Konstantina Lukes

Konstantina Bequary "Konnie" Lukes (born October 13, 1941) is serving her fifteenth two-year term as a Councilor-At-Large. She served as Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts from 2007 through 2009. She is also Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Traffic & Parking.[3]

Konstantina B. Lukes
Councilor-at-Large of Worcester, Massachusetts
In office
1990–2020
70th Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts
In office
January 13, 2007 – January 4, 2010
Preceded byTim Murray
Succeeded byJoseph C. O'Brien
Personal details
Born
Konstantina Bequary Lukes[1]

(1941-10-13) October 13, 1941[2]
Waterbury, Connecticut
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
James J. Lukes
​
(died 2020)​
ProfessionAttorney

Childhood and education

Konstantina Lukes is daughter of two Albanian immigrants. She was born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut and worked in her parents' restaurant while attending public school. Konstantina worked her way through college and law school, graduating from Simmons College and the University of Connecticut School of Law.[4]

Professional career and public service

Konstantina Lukes is a practicing attorney who maintains a Law Office in Worcester, Massachusetts, specializing in Family law, Divorce, Probate and Real Estate law.

Lukes serves as a public official in Worcester, Massachusetts. She began her public service as the first Chair of the Worcester City Manager's Commission on the Status of Women. She was appointed by Massachusetts' Governor Michael Dukakis as a Commissioner for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

Lukes ran for office on the Worcester School Committee, eventually serving four terms, while also holding the position of Vice Chairman of the School Committee. She was elected to the Worcester City Council as a Councilor at Large in 1990, and also served as Vice Chairman of the Worcester City Council.

Lukes unsuccessfully sought the city's mayoralty in 1993, 1999 and 2005.[5][6][7]

Lukes was kicked off of Worcester's Democratic City Committee after she endorsed Republican Paul Cellucci in the 1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election.[8]

Lukes was a frequent critic of Tim Murray during his mayoralty.[9]

In 2005, by receiving the second most votes for mayor of anyone also elected as an at-large council member, Lukes became vice-chair of the Worcester City Council by the rules of the city charter.[10]

In 2007, after Murray stepped-down as mayor, Lukes became mayor due to the city charter stating that the vice chair would become mayor in the instance of a vacancy.[10][11] In January, 2008, she became the first popularly elected female Mayor in the history of the City of Worcester, having won the 2007 mayoral election.

Lukes lost reelection as mayor in the 2009 mayoral election, and her tenure as mayor ended in January 2010.

She unsuccessfully sought the mayoralty again in 2011, 2013, and 2017.

She announced, in 2019, that she would not seek and additional term on Worcester's city council.[12]

Personal

Konnie Lukes was married to Dr. James Lukes (born 1935), died on April 26, 2020[13] and they have one son, Peter, who is currently serving as the Town Manager in Holden, Massachusetts.

References
  1. https://www.martindale.com/worcester/massachusetts/konstantina-bequary-lukes-698629-a/
  2. Hubbell, Martindale (April 1995). The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Volumes 1-9; Volume 11; Volume 13; Volumes 15-17. Martindale-Hubbell. ISBN 9781561601127.
  3. "Bio". Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  4. "Bio". Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  5. "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION SUMMARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  6. "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS STATEMENT OF VOTES CAST MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  7. "WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS STATEMENT OF VOTES CAST MUNICIPAL ELECTION WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS" (PDF). Worcester, Massachusetts. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  8. Jones-D'Agostino, Steven (1 December 2004). "Whither Worcester". CommonWealth Magazine. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  9. Atkins, Hannah; Boatright, Robert; Cansever, Baran; Chaudari, Noreena; Cohen, Stefan; Gerhardson, Sasha; Gregoire, Amanda; Kahale, Joelle; Monterio, Jarett; Oldenburg, Colin; Schofield, Emily; Smith, Connor; Tripp, Charles. "Campaign Finance in Municipal Elections: The 2009 Worcester City Council Candidates" (PDF). Clark University. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  10. "Ordinances & Regulations | City of Worcester, MA". www.worcesterma.gov. Worcester. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  11. Oneill, Christina (11 December 2006). "Closing thoughts: An interview with Konstantina Lukes, incoming Worcester Mayor". Worcester Business Journal. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  12. Kotsopoulos, Nick (1 May 2019). "Konstantina Lukes will not seek re-election to City Council". telegram.com. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  13. "James Lukes 1935 - 2020 - Obituary". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
Political offices
Preceded by
Tim Murray		 Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts
January 10, 2007-January 4, 2010		 Succeeded by
Joseph C. O'Brien
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