This election season, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg faces a serious challenger for his job: Tufts alum Bill Thompson.
William Thompson, Jr. (LA '74), city comptroller for New York, is running for mayor of New York City in the upcoming November election. He is pitted against the incumbent Bloomberg in what has already In an interview with the Daily, Thompson affirmed his commitment to New York City and stated that his lifetime of experience living in New York is his greatest asset in the race.
"I'm a lifelong New Yorker," Thompson said. "The city has done so much for me … I'm a product of its public schools. The understanding of what New Yorkers face every day prepares me to be mayor. We do need change, and I think I can bring a different direction to New York City."
A Brooklyn native and political science major at Tufts, Thompson was immersed in politics from an early age. His father, William Sr., was a New York senator and city councilor and later served on the state Supreme Court.
Thompson became the president of the New York City Board of Education in 1996 and served until 2001 when he ran for comptroller, the second-highest elected position in the city. Thompson has held that job ever since, overseeing the financial welfare of the city.
The former Jumbo has a formidable task ahead of him if he is to oust the popular Bloomberg from office.
Political Science Professor Kent Portney said Bloomberg's performance ratings are high, and Thompson will have to build a tough case to show voters that he is the better candidate.
"As is often the case with New York politics, there are class, race and ethnicity issues underneath everything," Portney said. "I think Thompson will see that his support base is very different than Bloomberg's support base, but the fact remains that Bloomberg is very popular and the polls show that he has a commanding lead."
Bloomberg is in his second four-year term as mayor. City law had limited mayors to two terms until the New York City Council last October voted to allow elected officials to serve three terms, under Bloomberg's prodding.
Thompson's experience with the fiscal dealings of the city as comptroller is important, but Portney said it will be inconsequential unless he can demonstrate that he has a better understanding of the financial aspects than Bloomberg does.
"The real issue," Portney said, is if there is "any evidence that he has more of a grasp of fiscal and financial issues than the current mayor."
Portney noted that Bloomberg has local roots as well, having spent his childhood growing up in Medford.
Although Thompson has an extensive list of issues that he will advocate as mayor, his most pressing concern is the job market.
"Given the financial circumstances, the most important thing that stands before us is the job situation," he said. "The unemployment rate is over 10 percent. We must have an administration that diversifies jobs."
Thompson explained that as mayor he will continue the work he has done as comptroller to protect small businesses.
Another issue critical to Thompson is the lack of affordable housing, which he said discourages New York families from continuing to live in the city and makes it difficult for young professionals to work in New York.
Since his graduation in 1974, Thompson has remained involved in the Tufts community. He served as a trustee from 2003 to 2008, and he is now a trustee emeritus as well as an active term member of the Tufts Alumni Council.
Many in the Tufts community expressed pride in Thompson's commitment to the university and his mayoral candidacy.
"Bill Thompson's involvement in his alma mater, as well as his service as comptroller of the city of New York, is notable," said Christine Sanni (LA '89), Director of Advancement Communications and Donor Relations.
"It is always gratifying to see alumni working in the public sector and living as an active citizen, which is the main focus of Tufts," Sanni said.
According to Thompson, the greatest benefit of his Tufts education was not the classes he took but the environment that fostered valuable life skills. "It is less about the professors I had and more about the experiences and preparing for later life," he said. "Tufts was more about learning and understanding yourself and how to focus, motivate and achieve."
