Westchester County Board of Legislators

The Westchester County Board of Legislators is the legislative, policy-making branch of Westchester County. 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
History
New session started
January 6, 2020
Leadership
Chair of the Board
Benjamin Boykin (D)
since January 8, 2018
Vice-Chair of the Board
Alfreda Williams (D)
since January 8, 2018
Majority Leader
Mary Jane Shimsky (D)
since January 6, 2020
Minority Leader
Margaret Cunzio (R)
since January 6, 2020
Majority Whip
Christopher Johnson (D)
since January 6, 2020
Structure
Seats17
Political groups
Majority caucus (16)
  •      Democratic (16)

Minority caucus (1)

  •      Republican (1)
Length of term
2 years
Salary$75,000/year.[1]
Elections
Last election
November 5, 2019
(17 seats)
Next election
November 2, 2021
(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 February 2020, sixteen of them are Democrats and one is a Conservative who caucuses as a Republican. On January 8, 2018, Legislator Benjamin Boykin, a Democrat, was elected Chair of the Board. Legislator Alfreda Williams was unanimously elected as Vice-Chair of the Board. They were re-elected in 2020.[2]

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

New Rochelle, Rye

8 Alfreda Williams (D) Vice-Chair 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 MaryJane Shimsky (D) Majority Leader Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Edgemont, Hartsdale, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington
13 Lyndon Williams (D) Mount Vernon
14 David Tubiolo (D) Mount Vernon, Yonkers
15 Ruth Walter (D) Bronxville, Yonkers
16 Christopher A. Johnson (D) Majority Whip Yonkers
17 José Alvarado (D) Yonkers

Committees

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

The following table reflects Committee chairs during the legislative term of 2020-2021.[3]

Committee Chair
Appointments Ruth Walter
Budget and Appropriations Catherine Borgia
Environment, Health & Energy Nancy Barr
Intergovernmental Services Terry Clements
Labor and Housing Damon Maher
Law & Major Contracts Lyndon Williams
Legislation Kitley Covill
Parks & Recreation David Tubiolo
Planning, Economic Development & Energy Catherine Parker
Public Safety Colin Smith
Public Works & Transportation Vedat Gashi
Rules Mary Jane Shimsky & Margaret Cunzio
Seniors, Youth & Intergenerational Services José Alvarado
Social Services Christopher Johnson
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References
  1. Kevin Zimmerman. "Westchester County Board of Legislators approves 52% pay raise for selves." Westchester County Business Journal. December 11, 2019.
  2. Mark Lungariello. "Ben Boykin reelected Westchester legislature chairman." Journal News. January 6, 2020.
  3. "Westchester County Board of Legislators 2020–2021 Committee Assignments".
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