Howard J. Kopel
Republican · NY · Nassau County Legislator, District 7; Presiding Officer
Howard J. Kopel represents Nassau County’s District 7 and presides over the County Legislature. He runs a title insurance business and emphasizes fiscal responsibility and infrastructure.
Where Howard J. Kopel stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (2 records), Government Efficiency (1 record), Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record),
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (2 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 2 support
Co-sponsored a county bill with two other Republican legislators to ban county sewage plants from treating wastewater from fracking. A legislative committee approved the bill on March 26, 2012.
March 26, 2012Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: liherald.com
Called on Governor David Paterson, with two other county legislators and environmental groups, to release more than half a million dollars for a water-quality study of the Western Bays. The bays were being harmed by treated sewage from five plants.
June 25, 2010Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 1 support
Voted to merge the county Planning Department into Public Works and to combine four agencies into one Department of Human Services. The mergers were meant to cut manager costs, with the planning merger alone saving about $725,000 a year.
June 7, 2011Supports Government Efficiency
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 2 support · 1 oppose
Voted with the county legislature to approve the final $463 million to repair the Bay Park sewage plant after Hurricane Sandy. The money included $326 million to replace the plant's flooded electrical system.
November 27, 2013Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Voted for the 2012 county budget, which did not raise property taxes and cut total spending. It passed 11-8, with all Republicans for and all Democrats against. The budget assumed cutting police precincts from 8 to 6.
November 2, 2011Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Voted to merge the county Planning Department into Public Works and to combine four agencies into one Department of Human Services. The mergers were meant to cut manager costs, with the planning merger alone saving about $725,000 a year.
June 7, 2011Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Voted for a county law making it a crime to wear a mask in public to hide one's identity, with health and religious exceptions. All 12 Republicans voted yes and all 7 Democrats abstained.
August 5, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: ny1.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 4 support
Led a letter campaign asking Governor Andrew Cuomo to fix and reroute a run-down stretch of Rockaway Turnpike (Route 878). More than 2,100 residents sent letters in under two weeks.
June 19, 2014Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Voted with the county legislature to approve the final $463 million to repair the Bay Park sewage plant after Hurricane Sandy. The money included $326 million to replace the plant's flooded electrical system.
November 27, 2013Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Testified before the Nassau County Planning Commission against closing the county public works yard in Inwood. He said moving its snowplow crews to Bay Park would hurt services in the Five Towns.
February 3, 2011Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Pressed the federal Environmental Protection Agency, along with Sen. Chuck Schumer and county leaders, to repay money owed since 1984 for Bay Park sewage plant upgrades. The agency agreed to release $11 million.
December 28, 2010Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Track record — General
General · 7 records
Wrote a newspaper column opposing the state law that moves county elections to even-numbered years. He argued the law hurts local control and helps Democrats.
November 25, 2025
Source: liherald.com
Was named, as presiding officer, in a voting-rights lawsuit over the county's 2023 legislative district map. The case ended in a January 2025 settlement that replaced the map.
January 23, 2025
Source: aclu.org
Voted for a county law that bars people born male from women's and girls' sports at county facilities. It passed 12-6 along party lines.
June 24, 2024
Source: liherald.com
Was sworn in as presiding officer, the top leader of the Nassau County Legislature. He replaced Richard Nicolello, who retired after 28 years.
January 5, 2024
Source: liherald.com
Joined state senators and county leaders in backing a state bill to end the MTA payroll tax on counties, towns and villages. The tax cost Nassau County about $3 million a year.
February 7, 2012
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Was chosen unanimously by fellow legislators as Majority Whip (Alternate Deputy Presiding Officer). He was also named chairman of the Budget Review Committee.
January 2, 2012
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Joined the county legislature's majority in repealing the county's 2.5% home energy tax. The tax came off residents' utility bills on June 1, 2010.
June 1, 2010
Source: archive.nassaucountyny.gov
Past race Howard J. Kopel ran in:
- County Legislator, 7th District · November 3, 2026 · Nassau County, New York · incumbent