EASTHAMPTON — Mayor Nicole LaChapelle announced Wednesday she will step down next week after Gov. Maura Healey appointed her commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

LaChapelle sent two emails to all Easthampton departments on Wednesday afternoon announcing her resignation as mayor, effective July 15. She will replace the current DCR commissioner, Brian Arrigo, who is stepping down on July 21.

LaChapelle was first elected as Easthampton’s mayor in 2018. Prior to her resignation, her third term was set to end on Dec. 31.

“I decided in 2018 when I took office that I was going to be mayor for eight years,” she said in an interview in 2023. “I wanted to pursue open local government, work on infrastructure, economic development and housing.

“It has been a great honor to serve as mayor of Easthampton — a city rooted in its history and defined by a shared commitment to progress, even when the path forward requires tough decisions,” LaChapelle said in one of her emails Wednesday. “Over the past seven years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside residents, city staff, and local partners to shape a more sustainable and equitable future for Easthampton.”

During her time as mayor, LaChapelle has overseen high-profile projects, including the construction of Mountain View School, the River Valley Co-op and numerous housing developments at locations such as Ferry Street and the Sierra Vista Commons at the former Tasty Top site.

In the email, LaChapelle noted some of her achievements, including grant-funded improvements totaling more than $12 million for critical water, sewer and pedestrian infrastructure.

LaChapelle said she was “deeply grateful and humbled” to be appointed DCR commissioner.

“DCR parks, playgrounds and beaches are where Massachusetts residents go to have fun and relax. Our public lands also attract tourists from around the world and fuel our growing outdoor recreation economy,” Healey said in a statement. “Mayor LaChapelle understands the connection our communities have with our DCR properties. She’ll make sure they are safe, clean and accessible to all.”

LaChapelle has had the support of several Democratic Party members, including U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, and Healey throughout her first election campaign and time in office. Additionally, she has worked closely with state Rep. Homar Gómez.

According to the city charter, if a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs in the last nine months of their term, the City Council president shall become the mayor. With an election scheduled for Nov. 4, City Council President Salem Derby has not yet decided whether to accept the position as interim mayor. If Derby does not accept the role, a vote will be opened for another council member.

“I’m going to make my decision here shortly, which I have not made because it’s a big one,” Derby said at a meeting Wednesday night.

The mayoral election is scheduled for November. Current candidates include City Councilor Jason “JT” Tirrell, mayoral Executive Assistant Lindsi Sekula and 30-year resident Robert Laferriere.

The next mayor will be the fourth for Easthampton, following LaChapelle, Karen Cadieux and Michael A. Tautznik.

“Easthampton has shown what’s possible when local government leads with transparency, collaboration and a long-term vision,” LaChapelle said in an email to city government. “I’m proud of what we’ve built and carry those lessons into this next chapter.”

Arrigo, who became DCR commissioner in April 2023, previously served as the mayor of Revere for seven years. In April of this year, Arrigo announced he would be stepping down to take a job as vice chancellor of finance and operations at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Attempts to reach LaChapelle by phone and text were unsuccessful Wednesday afternoon.

Sam Ferland can be reached at sferland@gazettenet.com. Material from State House News Service was used in this report.