He began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney with the Bronx District Attorney’s office before going into private practice. After spending nearly ten years as a civil litigator and legal consultant in New York City and the surrounding area, he opened his own law office in the bustling downtown area of Peekskill where he still practices today.

District 1 | Westchester County Board of Legislators

Colin D. Smith practices law at his own office in Peekskill. He previously worked as an assistant district attorney with the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, a civil litigator, and a legal consultant.

Colin D. Smith - Westchester County Board of Legislators

2026 New York General Election

Peekskill needs policies that help existing small businesses succeed, attract responsible investment, create well-paying jobs, and prepare residents for those jobs. That means supporting workforce development, apprenticeships, childcare, transportation, and partnerships with educational institutions and employers. Economic growth should strengthen the community without displacing the people and businesses that made Peekskill what it is.

For County Legislator: Elena Muñiz-Walker vs. Colin Smith

Legislator Colin D. Smith said: “As Chair of the Board’s Committee on Legislation and co-author of this bill, I’m proud to stand with County Executive Jenkins and Legislator Imamura to announce the signing of the Consumer Protection Bill into law. This critical legislation enhances protections for Westchester residents and small businesses, addressing modern threats like AI-driven scams and misleading subscription practices. Our community deserves transparency and strong safeguards — and this new law provides exactly that by modernizing and reinforcing consumer rights to prevent abuse.”

County Executive Ken Jenkins Signs Legislation to Strengthen Consumer Protection Laws in Westchester

ACTIONS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Passed the Coronavirus Taxpayer Relief Act to provide much needed help for struggling homeowners during the height of the pandemic last year. This legislation waived or significantly reduced penalties that taxpayers would have owed for late payment of their taxes last year, which otherwise would have been due during some of the worst moments we faced as a community.

Actions & Accomplishments | Colin D. Smith

Supports workforce development, apprenticeships, childcare, transportation, and partnerships between educational institutions and employers.

Co-authored a consumer-protection law addressing artificial intelligence-driven scams and misleading subscription practices.

As a county legislator, passed the Coronavirus Taxpayer Relief Act, which waived or reduced late tax-payment penalties during the pandemic.

- Supports workforce development, apprenticeships, childcare, transportation, and partnerships between educational institutions and employers.
- Co-authored a consumer-protection law addressing artificial intelligence-driven scams and misleading subscription practices.
- As a county legislator, passed the Coronavirus Taxpayer Relief Act, which waived or reduced late tax-payment penalties during the pandemic.

Economy

On the Board of Legislators, I’ve focused on exactly that: securing funding for roads and drainage improvements, expanding youth and senior programs, supporting affordable housing, and strengthening consumer protections. My goals are to continue those efforts — investing in infrastructure and flood prevention, broadening access to mental-health and senior services, and ensuring county resources are used efficiently and fairly across northern Westchester.

Incumbent Smith (D) faces Byrnes (R) for District 1 seat

Plans to broaden access to mental-health and senior services across northern Westchester.

- Plans to broaden access to mental-health and senior services across northern Westchester.

Public Services

What do you see as the top three issues facing Peekskill, and what specific steps would you take to address them?
The first is affordability, particularly housing. Too many residents are being squeezed by rents, property taxes, utilities, insurance, childcare, and everyday expenses. I will continue supporting affordable and workforce housing, tenant protections, assistance for first-time homebuyers, and responsible tax policy. Through the County’s Affordability and Economic Development Task Force, I am also working to examine the broader forces affecting household costs rather than treating housing in isolation.

Supports affordable and workforce housing, tenant protections, first-time homebuyer assistance, and responsible tax policy.

- Supports affordable and workforce housing, tenant protections, first-time homebuyer assistance, and responsible tax policy.

Housing & Urban Development

As Public Safety Committee Chair, he’s leading legislative review of the Westchester Police Reform and Reimagining Task Force, to turn recommendations into reality, with input from both community advocates and police.

This effort, launched in response to last summer's protests over the death of George Floyd, has been a collaborative process to establish best practices for our local police departments and work with them to ensure they are using those practices.

As public safety committee chair, leads legislative review of police-reform task-force recommendations with input from community advocates and police.

- As public safety committee chair, leads legislative review of police-reform task-force recommendations with input from community advocates and police.

Public Safety

The second is infrastructure and environmental resilience. Peekskill has aging water, sewer, transportation, and public facilities that require sustained investment. I will continue to advocate for County, state, and federal funding, stronger intergovernmental coordination, and careful long-term planning. Environmental initiatives must protect public health, particularly where our drinking water and the Hudson River are concerned.

The town needs sustained investment in infrastructure, drainage, and broadband, as well as thoughtful development that keeps housing attainable and protects open space. I’ll continue working to direct county funding toward those priorities, partner with Yorktown officials to coordinate services, and make sure the county remains an active partner in addressing traffic, stormwater, and environmental concerns. My approach is straightforward — listen to residents, identify where the county can help, and follow through until the job is done.

Advocates for county, state, and federal funding, intergovernmental coordination, and long-term planning for infrastructure.

Plans to direct county funding toward infrastructure, drainage, and broadband while coordinating on traffic and stormwater concerns.

- Advocates for county, state, and federal funding, intergovernmental coordination, and long-term planning for infrastructure.
- Plans to direct county funding toward infrastructure, drainage, and broadband while coordinating on traffic and stormwater concerns.

Transportation & Infrastructure

What are your thoughts on the proposed floating solar array at Peekskill’s Camp Field Reservoir, put forward by Ecological Citizens Project and Working Power LLC? What factors would you consider in deciding whether to support the proposal?
I support expanding renewable energy and directing its benefits toward Peekskill residents, particularly lower-income households. The proposed project presents potentially meaningful benefits, including clean-energy generation, community participation, reduced electricity costs, and revenue for the City.

At the same time, Camp Field Reservoir is part of Peekskill’s drinking-water system. Protecting the safety and reliability of that system must be the first consideration. I would not support moving forward until the environmental review provides satisfactory answers regarding water quality, the materials used in the system, construction and maintenance risks, fire and severe-weather response, long-term monitoring, insurance and financial responsibility, system removal, and contingency plans if the reservoir becomes temporarily unusable.

Supports expanding renewable energy and directing its benefits toward Peekskill residents, particularly lower-income households.

Would not support the Camp Field Reservoir solar project without environmental-review answers about drinking-water safety, system risks, and financial responsibility.

- Supports expanding renewable energy and directing its benefits toward Peekskill residents, particularly lower-income households.
- Would not support the Camp Field Reservoir solar project without environmental-review answers about drinking-water safety, system risks, and financial responsibility.

Energy & the Environment

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Colin D. Smith

Supports expanding affordable housing in Westchester, particularly in cities.

- As a county legislator, passed the Coronavirus Taxpayer Relief Act, which waived or reduced late tax-payment penalties during the pandemic.

COLIN D SMITH

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Smith also supports the county’s affordable housing program, which under County Executive George Latimer, has focused its investments on new buildings in the county’s cities, such as Peekskill.

“I continue to support the administration’s expansion of affordable housing in Westchester,” he said. “The cities seem to be logistically easier than some of the more suburban and rural areas. The cities are the population areas. It makes more sense there. Peekskill is a good example of that.”