CANDIDATE FOR VILLAGE TRUSTEE:

MICHAEL BUCCI - Reasons for Running

(February 18, 2006) I’m a registered independent – the only “official” independent in this campaign. I’ve lived in the Village for about 5 years since moving here from Manhattan in 2001 in pursuit of my wife, Erika Lubben Bucci, who is an 18 year resident. We have 4 children, ranging in age from 14 all the way down to 1!

In addition to being a husband and a dad – and an independent (to the extent any husband can be!) – I’m also a lawyer. I opened my Larchmont practice in 2001 (and specialize in commercial and tort law), and before that I worked as a corporate finance lawyer in Manhattan for about 16 years.

I have never before run for public office. I’m running now because I want to help preserve Larchmont’s unique character and make a remarkable place even better. My kids are young and Larchmont is our home, and I want them to know and experience Larchmont’s special qualities as they grow up and fill adult shoes.

Most residents know that the Village is special, and many would themselves make terrific trustees. The fact that I find myself among the 4 candidates actually running probably has more to do with timing than with qualifications. Even so, I believe I have some useful qualities to bring to bear on behalf of our Village: I am instinctively independent; as a lawyer I have a trained eye to be objective; and my commitment to Larchmont is deep and sincere. Perhaps more importantly, I possess the creative energy to help our Village thrive in the years ahead.

There are significant and varied issues facing Larchmont. These include high property taxes (a perennial favorite), zoning concerns related to residential overbuilding, and the FAA’s imminent NY/NJ/PA Airspace Redesign. My background in economics, tax and law – and in general aviation, as a pilot for over 20 years – gives me a measure of skill and competence to address such issues.

Of all our Village issues, property taxes are my paramount concern. High property taxes strain the wallets of many Village residents. They also discourage new families from moving here, jeopardizing the Village’s historical diversity and sense of community. The only way that property taxes can be moderated is by having leaders willing to make sometimes difficult and unpopular decisions. Fiscal responsibility should not be misinterpreted as a “lack of civility.” I understand that it’s your money, because it’s mine too, and I am prepared to make decisions that are in the Village’s collective best interest, regardless how unpopular they may be with some. As an example, I believe the board was absolutely correct to negotiate aggressively with the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and obtain a contract less costly to the Village than the one the PBA sought. To have granted the PBA’s request (which would have been much more popular with the police, and as some people in this campaign preferred) would have been a breach of the taxpayers trust, because it would have increased our Village tax burden by millions of dollars without providing any additional benefit.

I hope to bring a fresh and energetic perspective to the board, and to remain true to my official "independent" status...a status I chose years ago precisely because I didn't want to be – and didn't want to appear to be – predisposed to any specific ideology or perspective.

I am grateful for being nominated to run for Trustee. All of us in Larchmont are neighbors, but one real benefit of being a candidate is the chance to meet not only neighbors across the street but across town and throughout the whole Village. I am deeply grateful to this place -- I found my wife here! -- and my life is quite blessed. Even though I'm the "new kid on the block" relative to other candidates, my appreciation for the beauty and values of Larchmont is probably greater than others who haven't had the comparative experience of living elsewhere, like Schenectady (where I grew up) or Manhattan (where I lived and worked for 16 years), for example.

Erika and I plan to be here for the rest of our lives. I would be honored to repay my good fortune with this opportunity to express a sense of commitment to a remarkable place.

Here is my simple promise if I find myself elected to the board: I will be pragmatic, open-minded and equitable in working to solve the varied issues that will come before the trustees.