Michael Leboff to Challenge Bossart for Mayor

Longtime RVC resident Francis Murray recently that he will challenge incumbent Mary Bossart for mayor in the June election, but an unexpected third candidate has stepped forward that may surprise you.

Michael Leboff, 20, will run against Murray and Bossart for mayor on June 21. Leboff said it's time for his generation to take a leadership role in the village. "I'm in tune with the younger community and the support is overwhelming," he said. "Our generation will have to start running things."

As a student at Sacred Heart University with a major in media studies, Leboff makes no qualms that the other candidates may have more experience than him, but he's confident in the team of advisors he's assembled to navigate him through the political landscape. "I'll be honest, I don't have any experience," Leboff said. "But I have a great team of intelligent people willing to help with the ins and outs of the legal and financial aspects."

Leboff said his father and close friends will be his advisors throughout his campaign. Asked if he thinks residents will have reservations about voting for a 20 year old, Leboff said he understands if they feel that way, but just wants the chance to prove he's the best candidate for the position.

"I want them to know that I'm running a 100 percent transparent campaign and that will carry over if I'm elected mayor," he said. "I'm not going to think I'm above anybody. I'm just another villager who happens to work as the mayor."

Leboff explained that transparency in the current administration has become a problem. Some of his ideas to change that are to host village hall meetings once a week to allow residents to vent their gripes to him, as well as have what he called "village study hall." That would be a program, he said, that invites elementary students to Village Hall each week after school to receive homework help from him and his board members. 

"The fact is, it's kind of suffocating in the village and there's no real outlet for people," he said. "We're going to listen to what people have to say. We're going to make ourselves available. If elected, Village Hall doors will always be open."

Leboff added that the village is racially segregated and that's something that needs to change. "It's really startling how segregated the village is," he said. "I'd love to bring that point to the public. Anyone who doesn't realize that is just naive."

In response to residential concerns over parking regulations and the condition of the village's athletic fields, Leboff said he'd have to sit down and hammer out a compromise that benefits everyone. "Tickets are necessary, but maybe first-time offenders should get warnings," he said. "The village fields are incredibly important, but sometimes I'm scared to even walk on the field because I don't know if I'm allowed to be there."

Residents can vote for mayor and board trustees at the recreation center on June 21.