Dressed in his finest charcoal suit and bangs gelled to a stylish peak, young Frankie Tinelli hit the ground running Tuesday as Honorary Mayor for a Day in Suffern.

“Knowing that I’m actually mayor for a day, it was fantastic,” said Frankie in his first big official TV news interview with News12 reporter Ty Millburn.

Young Mayor Tinelli was also fast to grasp the complexities of public life.

“Being mayor isn’t all glamorous TV shots and things like that,” Tinelli said, in his scratchy, preternaturally articulate voice. “It’s a lot more behind the scenes. You have to deal with people who don’t exactly cooperate. You’re in charge of everything.”

A 3rd grader from R.P. Conner Elementary School, Tinelli was escorted around Village Hall by the other mayor, Dagan Lacorte, where he met his “staff,” took in various village sites and generally had the run of Village Hall.

“I attended the local production of Annie, where Frankie played Franklin D. Roosevelt,” said Lacorte about the selection process. “The way he pulled off F.D.R. in tough times, you know, he could run Suffern.” So, Lacorte invited Tinelli to be Honorary Mayor for a Day.

As Tinelli made his rounds, he described some of the things he learned about what it takes to run a village, including “taking care of the sewage plant, keeping everybody in line, denying raises,” a revelation that caused Tinelli to laugh.

“A lot of people have been asking me for raises,” he said.

The Honorary Mayor’s mom, Theresa Tinelli, was very proud of her son’s sudden elevation into political life.

“I am so thrilled that Frankie was chosen to be Mayor of the Day,” Theresa Tinelli said. “He has always been impressed with past Presidents and our Government, this is an honor for Frankie and our family,” she said.

Tinelli fit comfortably as Suffern’s top official, discussing issues at the Department of Public Works, chatting up Police Detective Craig Long, who also happens to serve as President of the Ramapo Central Board of Education, and generally walking the corridors of Village Hall.

Next stop for Mayor Tinelli — Fourth Grade.

Photos of Honorary Mayor Frankie Tinelli at Suffern Village Hall courtesy of News12. Photo of Mayor Dagan Lacorte at Suffern Department of Public Works conferring with Frankie Tinelli courtesy of the Village of Suffern.