Bio

Konstantina B. Lukes, known as Konnie, is currently serving as the Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts.Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes


The daughter of Albanian immigrants, Konstantina (Bequary) was born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut, working in her parents' restaurant while attending public school.

Konnie worked her way through Simmons College and the University Of Connecticut School Of Law. She is a practicing attorney specializing in Family Law, Divorce, Probate and Real Estate Law.

Konstantina Lukes began her political career 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, the Commonwealth's chief civil rights agency. As a commissioner, she fought for equal rights and worked toward the prevention and eradication of discrimination against minorities in Massachusetts.

Konnie Lukes was elected to 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. Konstantina B. Lukes was sworn in as Mayor of the City of Worcester, Massachusetts, in 2007. In January, 2008, Konnie Lukes became the first popularly elected female Mayor in the history of the City of Worcester.

Throughout her career as an elected official, Konstantina Lukes has fought for fiscal discipline, lower taxes, open government and a populist approach to public service. Mayor Lukes is working toward building academic excellence in Worcester's Public Schools. She supports a city-wide scholarship program for promising students, based on the Pittsburg Promise. Mayor Lukes supports school budget reform and has advocated for more transparency in the School Standing Committees by upgrading the broadcast of program information on the government network.

Konstantina B. Lukes is married to Dr. James Lukes with whom she has one son, Peter, who is also an attorney in Worcester.