District 4

Yorktown, New Castle, Somers

Westchester County Legislator Michael B. Kaplowitz, an independent Democrat, has lived in Somers since 1989 and has represented the 4th District (Yorktown, New Castle and Somers) since 1998.

His education and expertise as an attorney and certified financial planner led to his appointment as Chair of the Budget & Appropriations Committee in 2003. During difficult 2002 budget discussions, Kaplowitz found a way to cut over $50 million in the proposed budget; in 2005, as Budget Chair, he was able to deliver a 0% tax levy increase and for the 2011 Budget, Mike was able to lead the Legislature in a 2% tax decrease.

Mike Kaplowitz is a budget expert, fiscal conservative and small business owner who has found and eliminated millions in wasteful Westchester County spending. He has also identified numerous cost-saving measures. For example, Mike actively supported and helped fund Westchester's Care Coordination Program, which combines and coordinates certain services and programs between the County's Department of Social Services and Department of Community Mental Health. In fact, Westchester's Care Coordination Program has been selected as a national, innovative healthcare program by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This award was based on the program's novel approach by the County and documented success in improving the quality of life for individuals with mental illness, while simultaneously reducing costs.

Kaplowitz, a long-time environmentalist and current Chair of the Westchester County Legislature's Environment & Energy Committee, has helped preserve over 11,000 acres of open space in Westchester. He is the co-author of the Smoke-Free Workplace Act and co-chaired the Legislature's Healthy Air Task Force, which resulted in the County's purchase of Hybrid Vehicles and ultra low sulfur fuel for County buses. Mike is committed to continuing his efforts on all conservation issues.

Mike is an aggressive supporter of tax fairness and has fought for and won relief for thousands of Northern Westchester homeowners who were paying sewer taxes despite never being hooked up to sewers. He has led the legislative effort to keep the sewage fairness issue on the front burner for years, recently winning the long battle on behalf of Yeshiva, Riverwoods and Random Farms homeowners in New Castle. This victory will stop the current flow of partially-treated sewage from entering our drinking water.

Mike Kaplowitz has a long history of involvement in a wide variety of community and civic organizations, including the Volunteer Center, the March of Dimes Walk America, the American Red Cross and the Partnership Fund for Aging Services.

Legislator Kaplowitz earned his B.A. in history from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from the Boston University School of Law. Mike and his wife Jayne have two daughters in college.

Click here to read Michael Kaplowitz' District 4 Summer 2011 newsletter.