Rockville Centre mayor-elect and new trustees get set

The three Rockville Centre United Party candidates — mayor-elect Francis Murray, and trustees-elect Nancy Howard and Michael Sepe — are preparing to take office next week.

New York State Village Law, Article Three, requires elected officials to take office at noon on the first Monday in July. And although the first Monday of July falls on the Independence Day holiday, the rule is still in effect.

An organizational public meeting will follow on July 5, at 8:15 p.m., when the three elected candidates will be sworn into office at Village Hall.

“I’m very much looking forward to it,” said Murray, who told the Herald that his father, former Rockville Centre Mayor Eugene Murray, will administer his oath of office. “Our party has a vision of where we want Rockville Centre to go, and the goal now is to reunite the village,” he said.

Murray said that Howard and Sepe are still deciding who they’ll choose to administer their oaths of office. It is usually done by invitation, and former village justices and district court judges often participate.

“We’re brainstorming right now,” Murray said of RVC United’s agenda as it prepares for the transition into office. Murray and his running mates swept the village elections on June 21, handily defeating the Concerned Citizens Party ticket that included incumbent Mayor Mary Bossart, incumbent trustee David Krasula and newcomer Michelle Sewell.

Murray outlined the priorities of his administration once he assumes office next week: stop aggressive ticketing, improve roadways and baseball fields, enforce proper zoning codes and establish better relations with the Fire Department and the Rockville Centre school district.

With its victory, the RVC United Party took hold of a majority on the Village Board of Trustees. In addition to the three newly elected members, the new board will include Trustee Ed Oppenheimer of the Concerned Citizens Party (who still has two years remaining in his term) and Kevin Glynn, an independent, (who also has two years left in office).

Bossart has presided over a majority-led Concerned Citizens board. Deputy Mayor Charles Joyce, of the Concerned Citizens, decided not to seek re-election this year due to personal reasons.

“My thanks to everyone who participated in the electoral process,” said Bossart. “The voters have spoken and I congratulate the RVC United candidates. Serious challenges remain for the village and all local governments, and I wish Fran [Murray], Nancy [Howard] and Michael [Sepe] the best as they contend with all the issues before them.”

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