Robert Cantelmo

About Robert Cantelmo

I am a public-sector executive and elected leader with experience governing complex organizations, mobilizing large-scale public investment, and delivering results across housing, economic development, climate policy, and institutional reform. I currently serve as Mayor of the City of Ithaca, where I function as Chief Elected Officer and President of the City Council, responsible for setting legislative priorities, overseeing executive performance, and representing the city across federal, state, and regional partnerships.My leadership has focused on turning policy ambition into operational outcomes. I have prioritized housing affordability and stability, advanced large-scale redevelopment and infrastructure investment, embedded climate action into capital and workforce strategy through the Ithaca Green New Deal, and strengthened the capacity of government to execute through structural and managerial reform. Under my tenure, Ithaca has secured tens of millions of dollars in competitive state, federal, and philanthropic funding, expanded regional transit investment, and launched its first comprehensive economic development strategy.Before serving as mayor, I chaired Ithaca’s City Administration and Budget Committee, leading development and passage of a $101 million operating budget and overseeing core administrative functions for a 400+ employee organization. I previously held senior leadership roles at Cornell University, where I directed strategic planning, grants management, and business development for a major international research center, increasing external funding and aligning organizational structure with long-term goals.Earlier in my career, I worked in international democracy and governance, national security research, and foreign policy institutions, with experience spanning the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Washington-based policy organizations. Across roles, my work has consistently centered on institutional leadership, fiscal and operational discipline, intergovernmental coordination, and results-driven execution.I am motivated by opportunities to lead mission-driven organizations, public agencies, or elected institutions where complex problems require strategic clarity, political judgment, and the ability to deliver at scale.

Experience

1. Mayor

   City Of Ithaca

   Jan 2024 — Present · Ithaca, NY, US

   As Mayor of the City of Ithaca, I serve as Chief Elected Officer and President of the City Council, setting the city’s legislative agenda and directing policy across housing, economic development, climate, and municipal operations. Housing has been my top policy priority. I have led major reforms to stabilize the housing market and expand long-term supply, including regulation of short-term rentals, adoption of good-cause eviction protections, and zoning changes to support increased housing production and homeownership. These efforts are aimed at correcting long-standing market distortions, protecting tenants, and creating the conditions for sustained, equitable growth.I have also focused on leveraging public investment to catalyze redevelopment and economic opportunity. Ithaca and the Southern Tier launched a successful bid in the inaugural ACHIEVE competition, securing $38 million to develop the Southworks neighborhood, and played a central role in attracting more than $50 million in additional state, federal, and philanthropic grant investment since 2024. I also secured a 27 percent increase in regional transit funding, strengthening public transportation as a backbone of economic mobility and regional growth.Climate action is embedded across this work through the Ithaca Green New Deal. I led adoption of the Justice50 Action Plan, committing 50 percent of Green New Deal investments and capital funding to climate-impacted communities while expanding green workforce training and aligning capital planning with decarbonization and resilience goals.Finally, I have prioritized modernizing city government to deliver results at scale. I have overseen the city’s transition to a mayor-council-manager system, strengthened executive oversight and professional administration, and initiated Ithaca’s first comprehensive economic development strategy to align staff capacity, capital planning, and intergovernmental partnerships with long-term fiscal and policy objectives.

Education

• The George Washington University

  Master of Arts - MA, International Affairs

• American University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Political Science

• Cornell University

  Master of Arts - MA, Government