Meet Joshua

The issues facing our city are complex. I'm ready to navigate the road ahead, working collaboratively with the City Council and Holyoke’s many municipal departments.

Holyoke Mayor-Elect

Joshua A. Garcia

Joshua was elected as Mayor of Holyoke on November 2, 2021 after three and a half years as Town Administrator of Blandford, Massachusetts. Prior to that, Joshua worked at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the Holyoke Housing Authority in various capacities. He has also served as a member of the Holyoke School Committee, Holyoke Fire Commission, Holyoke Community College Foundation, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, the MIIA Health Group Trust, and Nueva Esperanza in Holyoke.

Joshua is a lifelong resident of Holyoke, having gone through the public school system and Holyoke High School, before attending Westfield State University, where he earned both his bachelors and masters degrees. He lives with his wife, Stefany, and two children, Ethan and Allison.

Personal Life

Joshua is married to Stefany E. Garcia, who is the Family Access Engagement Coordinator for the Holyoke Public Schools. The Garcias are the parents of twins, Ethan and Allison (students in the Holyoke Public Schools). The family lives in Oakdale.

Education & Early Life

Joshua is a product of Holyoke. Of Puerto Rican descent, he was raised in a low-income, single-mother household in South Holyoke on South Summer Street. In many ways, he is a product of every service resource available to his family. He was an active youth member in the Arco Iris program at Nueva Esperanza and later served on the organization’s Board of Directors for five years — four as Chair. Joshua was also a longtime participant of the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club. He served as one of the Club’s first Peer Leaders and worked at the Boys and Girls Club for 10 years throughout High School and College. He went through the Holyoke Public Schools: Lawrence Elementary School, Lynch Middle School and Holyoke High School, graduating in 2004. He is an alumnus of Northfield Mt. Hermon Upward Bound program. Majoring in Psychology with a minor in Regional Planning, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Westfield State University. He went on to earn a postgraduate degree in Public Administration.

Experiences

Joshua has served and continues to serve on municipal boards and committees that have been directly responsible for achieving growth and improving the quality-of-life in Holyoke and beyond. He has served as the Ward 1 School Committee representative and as Fire Commissioner for the Holyoke Fire Department. Currently, Joshua sits on the Foundation Board of Holyoke Community College, the Board of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, the Franklin Regional Transit Authority and the Board of the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association’s Health Benefits Trust.