What's the Buzz: If You Could Elect Anyone Mayor…

Image: Angela Zou

By THE MIDWOOD ARGUS

On November 4, New Yorkers will vote for the city's mayor. Our choices this time are Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa, but we thought it would be fun to ask Midwood students, “If you could elect anyone (alive, dead, or fictional) to be the mayor of NYC, who would it be and why?” Here’s what they had to say:

I would elect Alexander Hamilton. He was one of our founding fathers who made decisions based on what was best for society and I believe he had the right intentions. He was one of the main contributors to our gaining independence from Great Britain. Through his writing, he was able to motivate, encourage, and create hope for the people he represented. I believe he would be a good mayor for NYC because he possesses all the traits a considerate and thoughtful leader should have. – Jaden Parra ‘27

I would pick Albert Einstein since he was a scientist who would be able to solve major problems that our city has, like climate change and housing shortages. He would invest in education, research, and technology, which would benefit students. Imagine saying our mayor is Einstein – that would be legendary. – Anastasiia Savchyn '26

Sunset Shimmer would be a great mayor because she's someone who has grown from her past mistakes, demonstrating resilience and hard-work. She is a great collaborator and has a record of leadership experience, guiding her community through hardship and invasion, rehabilitating Twilight Sparkle from evil forces, and aiding in a school camp's fight against an evil forest demon. Throughout all her trials, she relies on those she trusts to help her make wise decisions and ensures that those most affected by the issues are compensated and taken care of. Overall, her strong capacity to work effectively under pressure and manage a crisis make her an ideal candidate for NYC mayor. – Kathy Liang ‘26

If I could elect anyone to be the mayor of New York City, I would choose [recently deceased conservationist and chimp researcher] Jane Goodall. She spent her entire life showing the world what it means to lead with kindness, patience, and respect for all living things. I think she would bring a sense of compassion and wisdom to the city that we don't often see in politics, and that's the kind of leadership New York could truly use. – Saba Khoja ‘26

I would elect Superman. He has the brawn, the brain, and very good morals. There’s also an easy contingency plan if he goes rogue: kryptonite. With basically a god overseeing everyone we could easily live the communist lifestyle we all want without the risk of corruption. This man could supply us with whatever we need for all of our lifetimes. With his strength and powers he could probably supply us with generations worth of energy in some sort of battery concept, too. – Nathon John ‘26

I’d choose [manga heroine] Frieren. She’s calm under pressure, wise from centuries of experience, and deeply introspective: exactly what a city like New York needs. She’s lived for over a thousand years, so I think she can handle a few angry New Yorkers. – Kaiqi Zheng ‘27 

If I could elect anyone to become the mayor of NYC, it would be my dad. Even though he cannot speak English, his passion shows in the way he works tirelessly to support my family and treats everyone with respect and kindness. He believes in fairness, hard work, and the community values that make a good leader and inspire me every day. – Zhengdi Li '26