Thomson Sworn in as Boca Raton Mayor, New Council Members Reiterate ‘Save Boca’ Promises

Boca Raton Mayor Andy Thomson takes his seat at the dais, March 31, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Andy Thomson was sworn in as Boca Raton’s new mayor Tuesday morning, along with three new council members who pledged to keep the promises they made as part of the “Save Boca” ticket that focused on curtailing in what many saw as overdevelopment, especially in the downtown sector.

After calling the council meeting to order one last time, outgoing Mayor Scott Singer offered congratulations to his successor while outgoing council members reflected on their time behind the dais, acknowledging hopes that the city become more unified. Political luminaries, including U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-23), were on hand to welcome the new slate of local leaders.

Outgoing council members and Mayor Scott Singer bid farewell after Boca Raton’s March 31, 2026 organizational meeting. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

“I think it is important for us to remind, first ourselves, and everyone else, that no matter if you live on the east side of town or the west, if you’ve been here for a few years or you’ve been here for a long time, all of us are first and foremost neighbors,” Thomson said. “And neighbors are people who we’re supposed to love. So I think we could do a lot by leading by example.”

Boca Raton Mayor Andy Thomson is sworn into office, March 31, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Thomson said a fresh dedication of Memorial Park would be one of his first acts as mayor in the coming weeks, and his immediate mission will focus on bringing the community together after a raucous election cycle that upended local politics, axed controversial plans for a 99-year lease of downtown land to a developer, halted the development of a $75 million police headquarters building near the Spanish River Library, and swept the Save Boca ticket into office with a strong mandate.

Jon Pearlman, the founder of Save Boca, said the grassroots effort he helped create unified the community, but also sent a strong message to he and his colleagues to keep their promises on rethinking large-scale development and preserving open space. Pearlman was sworn in by his wife, Lyudmila.

Boca Raton Councilman Jon Pearlman is sworn into office, March 31, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Boca Raton Councilman Jon Pearlman is sworn into office, March 31, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

“We have been sent here with a strict mandate by the voters to put them first,” said Pearlman. “I take that responsibility very seriously, and I’m honored by that responsibility, and I’m ready to get to work. And whether you were with us or not, I’m here to serve everybody. And I’m excited for the work ahead.”

People “are ready for a change,” said Councilwoman Stacy Sipple, who was sworn in by her husband.

“Somewhere along the line, as our city grew larger and faster, we lost a little bit of that feeling, that sense of connection, of knowing your neighbor, of truly being part of something,” she said. “I believe we can find that again. We can be a city where residents feel included, where voices are heard, where transparency isn’t something we ask for, but something we expect.”

Sipple said Boca Raton will remain business-friendly, but development must “be done the right way.”

Boca Raton Councilwoman Stacy Sipple is sworn into office, March 31, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The remainder of the meeting included the new council members organizing into the body that will administer the Community Redevelopment Agency, which has jurisdiction over land use and other facets of the downtown sector.

Newly-minted Councilwoman Michelle Grau was selected by her colleagues to serve as deputy mayor to Thomson, having been nominated by Sipple, with the nomination seconded by Pearlman. Grau, a CPA who specializes in governmental accounting, pledged earlier in the meeting to act as a financial steward of the city’s coffers.

“I am honored by the trust you placed in me, and I promise to work every day to put residents first, to lead with integrity, and to protect the quality of life we all value,” she said. “As I said many times during my campaign, this will be the most important job of my career.”

Boca Raton Councilwoman Michelle Grau is sworn into office, March 31, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

A crows gathers for the swearing-in ceremony at the Boca Raton reorganizational meeting, March 31, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Thomson was selected as chair of the CRA, with Councilwoman Yvette Drucker serving as deputy chair.

The new governing body will hold its first work session and CRA meeting April 13 at 1:30 p.m., and its first regular meeting of the new term the following day, April 14, at 6 p.m.