Joe Fratesi

Who is Joe Fratesi?

Joe Fratesi is the former mayor and current chief administrative officer of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Serving as Sault Ste. Marie's mayor from 1986 to 1996, he was the longest serving mayor in Sault Ste. Marie's history, breaking the record that W. John McMeeken had held since 1945.

On January 29, 1990, during his term as mayor, the city council approved a resolution making English the sole working language of city government. The council's decision, which Fratesi had strongly supported, caused controversy within the town and across Canada. He was re-elected by a landslide in 1991, although many prominent politicians, such as Bob Rae and Brian Mulroney, refused to meet with Fratesi on unrelated matters due to his stance.

He was involved in a conflict of interest controversy in 1995 when he applied for the post of chief administrative officer while still sitting as mayor. After stepping down as mayor, he was briefly replaced by Michael Sanzosti before former MP Steve Butland was elected in a special 1996 byelection.