Josh Mandell is Sworn In as Mayor of Larchmont

There were more people than seats in Larchmont Village Hall's Justice Court last night as mayor Josh Mandell and newly elected trustees Marlene Kolbert and Jaine Elkind Eney were officially sworn into office.

Among the many dignitaries present were Congresswoman Nita Lowey, New York State Senator Suzi Openheimer and New York State Assemblyman George Latimer, who were each given the opportunity to address the complete board of trustees once all three oaths had been taken.

"I believe it is most difficult to serve on the local level," Lowey said. "There are so many challenges, but I look forward to continuing to be your partner from Washington."

Openheimer, who before her election to state senate served four terms as mayor of the Village of Mamaroneck, praised the election of a young mayor and trustees. "The Village of Larchmont still has the charm of years past, but with younger people at the helm. It is both rare and wonderful to see young people take the time to serve their community," she said.

Though he ran for mayor unopposed, Mandell's highest priority issues—flood control, improvement of the business district and creation of affordable housing—struck a chord both with voters and officials working to accomplish similar goals at the state level.

Turning specifically to Mandell, Openheimer said, "Remember, I'm there when you need me."

And to the community at large, she stressed the importance of bipartisanship and a commitment to working together despite differences in opinion or party alliance.

Wasting no time before initiating his term in office, Mayor Mandell appointed board members to village committees, naming Trustee Eney as liaison to two new committees, Neighorhood Associations and the Business District Improvement Committee.

"I consider these committees to be among the highest priority this year," he said.

Trustee Kolbert, whom he deemed the board's foremost environmentalist, will serve as liaison to the Committee on the Environment, Larchmont Public Library, Parks and Trees Committee and Committee on the Arts among others.

Joined by his wife, Ravit, and three children, Mandell entered his first term as mayor amid a crowd of allies and supporters. Even former mayor Liz Feld, who opted not to run after two terms and an unsuccessful state senate race against Suzi Openheimer, came to back the new mayor.

In his address to the board and the community at large, Assemblyman George Latimer said, "People do not run for office in Larchmont for money; they run to serve their community. On dark days in Albany, when I'm feeling down about politics, I think about Larchmont and it makes me feel better about our system of government."