Michael R. Rafferty is an American politician and journalist who served as an editor of '' Grit'' and mayor of

Williamsport, Pennsylvania Williamsport is a city in, and the county seat of, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. It recorded a population of 27,754 at the 2020 Census. It is the principal city of the Williamsport Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a popula ...

from 2000 to 2004.

Early life and education

Rafferty, a native of Williamsport, graduated from

Pennsylvania College of Technology Pennsylvania College of Technology (Penn College) is a public college in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It is affiliated with, but a self-governing entity of, Pennsylvania State University. As an applied technology college (known by the locals and ...

in 1971 and

Mount St. Mary's College Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles (known as Mount St. Mary's College until January 2015) is a private, Catholic university primarily for women, in Los Angeles, California. Women make up ninety percent of the student body. It was found ...

Emmitsburg, Maryland Emmitsburg is a town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States, south of the Mason-Dixon line separating Maryland from Pennsylvania. Founded in 1785, Emmitsburg is the home of Mount St. Mary's University. The town has two Catholic pilgrima ...

in 1973.

Career

Rafferty worked for Williamsport newspapers starting in 1973, and became the editor of ''Grit'' in 1985. He served in that capacity until Stauffer Communications Inc. moved '' Grit'' from Williamsport to Topeka, Kansas in 1993. While in that editorial leadership position, the newspaper was known as both a Lycoming County cheerleader, and a solid representation of a very large region, in which Sunday GRIT was the only Sunday publication. He served on Williamsport City Council nine years, including six as council president, before becoming mayor in 2000. Since leaving office in 2004, Rafferty has worked in his family photo processing and graphics design business (Vannucci Foto & Video) and as editor of a local weekly newspaper, ''Webb Weekly''. He retired from ''Webb Weekly'' in 2013. He and his wife retired and passed their business on to their son Ryan Rafferty in 2016.

Personal life

Rafferty is married to Patricia Rafferty (née Roth), with whom he has five grown children, ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. His golf game has been a continuing issue of some contention among members of his family and friends. He is a good player, but a better watcher of tournaments, according to his longtime newspaper and golf colleague, Chuck Yorks.

References

Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Pennsylvania city council members Mayors of Williamsport, Pennsylvania {{Pennsylvania-mayor-stub