Preceded by Roger L. Bernashe Preceded by Edward A. Lysek Political party Democratic | Succeeded by Kenneth Lemanski Succeeded by Edward J. Ziemba Party Democratic Party | |
Born January 19, 1928 (age 89)
Chicopee, Massachusetts ( 1928-01-19 ) Alma mater Holyoke Community College
Western New England University School of Law Education Western New England University School of Law, Holyoke Community College | ||
Richard H. Demers is an American politician who served as mayor of Chicopee, Massachusetts and was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
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Early life
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.
Political career
Demers began his career as a member of the Chicopee board of assessors. In 1967 he defeated fellow assessor Walter Olbrych 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. In 1969, Demers was reelected. He defeated his predecessor, Edward A. Lysek, by over 6,700 votes. In 1971, Demers was defeated by city treasurer Edward J. Ziemba 14,760 votes to 7,793.
From 1971 to 1981, Demers was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.