Ruthanne Fuller

Ruthanne Fuller is a civic leader, strategist, and community advocate with decades of experience in public service, nonprofit governance, and organizational leadership. She served as Mayor of the City of Newton from 2018 to 2025, as the city’s first female mayor. During her tenure, she expanded access to affordable and diverse housing, strengthened public transit infrastructure, and positioned Newton as a regional leader in climate action, including preserving Webster Woods, the city’s largest green space. She prioritized equity and opportunity by expanding access to essential services, supporting vulnerable residents, investing in public safety, launching Newton Thrive to promote economic mobility, and increasing funding every year for the Newton Public Schools—most notably implementing full-day kindergarten for the first time in the city’s history and building or renovating six school buildings.

Before becoming Mayor, Fuller was elected citywide to four terms on the Newton City Council, where she played a central role in fiscal stewardship as Vice Chair of the Finance Committee and Chair of the Financial Audit Advisory Committee. Her leadership experience also includes senior roles in strategic planning at WGBH and Temple, Barker & Sloane, as well as extensive nonprofit and civic board service, including Facing History & Ourselves, City Year, and the Boys & Girls Club of Boston. A graduate of Brown University and Harvard Business School, Fuller continues her public service as a community advocate and board member, bringing a values-driven, data-informed approach to strengthening communities and advancing shared prosperity.