As Boca Raton celebrates 100 years since its incorporation, we’re shining a light on the contemporary leaders who are shaping its next chapter. From elected officials and philanthropists to business owners and community advocates, these individuals are driving progress, preserving the city’s character and ensuring Boca remains a vibrant place to live, work and thrive for generations to come.
OUR CITY LEADERS
Photo by Stephen Luttinger
Scott Singer
Mayor
Mayor Scott Singer is a man about town. Perhaps you’ve shaken his hand at a festival or community event. But serving as mayor isn’t his only claim to fame. If you ever see him at a trivia night, recruit him to your team. The Harvard alum knows a lot about a lot. He won more than $42,000 on a two-episode stint on “Jeopardy” in 2013 and walked away from “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” in 2002 with $64,000, which he used to help pay for law school at Georgetown University.
Singer is currently serving his third and final term as mayor, with his term limit set to expire in March 2026. He was first elected in 2018, re-elected in 2020 and ran unopposed in 2023. Since getting elected to the City Council in 2014, Singer has dedicated his career to being a voice for Boca Raton residents, enhancing public safety, attracting companies to the area, creating jobs, maintaining low tax rates and ensuring a bright and prosperous future for the city.
“I’m honored to serve Boca Raton’s residents and to have worked to bring the game-changing Brightline station and a new public school to Boca, while lowering taxes, bolstering public safety and infrastructure, attracting high-paying jobs and innovating in city government,” he says of his accomplishments. “As we celebrate our centennial, we are excited to work to transform our downtown campus into a thriving destination for today’s residents and future generations.”
The South Florida native is raising his two children, Daniel and Rachel, in Boca Raton with his wife, Bella.
Photo by Stephen Luttinger
Fran Nachlas
Deputy Mayor
Once on the sidelines as a Miami Dolphins cheerleader, Fran Nachlas has been calling the shots and making plays since joining the City Council in 2022. Recently receiving a title upgrade from city council member to deputy mayor, she promotes public safety, protects the character of neighborhoods and supports local businesses. Now, with her sights set on the city’s top post, she’s announced a run for mayor in the 2026 election.
“I am in the unique position of impacting our daily lives — from the water we drink to the roads we drive on and the playgrounds our kids and grandkids enjoy,” she says.
For nearly 30 years, the Atlantic Community High School and University of Florida alum worked as a surgical nurse and operating room manager at the Boca Raton Outpatient Surgery & Laser Center. She and her family raised over $568,000 for their nonprofit SafeSun™ to create awareness for the prevention, early detection and treatment of skin cancer.
She’s served on the board of trustees for the George Snow Scholarship Fund and is a member of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Downtown Boca Raton and Temple Beth El and led an initiative to provide 1,000 backpacks with school supplies for students who attend local Title I schools.
Nachlas and her husband Nathan raised their four children in Boca and are the proud grandparents of two.
She lives an active lifestyle, having completed three Ironman Triathlons, seven Boston Marathons and all 84 miles of the Boca Raton Bicycle Map.
Photo by Stephen Luttinger
Andy Thomson
City Council Member
City Council Member Andy Thomson’s Boca Raton connection began before he was even born. His parents met in 1967 at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where he is now an adjunct professor teaching courses in local and state government. Thomson also found love at college. On the first day of class at the University of Miami School of Law, he met his wife, Joanna. The couple is raising their five children in Boca Raton. Even with all his professional responsibilities, he finds time to coach his kids’ football, baseball, basketball and soccer teams and teach Sunday school at Spanish River Church.
In addition to his City Council duties, Thomson works as a business lawyer at Baritz Colman Richan & Harris LLP. The multitasking family man has also been productive and results-driven since being elected in August 2018. He ran unopposed in March 2020 and was re-elected in March 2024. His current term is up in March 2027, and he’s entered next year’s mayoral race. Thomson has lowered property taxes five times; preserved beaches; increased funding for police, first responders and parks; helped secure a Brightline station for the city and voted to donate city land on which Blue Lake Elementary School was later built.
“I’m elected to keep Boca Raton moving forward, to preserve what makes it special and to ensure that every resident has a voice in shaping our future,” he says.
Thomson and his children ran all 475 miles of Boca Raton when they founded RunTheCity in 2021 and have participated in approximately a dozen community events annually in the years that have followed. Along the way, they’ve cleaned up more than 2,400 pounds of trash, discovered 488 safety hazards such as potholes, damaged sidewalks and missing crosswalks — most of which have since been repaired — inspired more than 1,000 volunteers to join the effort and more.
