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
| |
|---|---|
 | |
| History | |
New session started | January 8, 2024 |
| Leadership | |
Chair of the Board |
Vedat Gashi (D) |
Vice-Chair of the Board |
José Alvarado (D) |
Tyrae Woodson-Samuels (D) | |
Margaret Cunzio (C) | |
Terry Clements (D) | |
James Nolan (R) | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 17 |
 | |
Political groups | Majority caucus (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.
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 January 4, 2024, Legislator Vedat Gashi, a Democrat, was re-elected Chair of the Board. Legislator José Alvarado was elected Vice Chair of the Board.[2]
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 2024-2025.[6]
| Committee | Chair |
|---|---|
| Appointments | Catherine Parker |
| Budget & Appropriations | Jewel Williams Johnson |
| Economic Development | Benjamin Boykin II |
| Health | Jewel Williams Johnson |
| Housing & Planning | Shanae Williams |
| Human Services | Nancy Barr |
| Information Technology & Cybersecurity | Judah Holstein |
| Labor & Human Rights | Emiljana Ulaj |
| Law & Major Contracts | David Imamura |
| Legislation | Colin Smith |
| Parks & Recreation | David Tubiolo |
| Public Safety | Terry Clements |
| Public Works & Transportation | Erika Pierce |
| Rules | Tyrae Woodson Samuels & Margaret Cunzio |
| Veterans, Seniors & Youth | James Nolan |