XEO VALLEY

Elena R. “Ellie” Hartman

XEO Valley's 24th Mayor

Elena R. Hartman has been at the helm of XEO Valley since her first election in 2020, and she returned to office in the most recent 2024 municipal election, now serving her second consecutive four‑year term (2025–2028). Hartman earned a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning from the University of Massachusetts and later completed an MBA at Boston College. Prior to entering politics, she spent 15 years as a senior project manager with the state’s Department of Transportation, where she championed the restoration of historic bridges and the development of multimodal transit corridors.

During her first term, Hartman led a citywide “Smart City” initiative that introduced real‑time traffic monitoring, expanded bike‑share infrastructure, and secured state funding for the Public Transit's upgraded accessibility features. She also launched the “Green Streets” program, converting three downtown blocks into pedestrian‑only zones and planting over 2,000 native trees along Main Street. Her administration’s emphasis on public‑private partnerships helped attract a new tech hub that created 1,200 jobs and boosted the local economy.

Looking ahead, Mayor Hartman’s agenda for the 2025–2028 term focuses on three pillars:

Sustainable Growth – further expanding renewable energy installations on municipal properties and incentivizing green building practices for new developments.
Community Wellness – enhancing the XEO Valley Library’s digital media lab, expanding the downtown health clinic, and investing in mental‑health outreach programs.
Equitable Infrastructure – upgrading public transit accessibility, expanding broadband access to underserved neighborhoods, and streamlining the permitting process for small‑business owners.

Mayor Hartman’s leadership is widely praised for its collaborative spirit; she routinely hosts open‑office “town‑hall” meetings, and her office remains one of the most responsive in the state, with an average email response time of under 24 hours. Under her guidance, XEO Valley continues to thrive as a vibrant, inclusive, and forward‑thinking community.

Mayor Elena Hartman is happily married to her college sweetheart, Marcus, a local environmental engineer. The couple has two children—a 10‑year‑old daughter who loves astronomy and a 7‑year‑old son who plays the violin. They reside in a historic brick townhouse on the corner of Valley Way and Main Street, and share a golden retriever named “Liberty” who is often seen accompanying her on early‑morning walks around Valley Park.