Photo by Stephen Luttinger
Yvette Drucker
City Council Member
Yvette Drucker has called Boca Raton home since 2004. Upon getting elected to the Boca Raton City Council in 2021, she went right to work on economic development, public safety, environmental preservation, housing affordability, education initiatives and providing resources to small businesses. Drucker has held various positions, including deputy mayor, TPA executive board and governing board member. Now, Drucker has her sights set on making an even larger impact, throwing her hat in the ring for the Florida Senate District 26 seat.
“In the last five years, Boca Raton has experienced a renaissance with its growth — the opening of the Brightline station and all the new mixed-use developments that will continue to provide affordable housing, retail and restaurants to our residents,” she says. “My hope is that we continue to focus on our strategic priorities to move our city forward and continue to provide world-class service while maintaining low taxes.”
The first-generation Cuban American was born in New Jersey and raised in Miami before moving to Boca Raton. She graduated from Florida International University (FIU) with a degree in international relations. She’s active in the Junior League of Boca Raton chapter, Palm Beach County Transportation Planning Agency, the Florida League of Cities and B’nai Torah Congregation. Drucker is the proud parent of two children — one in college and one in high school. Excited for the transformational redevelopment of Boca’s government center, she affirms there’s a bright future ahead and enjoys having a front-row seat for all the centennial celebrations.
Photo by Stephen Luttinger
Marc Wigder
City Council Member
Councilman Marc Wigder, a Boca Raton resident for more than 15 years, is committed to making the city go green one business at a time. As a city council member since 2022, Wigder aims to create affordable housing so the workforce can live and work in Boca Raton, thus reducing commuter traffic. He’s involved with rebuilding City Hall, keeping taxes low and building a brighter, sustainable tomorrow for his constituents.
The real estate attorney is the founder and managing principal of the Boca Raton-based Greenhouse Property Company, whose portfolio infuses sustainability into commercial real estate projects. He previously owned an eco-friendly office building in Boca called Greenhouse Offices. Concerns he heard from tenants and neighbors inspired him to run for a city council seat to help residents better operate their businesses, obtain permits and licenses, find quality employees and more.
Wigder is chair of the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency, chair of the Boca Raton Audit Committee, former chair of the Boca Raton Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, former vice chair of the Boca Raton Community Advisory Panel and former vice chair of the Citizens’ Pedestrian & Bikeway Advisory Board. He is also an adjunct professor of business law at FAU. The avid runner and cyclist resides in Boca Raton with his wife, Fran, and their three high school- and college-age children.
COMMUNITY LEGACY
Photo by Darryl Nobles
Marie Hester
It’s not every day you meet someone who’s a native of Boca Raton, but Marie Hester is just that. She grew up in Pearl City, a historically Black community nestled within Boca and just steps from Mizner Park. Remarkably, Hester was born and raised on the same parcel of land on which she resides on today.
The original shotgun-style house was built in 1915 when Pearl City was founded, pre-dating the incorporation of the City of Boca Raton by a decade. The property has been passed down from generation to generation within her family. Eventually, the home fell into disrepair. After retiring from the Library of Congress in Washington, Hester returned to Boca and, in 2019, built a new house on the same land. Today, she lives there with her husband and 97-year-old mother.
While she once imagined retirement in Florida filled with golf and beach days, Hester is as active as ever. She serves as a commissioner on the City of Boca Raton’s Housing Authority board and is president of Developing Interracial Social Change, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing community issues and organizing events. Among them are Boca’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth celebrations.
She also worked tirelessly to secure Pearl City’s inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Her next goal is to install historical markers throughout the neighborhood. While Pearl City has changed a lot over the last 110 years, Hester remains committed to preserving its legacy.
If you ever stroll through the neighborhood and catch the scent of something sweet, chances are it’s coming from Hester’s kitchen. Knock on her door and she just might invite you in for a slice of her famous pound cake, coconut cake or sweet potato pie.
PHILANTHROPISTS & BUSINESS LEADERS
Photo by Virginia Gabante
Marta Batmasian
With her husband of 50 years, Marta Batmasian co-owns Investments Limited, a real estate investment and management company founded in Boston in 1974 and relocated to Boca Raton in 1983. The company has 3,800 apartments and more than 3 million square feet of commercial properties in its portfolio in South Florida and Boston, making it one of the largest landowners in our region.
“When my family moved here to be close to my in-laws, Boca Raton was a cultural desert and the western part was yet to be developed,” she remembers. “We were fortunate to meet like-minded individuals to start museums and other cultural endeavors, which has made Boca a beautiful place to live, work and socialize. Through our business, we learned the needs of the city, which drove our decisions on how to contribute. Boca is a family-friendly city full of charitable people, diverse offerings, great universities, parks and recreational activities.”
Batmasian had quite the global upbringing. She was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, as a Christian Armenian and relocated with her family to the Netherlands and then Boston during her college years in 1970. She’s won many awards for her accomplishments and generosity, most recently the Appeal of Conscience Foundation’s Humanitarian Award and Palm Beach County Women’s History Month Recognition in 2024.
