G. Oliver Koppell
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G. Oliver Koppell (born December 15, 1940 in the Bronx, New York) is a member of the New York City Council from District 10 in the Borough of The Bronx, covering the neighborhoods of Riverdale, Norwood, and Bedford Park. He was elected to the Council in 2001, and recently defeated Ari Hoffnung by a 3 to 1 margin in 2005.
Prior to his term in the City Council, he had been a member of the New York State Assembly in from 1970 to 1994. While in the Assembly, he served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and passed the New York bottle bill. In 1981, Koppell ran for Bronx Borough President, but was defeated in the Democratic primary by the incumbent, Stanley Simon. In 1993, Koppell was elected by the New York State Legislature to fill the unexpired term of New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams, who resigned. As attorney general, Koppell successfully brought a lawsuit to allow drivers under the age of 25 to obtain rental cars in the State of New York.
In 1994, Koppell sought a full term as attorney general, but lost to Judge Karen Burstein in the Democratic Primary. He finished second, ahead of Brooklyn District Attorney Charles "Joe" Hynes and prosecutor Eliot Spitzer. In 1998, he again sought the Democratic nomination for state attorney general. He finished third in the primary, behind Spitzer, who won, and State Sen. Catherine Abate. Koppell finished ahead of Charles Davis, a former staffer for former Gov. Mario Cuomo.
Koppell's first marriage ended in divorce. He is now married to Lorraine Coyle Koppell, an attorney who narrowly lost a race for the New York State Senate in 2000 to Guy Velella. Koppell is also active in the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club.
Under the city's term limits law, Koppell will is legally barred from seeking a third term on the City Council in 2009.
Koppell has been a resident of Fieldston in the Bronx.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Jackson, Nancy Beth. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Fieldston; A Leafy Enclave in the Hills of the Bronx", The New York Times, February 17, 2002. Accessed May 3, 2008. "TODAY, residents include United Nations ambassadors from Benin and Guinea; Jennifer J. Raab, president of Hunter College and former head of the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission; and G. Oliver Koppell, the former New York attorney general newly elected to the City Council."
[edit] External links
- Official NYC Council Website about Oliver Koppell
- Koppell and Associates Profile
- Searchlight 2002-District 11
- NYC Campaign Finance Board: The 2001 Voter Guides
- Koppell Raises Money Despite Safe Seat
- Candidates Are Attacked Over Tobacco Money
- Primary Ahead in Attorney General Race
- WTC Plans Got Trashed
| Preceded by Benjamin Altman |
New York State Assembly, 84th District 1970–1982 |
Succeeded by Gordon Burrows |
| Preceded by Guy Velella |
New York State Assembly, 80th District 1983–1992 |
Succeeded by George Friedman |
| Preceded by Stephen B. Kaufman |
New York State Assembly, 81st District 1993 |
Succeeded by Jeffrey Dinowitz |
| Preceded by Robert Abrams |
New York State Attorney General 1994 |
Succeeded by Dennis Vacco |
| Preceded by June Eisland |
New York City Council, 11th District 2002 – present |
Incumbent |
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| Members of New York City Council
Speaker: Christine C. Quinn |
 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Manhattan - |
9: Dickens (D) |
17: Arroyo (D) |
26: Gioia (D) |
35: James (WF) |
44: Felder (D) |
