Editorial: Zeidman leaves legacy of exemplary leadership in Palm Beach

In the democratic tradition, leaders move on so they can be replaced by others. Oftentimes, this is because of an election or term limits. But sometimes leaders choose to resign, much like the first American president, George Washington, as a selfless gesture.

On Tuesday, Margaret "Maggie" Zeidman handed over the gavel of Town Council president to Bobbie Lindsay, marking the end of her eight years in elected office.

When she announced in October that she would not seek reelection, Mrs. Zeidman made it clear that while she loved serving the town, the time had come to spend more time with her family. We think that is a great reason to exit public service.

During her tenure, Mrs. Zeidman has exemplified strong leadership of the sort that made her positions clear but also reflected a willingness to listen to others and maybe modify her view if she felt a valid argument was being made. She encouraged civility and, yes, sometimes the meetings ran long but this appeared to be driven by the desire to ensure that everyone had a chance to be heard.

Where she was perhaps most strident was during the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost as soon as word came that the virus had reached Florida in March 2020 she, along with Town Manager Kirk Blouin and former Mayor Gail Coniglio and other town leaders, sprang into action.

Word that a resident had tested positive for the virus was soon followed by temporary beach closings, mask mandates and a shift to online meetings for town boards. Mrs. Zeidman, a retired head of nursing at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, was vocal and unequivocal in her view that the virus was serious and deadly and repeatedly urged caution and vigilance to reduce the spread.

And once a vaccine became available the town was among the first municipalities to get it to residents.

The virus in now endemic, so it no longer grabs headlines, but we have to acknowledge the calm and steady leadership Mrs. Zeidman provided at the beginning of the pandemic, when fear and misinformation was rampant, and as the virus ebbed and flowed in the ensuing years.

Her colleagues had accolades a-plenty as they praised her service during Tuesday's meeting.

Ms. Lindsay said: "Your leadership has helped us promote a cohesive policymaking team that invites civic engagement from our residents and businesses, and works well together with the staff. Under your tenure, we have accomplished much in the past four years."

We liked Mayor Danielle Moore's comment and quip: "You've done everything with such grace, and like such a lady. It has truly been an honor and a pleasure to sit next to you, and now we can talk all the time because I don't have to worry about Sunshine (laws). Isn't that a great thing to have finally go away for us?"

The mayor's remarks serve as a reminder: No matter how close council members are personally, they must be careful about the conversations they have to ensure that government in the Sunshine State does indeed operate "in the sunshine" rather than under any unauthorized cloak of secrecy.

Mrs. Zeidman has served this town well and leaves behind a legacy of which she can be proud. We know stepping down does not mean the end of her involvement because she cares too much about the town to walk away.

We wish her the best and the creation of many more memories with her family — especially those precious grandchildren.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Editorial: Zeidman leaves legacy of exemplary leadership on council