Financial professional Lauren Archer is running unopposed for a seat on the Village of Roslyn Harbor Board of Trustees, seeking to succeed Trustee Abby Kurlender, who is not running for reelection.
Archer, a resident of the village since 2011, said her decision to run was driven by a desire to give back to the community where she and her family live.
“I love living here and I’m excited about the opportunity to serve the people of the community,” Archer said.
Originally from Sea Cliff, she said she returned to the North Shore more than a decade ago with her husband, who grew up in Roslyn Harbor. The couple chose the village in part because of its neighborhoods, school district and community character.
“We love the neighborhood, we love the school district, and we love all that goes with the community,” she said.
Archer said she was encouraged to consider running by local officials, including village leaders she already knew. Among them was James Frischer, a current trustee who is also seeking reelection, and Mayor Sandy Quentzel.
She said she was drawn to the idea of helping preserve the character of Roslyn Harbor while contributing to local decision-making.
“I want to help maintain the history of the town,” Archer said.
If elected, Archer said her professional background in finance would help inform the board’s oversight of village finances and budgeting.
She currently works at Prime Quadrant, a wealth management firm that serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families. Archer said she has spent about 12 years with the firm’s U.S. operations after previously working for 14 years at Goldman Sachs in its asset management division.
“I think it’s always a good idea to have someone with a financial background looking at the budget and the financials,” she said. “A lot of what the board decides involves how funds are allocated and spent within the community.”
Among the issues Archer said she hopes to focus on is preserving the village’s historic character while managing inevitable growth.
Roslyn Harbor, she noted, includes a number of older and historic homes that contribute to the village’s identity.
“There are some aging homes and some historical homes that really need to be preserved in the way they’re supposed to be,” Archer said.
She also pointed to the village’s natural environment — including its trees, wildlife and open spaces — as an important feature residents want to maintain.
“That’s part of the beauty of the community,” she said. “We don’t want it to become all concrete and no trees.”
Archer said Roslyn Harbor will likely experience some population growth and development in the coming years. She believes that growth must be carefully managed so it does not strain local infrastructure or services.
“Development needs to happen at a pace that the community can handle,” she said, pointing to factors such as school capacity, water quality and wastewater systems.
Archer said leaders must ensure that growth does not overwhelm local resources or diminish the quality of life residents expect.
Looking ahead, Archer said she hopes Roslyn Harbor continues to evolve while maintaining its identity as a small village community.
Outside of work and civic involvement, Archer said she spends much of her time with her family. She and her husband have four children, and much of their free time is spent attending sports events, traveling and enjoying outdoor activities around the community.
“I’m here for the people of the community,” she said. “That’s who we represent and who we want to benefit from the board and the work it does.”
