristine Lott.

2. 

   16 Sept 2025

   Mayor Kenneth L. Branner of Middletown, Delaware

   Mayor Kenneth L. Branner speaks with Mayor Kristine Lott about setting goals for personal and community development, emphasizing motivation as a key factor for progress in this interview episode.

3. 

   26 Aug 2025

   Mayor Allen Joines of Winston-Salem, North Carolina

   Mayor Allen Joines of Winston-Salem, North Carolina shares his journey from city manager to elected official with host Kristine Lott, detailing Winston-Salem's economic transformation.

4. 

   22 Jul 2025

   Mayor Elise Partin, Cayce, South Carolina

   Mayor Elise Partin discusses her tenure as Cayce, South Carolina's first female and longest-serving mayor with host Mayor Kristine Lott, highlighting her focus on community and nonpartisan local governance in this interview.

5. 

   8 Jul 2025

   Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Elizabeth, New Jersey

   Mayor J. Christian Bollwage shares his experiences revitalizing downtown Elizabeth, improving public safety, and fostering community growth in this interview.

6. 

   17 Jun 2025

   Mayor John Evans of Garden City, Idaho

   Mayor John Evans of Garden City, Idaho, discusses the unique history and promising future of his Boise-border town, including the impact of Chinese immigrants, in an interview on local governance.

7. 

   3 Jun 2025

   Mayor Pam Colestock

   Mayor Pam Colestock shares her experiences and responsibilities as the mayor of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, highlighting the unique characteristics of the "Island City" in this interview.

8. 

   6 May 2025

   Mayor Marvin Johnson

   Joining me today is Mayor Marvin Johnson of Independence, Minnesota. Mayor Johnson was first elected mayor in November 1979 and served 45 years in the role before retiring earlier this year, making him the longest-serving mayor in modern Minnesota history. In this episode, he reflects on his decades of service, the sustainable growth of Independence, and the importance of listening to constituents. Mayor Johnson reflects on his early days as a dairy farmer and surprising election to the...

9. 

   22 Apr 2025

   Mayor Bob Chatfield

   Joining me today is Mayor Bob Chatfield of Prospect, CT. Mayor Bob entered office in 1977, and has 48 years of service in the role. He is the 7th longest serving active mayor in the US. During his terms in office, he brought in municipal water, a new library and community center to town. Mayor Bob shares all about Prospect, what it's like to serve his community for so long, and shares his penny pincher award! In this episode of Mayors of Main Street, Mayor Christine Lott interviews Mayor Bob...

10. 

    8 Apr 2025

    Mayor Dean Mazzarella

    Joining me today is Mayor Dean Mazzarella of Leominster, MA. Mayor Mazzarella entered office in 1994, and has 30 years of service in the role. During his terms in office, he helped the city of Leominster strengthen its financial position, increase accountability, and community engagement. We discuss the successes, changes, and challenges he's seen over his terms, and Leominster's best spots to eat! In this candid and wide-ranging interview, Mayor Kristine Lott talks to Mayor Dean Mazzarella ...

11. 

    20 Mar 2025

    Professor Kimberly L Nelson

    In the premier episode of Mayors of Main Street, Mayor Kristine Lott interviews Kimberly L. Nelson, Professor of Public Administration and Government in the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Nelson’s research on form of government, corruption, and innovation has been published in Public Administration Review, The American Review of Public Administration, State and Local Government Review, and other journals and she recently published a book, Mu...

Who has been a guest on Mayors of Main Street

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Mayor Thomas McDermott
• Kenneth L Branner
• Mayor Allen Joines
• Elise Partin
• John Evans

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 2 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

5

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0