Richard H. Demers was an American politician who served as mayor of Chicopee, Massachusetts, and was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Richard H. Demers
Demers in 1979
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1971–1981
Preceded byRoger L. Bernashe
Succeeded byKenneth Lemanski
Mayor of Chicopee, Massachusetts
In office
1968–1972
Preceded byEdward A. Lysek
Succeeded byEdward J. Ziemba
Personal details
BornJanuary 19, 1928
Chicopee, Massachusetts
DiedJune 17, 2004(2004-06-17) (aged 76)[1]
Springfield, Massachusetts
Resting placeSte. Rose de Lima Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materHolyoke Community College
Western New England University School of Law
OccupationReal estate developer
Politician

Early life

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Demers was born on January 19, 1928, in Chicopee. He attended Chicopee High School, Holyoke Community College, and the Western New England University School of Law.[2]

Political career

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Demers began his career as a member of the Chicopee board of assessors. In 1967, he defeated his fellow assessor Walter Olbrych by 13,668 votes to 9,156 to succeed the retiring Edward A. Lysek as mayor of Chicopee. It was the first time in Olbrych's 22 years in public office that he had been defeated.[3] In 1969, Demers was re-elected. He defeated his predecessor, Edward A. Lysek, by over 6,700 votes.[4] In 1971, Demers was defeated by city treasurer Edward J. Ziemba by 14,760 votes to 7,793.[5]

From 1971 to 1981, Demers was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Richard Demers Obituary". The Republican (Springfield, MA). MassLive. 18 June 2004. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b Public Officers of the Massachusetts General Court 1980-81. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  3. ^ "Chicopee: Demers Elected Mayor; Many Aldermen Ousted". The Boston Globe. November 3, 1965.
  4. ^ "Chicopee: Mayor Demers Is Reelected". The Boston Globe. November 8, 1967.
  5. ^ "Ziemba Mayor Of Chicopee". The Boston Globe. November 5, 1969.