John M. Picard

John M. Picard is the tenth Mayor of the City of West Haven, Connecticut. Picard was elected in 2005, succeeding Mayor Joseph Cullen who had served as mayor for a period of only two weeks. Cullen was Chairman of the West Haven City Council when Mayor H. Richard Borer, Jr. chose to retire from office after he lost the general election to Picard.

Borer, a Democrat, was elected mayor in 1991. Picard challenged him in the 2003 Democratic primary but lost.

Choosing not to endure another primary, Borer formed his own political party called A Better Future Party in 2005. A Better Future Party ran a full slate of candidates in the 2005 General Election. Although the party took the minority positions on the City Council and Board of Education, Borer lost to Picard by 73 votes.

In 2007, Mayor Picard was re-elected after being challenged by A Better Future candidate Dorinda Borer, wife of former Mayor H. Richard Borer, Jr.

Picard's administration has focused on economic development and tax relief in West Haven.

Picard is a graduate of the University of New Haven in West Haven. Prior to becoming mayor, he served as Chairman of the West Haven Water Pollution Control Commission. In 1997 he was elected to the West Haven City Council. He was re-elected to the Council in 1999 and 2001. In 2001 the City Council elected Picard Chairman of the City Council.

Picard is married to the former Tara Riley. Together, they have an infant daughter. He is a financial advisor and teaches English as a Second Language.