Westchester County Board of Legislators

The Westchester County Board of Legislators is the legislative, policy-making branch of Westchester County, New York. The powers of the Board are enumerated in the county's charter. A key power of the Board concerns finances: appropriating funds, approving the budget and levying taxes. It also approves appointments by the County Executive and passes local laws, acts, and resolutions.

Westchester County Board of Legislators
Coat of arms or logo
History
New session started
January 3, 2022
Leadership
Chair of the Board
Vedat Gashi (D)
since May 16, 2023
Vice-Chair of the Board
Nancy E. Barr (D)
since January 3, 2022
José Alvarado (D)
since July 5, 2023
Margaret Cunzio (C)
since January 6, 2020
Tyrae Woodson-Samuels (D)
since July 5, 2023
James Nolan (R)
since January 3, 2022
Structure
Seats17
Political groups
Majority caucus (15)
  •   Democratic (15)

Minority caucus (2)

Length of term
2 years
Salary$75,000/year.[1]
Elections
Last election
November 2, 2021
(17 seats)
Next election
November 7, 2023
(17 seats)
Website
Westchester County Board of Legislators

The Board's seventeen members, known as Legislators, are elected every two years and each represents a district of approximately 56,000 residents.

Board members

The Board of Legislators has seventeen members, each representing a district of approximately 56,000 residents. As of January 2022, fifteen of them are Democrats, one is a Republican, and one is a Conservative who caucuses as a Republican. On May 16, 2023, Legislator Vedat Gashi, a Democrat, was elected Chair of the Board. Legislator Nancy E. Barr was elected Vice Chair of the Board.[2][3][4]

District Legislator Notes Residence
1 Colin Smith (D) Cortlandt, Peekskill, Yorktown
2 Erika Pierce (D) Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers
3 Margaret Cunzio (C) Minority Leader Mount Pleasant, North Castle, Pleasantville
4 Vedat Gashi (D) Chair New Castle, Somers, Yorktown
5 Benjamin Boykin II (D) White Plains, Scarsdale, Harrison
6 Nancy E. Barr (D) Vice Chair Harrison, Port Chester, Rye Brook
7 Catherine Parker (D) Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck,

New Rochelle, Rye

8 Jewel Williams Johnson (D) Elmsford, Greenburgh, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown
9 Catherine Borgia (D) Briarcliff Manor, Cortlandt, Croton-on-Hudson, Ossining, Peekskill
10 Damon Maher (D) Eastchester, New Rochelle, Tuckahoe
11 Terry Clements (D) New Rochelle, Pelham, Pelham Manor
12 David Imamura (D)[5] Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Edgemont, Hartsdale, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington
13 Tyrae Woodson-Samuels (D) Majority Whip Mount Vernon
14 David Tubiolo (D) Mount Vernon, Yonkers
15 James Nolan (R) Minority Whip Bronxville, Yonkers
16 Yonkers
17 José Alvarado (D) Majority Leader Yonkers

Committees

The Board of Legislators operates under a committee system. Currently, there are fourteen committees, each of which is charged with overseeing a particular policy area.

The following table reflects Committee chairs during the legislative term of 2022-2023.[6]

Committee Chair
Appointments James Nolan
Budget & Appropriations Vedat Gashi
Environment, Energy & Climate Nancy Barr
Economic Development Benjamin Boykin II
Health Jewel Williams Johnson
Housing Tyrae Woodson-Samuels
Human Services/Equality Catherine Parker
Legislation Colin Smith
Law & Major Contracts Damon Maher
Parks & Recreation David Tubiolo
Public Safety Terry Clements
Public Works & Transportation Erika Pierce
Rules Jose Alvarado & Margaret Cunzio
Seniors & Youth José Alvarado

References
  1. Kevin Zimmerman. "Westchester County Board of Legislators approves 52% pay raise for selves." Westchester County Business Journal. December 11, 2019.
  2. Martin Wilbur. "Board of Legislators Makes History as Borgia, Barr Named to Lead." The Examiner News. January 5, 2022.
  3. danmurphy (May 16, 2023). "Vedat Gashi Elected New Chair of Westchester Board of Legislators". Yonkers Times. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  4. "Gashi Elected Chairman Of Westchester Board of Legislators". White Plains, NY Patch. May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  5. "County legislator Imamura sworn in". www.scarsdalenews.com. Scarsdale Inquirer. March 27, 2023. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  6. "Westchester County Board of Legislators 2022–2023 Committee Assignments".
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