Gene P. Nocera

Gene P. Nocera is the Mayor of Middletown, Connecticut, having been sworn into office following the resignation of former Mayor Ben Florsheim. A lifelong resident of Middletown, Nocera came to the mayoral role from his position as Common Council President, a role he had held after serving three terms on the Common Council, including as majority leader. Prior to his time in elected office, he served two terms as Chairman of the Middletown Board of Education. Nocera has stated that becoming mayor was not part of his original plan.

Before entering public office, Nocera had a lengthy career in education. He began as a teacher at Lawrence School in Middletown and subsequently served as principal at several schools, including MacDonough School, Bielefield School, Snow School, and Woodrow Wilson Middle School. He has also worked as a professor of education. As of June 2025, he held the title of interim mayor and announced plans to run for the office in a special election scheduled for November 2025.

Nocera has identified public safety, excellence in education, and public works infrastructure as his key priorities as mayor. He has stated his commitment to leading with civility, transparency, equity, inclusion, and honesty, and has expressed a goal of continuing Middletown's development as a thriving community for its residents.