Politics & Government

Bossart Will Run for Second Term as Mayor

Incumbent said she will continue to guard what residents find precious in RVC.

Mayor Mary Bossart will be running for reelection on June 21, and the incumbent said she is proud of what has been accomplished in the village during her administration. If reelected, she said she will continue to guard what residents find precious in Rockville Centre.

"The biggest thing is the financial stability of the community," she said of what she will focus on if elected to a second term as mayor. "It's a tall order and it impacts everything. We can't have everything beautified if we don't have a solid foundation."

In 2007, Bossart was the first woman elected as the mayor of RVC. She also served as a board trustee for eight years. As mayor, Bossart said she is proud of the smooth transition from Eugene Murray's administration to hers, the passing of ten new local laws, the improvements made to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, the institution of the RVC Conservancy and several infrastructure upgrades made around the village.

Find out what's happening in Rockville Centrewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I believe that the Concerned Citizens team has provided excellent leadership for the village during the worst of the recession," Bossart said. "Dave, Michelle and I have many ideas that will continue to strengthen and modernize the village's financial foundation so that we are well positioned for a brighter future. We ask that our fellow residents support us in this endeavor. "

Current Trustee David Krasula and newcomer Michelle Lavacca-Sewell will run alongside Bossart for trustee seats.

Find out what's happening in Rockville Centrewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bossart acknowledged that parking in the downtown is a problem, but said it will always be a problem with more than 24,000 residents and only 3,700 parking spaces. "We'll never have enough," she said of parking spots. "There's not a lot of interest from residents to have a parking structure built."

She added that meter costs are meant to drive revenue from outsiders who enjoy the downtown, and as long as the standards of the downtown are maintained, consumers will continue to shop and eat in RVC. "If we offer the amenities, people will come," she said.

The mayor said that though she hoped the 2011-12 budget would be lower, it still provides the core services that only village government can supply. "We must have the core services first, and the current budget incorporates what we've always had in the village," Bossart said.

She explained that though there are certain things a village government must provide for its residents — like police and fire services — there's also issues the community needs to work in conjunction with the administration to accomplish. She lauded the RVC Soccer Club's efforts to fundraise for the renovation of Tighe Field. 

"I am proud to live in a community where residents become directly involved in an issue that is important to them," she said. "The Soccer Club's fundraiser was a great success and will benefit all of the children who enjoy that sport. For the foreseeable future this economy is going to require that kind of initiative and partnership with Village government."

During the fall of 2010, Bossart served as the only mayor from Nassau County on the New York Conference of Mayors statewide Mayoral Mandate Relief Task Force, which provided recommendations for Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislators on ways to lower the cost of government in New York. On April 12, the Nassau County Village Officials’ Association will recognize her efforts by electing her as its 2011-12 president. 

Residents can vote in the June 21 election at the Recreation Center on N. Oceanside Road.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here