Oliver Koppell

Gabriel Oliver Koppell (born December 15, 1940) is an American politician from New York City. A member of the Democratic Party, he is a former member of the New York City Council and the former New York Attorney General.

Oliver Koppell
Member of the New York City Council from the 11th District
In office January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2013
Preceded by	June Eisland
Succeeded by	Andrew Cohen
Constituency	Bronx: Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Woodlawn Heights, Norwood, parts of Bedford Park, Wakefield and Bronx Park East.
61st Attorney General of New York
In office January 1, 1994 – December 31, 1994
Governor	Mario Cuomo
Preceded by	Robert Abrams
Succeeded by	Dennis Vacco
Member of the New York State Assembly
In office March 3, 1970 – December 31, 1993
Preceded by	Benjamin Altman
Succeeded by	Jeffrey Dinowitz
Constituency	84th district (1970–82) 80th district (1983–92) 81st district (1993)
Personal details
Born	December 15, 1940 Bronx, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Lorraine Coyle Koppell
Residence	Bronx, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Harvard College Harvard Law School
Profession	Lawyer

Biography

Koppell was born on December 15, 1940, in New York City. His parents, refugees from Nazi Germany, moved to the Bronx when Oliver was two years old. Koppell attended Bronx elementary schools, the Bronx High School of Science, Harvard College and Harvard Law School, from which he graduated cum laude.[1] While at Harvard College, he founded Let's Go Travel Guides. He is Jewish.[2]

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.[1] Koppell is active in the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club. He has been a resident of Fieldston in the Bronx.[3]

New York State Assembly

Koppell was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1970 to 1994.

On March 3, 1970, Koppell was elected as an Independent to the New York State Assembly, to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Benjamin Altman as New York City Commissioner of Rent and Housing Maintenance. While in the Assembly, he served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and passed the New York bottle bill.

Koppell was re-elected several times as a Democrat, and remained in the Assembly until 1993, sitting in the 178th, 179th, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd, 184th, 185th, 186th, 187th, 188th, 189th and 190th New York State Legislatures

In 1981, Koppell ran for Bronx Borough President, but was defeated in the Democratic primary by the incumbent, Stanley Simon.

New York Attorney General

On December 16, 1993, Koppell was elected by the New York State Legislature to fill the unexpired term of New York Attorney General Robert Abrams.[4] 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 attorney general. He finished third in the primary, behind Spitzer, who won, and State Senator Catherine Abate. Koppell finished ahead of Charles Davis, a former staffer for former Governor Mario Cuomo.

New York City Council

He served as a member of the New York City Council from District 11 in the Borough of The Bronx, covering the neighborhoods of Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Woodlawn Heights, Van Cortlandt Village, Norwood, and Bedford Park. He was elected to the Council in 2001, and defeated Ari Hoffnung by a 3 to 1 margin in 2005. On September 15, 2009, Koppell defeated challenger, Tony Perez Casino winning 65% of the vote. Due to term limits, Koppell left the City Council on December 31, 2013.

2014 State Senate Run

In 2014, Koppell ran a David vs. Goliath challenge against incumbent State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein in the Democratic Party primary, and was defeated on a 60 to 40 margin. Koppell ran on the basis of disbanding the Independent Democratic Conference (a democratic group of senators who caucused with republicans), led by Klein.[5]

References

1. Official Biography
2. http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/jewish-insider-s-daily-kickoff-december-15-2017-1.5628773
3. 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."
4. Koppell Named Interim Attorney General in the New York Times on December 17, 1993
5. "Koppell challenges Klein for senate seat," Riverdale Press. May 5, 2014

External links

• Searchlight 2002-District 11
• Koppell Raises Money Despite Safe Seat
• Candidates Are Attacked Over Tobacco Money
• Primary Ahead in Attorney General Race
• Koppell challenges Klein for senate seat