Born in 1950, Raymond Mariano is the oldest of nine children, the son of an immigrant mother and a disabled veteran father.
Mariano grew up in one of the state's largest public housing projects, Great Brook Valley.
Mariano graduated with a BA from Worcester State College and holds an MPA from Clark University (1982).
Mariano also created "Operation Clean City", a citywide beautification program, which won an award for innovation from the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Perhaps his most well-known endeavor, He led the city during a tragic fire that claimed the life of six local firefighters.
[5] In 1984 and continuing through 2003, Mariano worked as a marketing and management consultant with clients throughout the Northeast.
Mariano also served as a political consultant to local, state, and national candidates across the country.
Mariano has worked on the presidential campaigns of Henry "Scoop" Jackson George McGovern, Al Gore, and many others.