Batmasian is extremely involved in many local organizations including Children’s Science Explorium, Tri-County Animal Rescue, Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, South Florida PBS, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Boca Raton Regional Hospital (BRRH), Boca Raton Historical Society and Junior League of Boca Raton. She and her husband have two sons and four grandchildren.
Photo by Stephen Luttinger
Christine E. Lynn
The Lynn name is synonymous with Boca Raton, but who does it belong to and how did it become so prominent? Originally from Europe, Christine E. Lynn moved to Boca Raton to wed Eugene M. Lynn, who made his fortune in the insurance business. Back in 1974, Eugene made a generous contribution to the College of Boca Raton, which had originally been called Marymount College for its first 12 years. In 1991, it was renamed Lynn University. Widowed in 1999, Lynn keeps her late husband’s legacy alive by remaining an active businesswoman and philanthropist in the Boca Raton community.
In addition to the university, many buildings and medical facilities bear her surname, and she continues to dedicate her life to improving the health, education and welfare of residents. Prior to calling Boca home, the Denmark native was a registered and surgical nurse who was educated in Oslo, Norway.
A trustee of the E.M. Lynn Foundation, Lynn has made significant donations to organizations and institutions including Lynn University, BRRH, FAU, Stetson University, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Hospice, American Heart Association, Fuller Center and The Boys & Girls Clubs. She serves as chair of the board of trustees of BRRH and Lynn University and is a member of the board of trustees of Stetson University, her husband’s alma mater.
Despite all the growth she’s witnessed over the years in Boca, Lynn still feels it has a small-town vibe and, reflecting on its 100th birthday, considers it a beautiful place to live.
“It’s such an important milestone and so many great things have happened throughout those years. We created a wonderful community with excellent health care, schools and universities,” she says. “Philanthropy allows the transformation of compassion into action and creates positive change that touches the lives of everyone in the community and beyond,” she says.
Lynn has received honorary doctorates from Lynn University, FAU, Stetson University, St. Anselm College and Irish American University, Dublin, and in 2013, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, an award given to immigrants who made a positive impact on the United States.
Photo Courtesy Of Schmidt Companies, Inc.
Dick Schmidt
Back in 1968, FAU was not what it is today, but its MBA program attracted a young man by the name of Richard “Dick” Schmidt, who completed his degree in 1970 and taught there as an assistant professor for three years following his graduation. Today, his family’s legacy lives on at FAU, with multiple buildings named in honor of his parents, Charles and Dorothy.
His education gave Schmidt the business acumen to chart a path to success, first as the founder and managing partner of an accounting firm and now as president and CEO of Schmidt Companies, Inc., a diversified investment group. He also serves as president of The Schmidt Family Foundation. The foundation supports many local causes, including BRRH, FAU, Lynn University, HomeSafe, Fuller Center, Spirit of Giving, American Association of Caregiving Youth, the Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park, Inc. and the Boca Raton Historical Society.
When he’s not leading in the boardroom or supporting the community, Schmidt enjoys flying, boating, reading, skiing and golfing. He’s also the author of three novels: “The Boy and the Dolphin,” “Memory Road” and “Career.”
In his lifetime, Schmidt hopes to make the community better than it was when he arrived in August 1968. “Boca Raton has transitioned from a sleepy retirement community and tourist destination to a vibrant business hub, hosting many of the world’s major companies,” he says of the area’s growth. “I am enjoying watching the community come together to celebrate the centennial and focus on the achievements of which we are all so proud.” He’s confident that the leaders of tomorrow will keep Boca Raton on the innovation map 100 years from now.
Historical Timeline Of Leadership
George Long
John Brown
Before incorporation, the town of Boca Raton (it didn’t become a city until 1957) operated as a farming community without organized government. It was first incorporated in 1924 during Florida’s land boom, but the state legislature officially approved it as a municipality in May of 1925.
Dorothy Wilken
The first mayor, George Long, was appointed in 1924 but had served for less than one year when John Brown became the first elected mayor in 1925. It was not until 1976 that Boca Raton elected its first female mayor, Dorothy Wilken.
Scott Singer
Since April 2018, Mayor Scott Singer has served three consecutive terms as the 35th mayor, making him Boca's longest serving mayor since JC Mitchell's 11-year tenure ended in 1950. Now entering the final stretch of his term, Singer will be succeeded by Boca's 36th mayor next spring.
To learn more about the figures past and present who have shaped the area, visit Boca Raton Historical Society’s history museum in person or enjoy their virtual exhibits, curated by Susan Gillis, from the comfort of home.
Visit bocahistory.org