Al Coppola
Encyclopedia
Alfred "Al" Coppola is a former state senator
and politician
in New York
. A resident of Buffalo, New York
, Coppola is a long time political figure in the city, who served briefly as the 60th District member in the New York Senate at the turn of the 21st century.
A longtime member of the Buffalo Common Council
, representing the city's Delaware District, Coppola was nominated by Democratic Party leaders in Erie
and Niagara
Counties in a February 2000 special election to fill a vacancy in the State Senate. The vacancy was created after State Sen. Anthony Nanula
resigned to become Buffalo City Comptroller. Coppola defeated Niagara County Legislator Renae Kimble, a Democrat running on the Republican line, to win the Senate seat. As a senator, Coppola represented parts of Buffalo
and Tonawanda and all of Niagara Falls
and Grand Island
. He focused much of his legislative program on energy issues during his tenure in Albany.
Coppola lost the September 2000 primary for a full two-year second term in the Senate to Buffalo Councilmember Byron Brown
. Coppola continued his reelection campaign into the general election as the nominee of the Conservative and Independence Parties. He lost to Brown, but did finish ahead of Republican nominee Bob Woolworth.
Coppola unsuccessfully challenged Brown in the 2002 and 2004 Democratic primaries and as the Republican nominee in the general election those years. In 2005 he made a short-lived bid for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Buffalo, a nomination which eventually went to Brown. After Brown resigned the Senate seat to become mayor, Coppola briefly pursued the Democratic nomination to run in the special election. This nomination went to his cousin, Marc Coppola
, who had succeeded him as a council member.
Al Coppola challenged his cousin, Senator Marc Coppola
and Antoine Thompson
, who had been endorsed by Brown in the 2006 Democratic primary for the Senate seat. The race was won by Antoine Thompson
.
In 2008 Thompson was succeessful against Buffalo attorney Mark J. Grisanti who ran against him in the Democratic primary. He was unopposed in that year's general election. In 2010 Thompson won the 2010 Democratic primary with 56% of the vote against challengers Al Coppola and local businessman Rory Allen but lost to Republican and Conservative candidate Mark J. Grisanti in the general election.
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. A resident of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, Coppola is a long time political figure in the city, who served briefly as the 60th District member in the New York Senate at the turn of the 21st century.
A longtime member of the Buffalo Common Council
Buffalo Common Council
The Buffalo Common Council is the legislative branch of the Buffalo, New York City Government. It is a representative assembly, with one elected member from each of nine districts: Niagara, Delaware, Masten, Ellicott, Lovejoy, Fillmore, North, University, and South. In the past, the Common...
, representing the city's Delaware District, Coppola was nominated by Democratic Party leaders in Erie
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
and Niagara
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
Counties in a February 2000 special election to fill a vacancy in the State Senate. The vacancy was created after State Sen. Anthony Nanula
Anthony Nanula
Anthony Nanula is a political leader and businessman in Buffalo, New York. He has served as a state senator and city comptroller.Nanula, a local businessman, was elected in a 1994 special election to serve in the State Senate, succeeding Anthony Masiello who resigned from the Senate to become...
resigned to become Buffalo City Comptroller. Coppola defeated Niagara County Legislator Renae Kimble, a Democrat running on the Republican line, to win the Senate seat. As a senator, Coppola represented parts of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and Tonawanda and all of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
and Grand Island
Grand Island, New York
Grand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town population is 20,374. This represents an increase of 9.41% from the 2000 census figure . The current town name derives from the French name La Grande Île, as Grand Island is the largest island in...
. He focused much of his legislative program on energy issues during his tenure in Albany.
Coppola lost the September 2000 primary for a full two-year second term in the Senate to Buffalo Councilmember Byron Brown
Byron Brown
Byron William Brown II is the 58th and current mayor of Buffalo, New York, elected on November 8, 2005 and is the city's first African-American mayor. He previously served Western New York as a member of the New York State Senate and Buffalo Common Council...
. Coppola continued his reelection campaign into the general election as the nominee of the Conservative and Independence Parties. He lost to Brown, but did finish ahead of Republican nominee Bob Woolworth.
Coppola unsuccessfully challenged Brown in the 2002 and 2004 Democratic primaries and as the Republican nominee in the general election those years. In 2005 he made a short-lived bid for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Buffalo, a nomination which eventually went to Brown. After Brown resigned the Senate seat to become mayor, Coppola briefly pursued the Democratic nomination to run in the special election. This nomination went to his cousin, Marc Coppola
Marc Coppola
Marc A. Coppola is a resident of the Town of Tonawanda, New York and a former member of the New York State Assembly, where he represented the New York 60th Senate district which includes parts of the Cities of Buffalo and Tonawanda, the City of Niagara Falls and the Town of Grand Island.Coppola...
, who had succeeded him as a council member.
Al Coppola challenged his cousin, Senator Marc Coppola
Marc Coppola
Marc A. Coppola is a resident of the Town of Tonawanda, New York and a former member of the New York State Assembly, where he represented the New York 60th Senate district which includes parts of the Cities of Buffalo and Tonawanda, the City of Niagara Falls and the Town of Grand Island.Coppola...
and Antoine Thompson
Antoine Thompson
Antoine Maurice Thompson was a Democratic New York State Senator who represented the state's 60th Senate district, which includes parts of Buffalo and Tonawanda, the City of Niagara Falls and the Town of Grand Island. Thompson previously served for six years as the Masten District councilman in...
, who had been endorsed by Brown in the 2006 Democratic primary for the Senate seat. The race was won by Antoine Thompson
Antoine Thompson
Antoine Maurice Thompson was a Democratic New York State Senator who represented the state's 60th Senate district, which includes parts of Buffalo and Tonawanda, the City of Niagara Falls and the Town of Grand Island. Thompson previously served for six years as the Masten District councilman in...
.
In 2008 Thompson was succeessful against Buffalo attorney Mark J. Grisanti who ran against him in the Democratic primary. He was unopposed in that year's general election. In 2010 Thompson won the 2010 Democratic primary with 56% of the vote against challengers Al Coppola and local businessman Rory Allen but lost to Republican and Conservative candidate Mark J. Grisanti in the general election.