Toback’s term draws to a close

Jeff Toback is leaving office next month, but the five-term county legislator is assuring the community that he is not going anywhere, and will continue to remain active in civic life. Toback also says he is not ruling out another run for elective office should the opportunity arise.

“I got involved in politics to make my community a better place to live,” Toback said, adding that he believes he was able to achieve that by working closely with civic groups like the local Chambers of Commerce and Rotary clubs. “Because I'm out of government doesn't change my focus and ability to do good things.”

On Jan. 1, Toback will be replaced by Howard Kopel, an attorney and businessman who heads Sutton Alliance, a real estate transaction firm in Valley Stream. November’s election was the second time Kopel had challenged Toback for the 7th Legislative District seat. In 2007, Kopel, a Republican, lost by about 700 votes. This time he won by more than 1,000, as Republicans captured the majority in the Legislature as well as the county executive’s office for the first time in 10 years.

Toback, who was first elected in 1999, said he believes there were several factors that led to his defeat. His support of a plan to consolidate waste from the Cedarhurst and Lawrence sewage plans into the county's Bay Park facility was strongly opposed by local residents. The plan, he said, will bring an additional 2 million gallons of sewage to the Bay Park facility, which will be good for the environment and cost-effective for the county‚ and he does not regret his support for it.

Toback said that his support of the county's unpopular home energy tax, which he said brings the county some $40 million in annual revenue, also contributed to his loss. Legislators voted 13-5 in favor of repealing the tax on Monday. Toback said his decision to vote for the repeal now was based on the public's outcry against the tax.