G. Oliver Koppell
Encyclopedia
G. Oliver Koppell is a member of the New York City Council
from District 11 in the Borough of The Bronx
, covering the neighborhoods of Riverdale, Kingsbridge
, Woodlawn
, Van Cortlandt Village
, 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. On September 15, 2009, Oliver Koppell defeated challenger, Tony Perez Casino winning 65% of the vote.
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 was born in New York City. His parents, refugees from Nazi Germany, moved to the Bronx when Oliver was two. Koppell attended Bronx elementary schools, the Bronx High School of Science
, Harvard College
and Harvard Law School
, from which he graduated cum laude.
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
. He has three children, all of whom were raised in the Bronx and attended Bronx public schools, and five grandchildren. Koppell is active in the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club. He has been a resident of Fieldston
in the Bronx
.
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
from District 11 in the Borough of The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, covering the neighborhoods of Riverdale, Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge, Bronx
Kingsbridge is a working class residential neighborhood geographically located in the northwest Bronx in New York City. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 8. Its boundaries are Van Cortlandt Park to the north, Goulden Avenue to the east, West 225th Street to the south, and Irwin...
, Woodlawn
Woodlawn, Bronx
Woodlawn is a neighborhood at the very north end of the borough of the Bronx in New York City. Unlike some neighborhoods in New York City, its boundaries are fairly well-defined, as it is bounded by McLean Avenue to the north, which is approximately the New York City / Westchester County line, the...
, Van Cortlandt Village
Van Cortlandt Village, Bronx
Van Cortlandt Village is a subsection of the Kingsbridge Heights section of the New York City borough of The Bronx. Named after Van Cortlandt Park, bordered by the Major Deegan Expressway to the west, the Jerome Park Reservoir to the east, W 238th Street to the south, and Van Courtlandt Park to the...
, 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. On September 15, 2009, Oliver Koppell defeated challenger, Tony Perez Casino winning 65% of the vote.
Prior to his term in the City Council, he had been a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
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
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
, 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
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
Robert Abrams
Robert Abrams
Robert Abrams is an American lawyer and politician.-Life and career:He graduated from Columbia College and the New York University School of Law. He is considered a member of the reform wing of the Democratic Party.Abrams was a member of the New York State Assembly representing the Bronx from 1966...
, 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
Karen Burstein
Karen Burstein is a politician and former judge from New York. She was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for New York State Attorney General in 1994.-Biography:...
in the Democratic Primary. He finished second, ahead of Brooklyn District Attorney Charles "Joe" Hynes and prosecutor Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
. 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
Catherine Abate
Catherine M. Abate is a former New York State Senator. A Democrat, she served two terms , representing a district in Manhattan. In 1998, she gave up her seat to run for New York State Attorney General...
. Koppell finished ahead of Charles Davis, a former staffer for former Gov. Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
.
Koppell was born in New York City. His parents, refugees from Nazi Germany, moved to the Bronx when Oliver was two. Koppell attended Bronx elementary schools, the Bronx High School of Science
Bronx High School of Science
The Bronx High School of Science is a specialized New York City public high school often considered the premier science magnet school in the United States. Founded in 1938, it is now located in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx...
, Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, from which he graduated cum laude.
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
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...
in 2000 to Guy Velella
Guy Velella
Guy John Velella was a Republican New York State Senator from The Bronx.A political leader, state assemblyman, and state senator for over 30 years, Velella was indicted in 2002 with 25 counts of bribery and conspiracy for allegedly accepting at least $137,000 in exchange for steering public-works...
. He has three children, all of whom were raised in the Bronx and attended Bronx public schools, and five grandchildren. Koppell is active in the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club. He has been a resident of Fieldston
Fieldston, Bronx
Fieldston is a section of the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York City. It is bounded by Manhattan College Parkway to the south, Henry Hudson Parkway to the west, 250th Street to the north and Broadway to the east....
in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
.