Peter J. Levanti
Peter J. Levanti | |
|---|---|
 Levanti as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 14th Worcester District | |
| In office 1965–1968 | |
| Preceded by | Normand J. Babineau |
| Succeeded by | George Bourque |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 13th Worcester District | |
| In office 1957–1962 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph D. Ward |
| Succeeded by | Normand J. Babineau |
| Mayor of Fitchburg, Massachusetts | |
| In office 1950–1956 | |
| Preceded by | George W. Stanton |
| Succeeded by | Hedley Bray |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 19, 1903 United States1 |
| Died | October 27, 1988 (aged 85) |
| Party | Democratic |
Peter John Levanti (March 19, 1903 – October 27, 1988) was an American politician who was mayor of Fitchburg, Massachusetts from 1950 to 1956 and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1957 to 1962 and 1965 to 1968.
Early life
Levanti was born on March 19, 1903.[1] He received a public school education in Fitchburg, but dropped out after grade school. On August 18, 1924, he married Rosanna Spadafora. They had five daughters. He founded Mohawk Express Transportation (later Mohawk-Mulcahy Express), a freight shipping company.[2]
Politics
Levanti was elected to the Fitchburg city council in 1939. He was the first Italian American to serve on the council. He served three terms as a ward councilor and two terms as a councilor at-large. He was council president in 1947.[3] In 1949, he defeated incumbent mayor George W. Stanton in a close race.[4] During his tenure, the Mare Meadow Reservoir and the John Fitch Highway were constructed.[3] He was reelected in 1951 and 1953, but was defeated in 1955 by Hedley "Farmer" Bray 10,792 votes to 7,069.[3][5]
Levanti represented the 13th Worcester district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1957 to 1962.[1] He was defeated for reelection in 1962 by Normand J. Babineau.[6] He returned to the House in 1965 in what was now the 14th Worcester district.[7] He retired from both business and politics in 1968.[3]
Notes
- 1.^ Sources give Levanti's place of birth as Westerly, Rhode Island,[1] Pawtucket, Rhode Island,[2] and Pawcatuck, Connecticut.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1961. p. 217. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- 1 2 The American Catholic Who's Who. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig. 1961. p. 264. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Archive Record". Fitchburg Historical Society. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ↑ "New Mayors for Somerville, and Waltham". The Boston Globe. November 9, 1949.
- ↑ "Fitchburg: Bray Unseats Mayor Levanti". The Boston Globe. November 9, 1955.
- ↑ Kenney, Robert (November 8, 1962). "Democrats Hold Firmly to Control on Beacon Hill". The Boston Globe.
- 1 2 Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1967. p. 210. Retrieved 28 March 2026.