ABOUT
lifelong resident Passionate about Leonia and its future.
Leonia Experience with A Proven Track Record
Leonia Mayor, 2024 - Present:
Leonia Council, 2016 - 2024
Committee Chair overseeing our new Police/Court Building. Largest and most complex municipal infrastructure project in 50+ years in terms of construction, timing, capital financing, location, and features.
Aligning Overpeck Park IV design plans with Leonia’s best interests
Value-driven/detailed formulation of operating and capital budgets 2016-2022
Shade Tree ordinance, Plastic Bag Ban, Styrofoam food container ban ordinance
Only member of governing body to oppose Res. 2022-107 redevelopment designation
Ensured maximum 50% lot coverage in our revised zoning laws
Community Choice Energy Aggregation ordinance
Anti Nepotism policies
Grand and Broad Avenue security cameras and license plate readers
Advocated for term limits
Serve as Environmental Commission liaison, Shade Tree liaison, Chair of Facilities Committee, member of Finance/HR Committee, Police Commission, Historic Preservation Commission (through 2022)
Highwood Hills Improvements champion
Leonia Fundraising Activities:
Susan Boyd and I opened our home for fundraisers in 2022 to benefit Sculpture for Leonia (raised over $10,000), Rotary of the Palisades, Leonia Chamber Musicians and Leonia Arts. In April, we will host a Library fundraiser and a Rec Class Art Show. Learn more here.
Leonia Cares:
Co-founded with Councilwoman Terrell to assist elderly and disabled Leonians in getting medicine and groceries at the onset of the Pandemic. Recruited volunteers, organized the borough by territories and appointed Block Captains to reach out to everyone in their assigned areas to determine who might be in need. Set the volunteer assignments and established protocols and processes to manage the program. All about neighbors helping neighbors. We had over 100 people who rolled up their sleeves to assist fellow Leonians in need plus student volunteers as “runners”.
Leonia Volunteer Activities Pre-2016:
Library Board of Trustees (12 years)
Mayor’s Economic Development Advisory Board (2 years)
Board of Adjustment (3+ years)
Rec League Baseball Coach (7 years and one of my favorite volunteer jobs)
Leonia Memorial Garden in Wood Park (Please ask me about this one!)
Rotary of the Palisades member and Oktoberfest coordinator, Youth Program Lead
Leonia Council 1987-1989
Championed Library BCCLS membership
Proposed first borough noise ordinance and solicitor’s ordinance (both enacted)
Successfully advocated to keep Fire Department’s 1955 showpiece Hook & Ladder truck as a permanent part of Leonia’s collection
Asked to run for Mayor but my focus had to be on family and career at that time
Professional Career
UBS, Global Managing Director, 5 years
Deloitte, LLC National Director, 2 years
Accenture, Senior Executive (global), 20 years
US House of Representatives, Legislative Assistant, 5 years
US House of Representatives, Intern, 2 years
One of the biggest perks of my professional career–I got to see the world, and my organization placed over 100 thousand people in meaningful jobs. I’ve led businesses of about 1000 professionals plus support staff across 51 countries with annual budget authority more than 10x that of Leonia’s annual operating budget. My primary business skills are in HR and Finance. Responsible for strategy formulation and operational delivery for my global enterprises.
My professional career allowed me to pay the bills, provide for my family, offer my kids a college education without loans, live comfortably, retire at age 52 and do what I can now to make the world a better place.
Education
Leonia High School Class of ‘76
Columbia University Science Honors Program
The George Washington University, BBA Finance
Advanced Legislative Institute, US Congress
Boston College, MBA Marketing
RECENT AWARDS
Luther Rice Award
George Washington University Alumni Outstanding Service Award
George Washington University Business Gives Back Distinguished Alumni Award Presented by the MBA Class
2023 Bergen County Historic Preservation Award
Previous Board Affiliations
The George Washington University Business School Board and Executive Committee
National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Board Chair
The George Washington University Real Estate and Finance Alliance, Board Co-Chair
National Association of Colleges and Employers Board of Directors, Executive Committee
The Bormann Group, Executive Committee
Flat Rock Brook Board of Directors
Personal
I married another longtime Leonian, Susan Boyd, “the girl next door.” We own and live in the oldest house in Leonia, which is listed on County, State, and Federal historic registers. The Ziegler family are big sports fans, partial to baseball and soccer. Our two sons, (Brad and Justin) both attended Leonia Schools and are the fifth generation of family in our Leonia home.
My campaign for Leonia Mayor is entirely self-financed. I believe the best elected officials are the ones who make their decisions without feeling like they owe anyone any favors. My focus is and always will be what’s best for Leonia. Period.
“What you want to do in the public sphere can be tough on the family. That’s why I waited until after my children were grown to dive back into community service. I was fortunate that I could retire from my corporate career at age 52, and now I have the requisite skills, experience, and more time to lead Leonia forward.”
—Bill Ziegler
