Mayor Roach as Keynote Speaker at Commencement

Thomas M. Roach, Mayor of White Plains will be the Keynote Speaker at Commencement this year. Tom was born in White Plains, the first of four children.  He has lived in the Westminster Ridge section of the city since 1996.  Tom received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Albany and his law degree from the University of Buffalo.  He was the first person in his family to earn a four year degree.

Tom was elected to the White Plains Common Council in 2001.  During his time on the council he focused on constituent service, sound fiscal management and the environment.  Clean air restrictions on construction sites, which he spearheaded, remain part of the approval process in White Plains and have served as a model for other communities.

In 2008 Tom was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer of the nasal pharynx and concluded treatment in 2009.  He is currently cancer free and did not miss a single regular Council Meeting during his illness.

In February 2011 while serving as Council President, Tom became Acting Mayor upon resignation of his predecessor.  He was elected Mayor in a special election shortly thereafter.  He was re-elected in 2013, receiving 76% of the vote. 

As Mayor, Tom has worked to maintain strong city services under difficult financial conditions, producing budgets which comply with the state mandated tax cap  maintaining the city’s AA1 credit rating and improving its outlook to stable.  He has pioneered the use of new communications technologies in an effort to keep residents informed, particularly during severe weather events.  In two years he has pushed through the project to finally cap the city’s landfill, which closed more than 30 years ago.  He has spearheaded important environmental initiatives including bike lanes, Zip Cars and electric vehicle charging stations.  Under his leadership, the city completed a complex transaction to take control of the dilapidated privately-held garage on Waller Avenue and replace it with a state of the art city owned garage which will provide needed parking and an economic boost to the city.  Tom’s long-term vision for the city is to continually enhance the downtown environment for businesses and residents while at the same time maintaining the strong neighborhoods that have long characterized White Plains. 

Tom served as a member of the Tappan Zee Bridge Mass Transit Task Force, is Vice President of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association and 2^nd Vice President of the New York Conference of Mayors.  He resides with his wife and two children, the fifth generation of his family to call White Plains home.