Raised in a family of teachers and educated at Notre Dame (B.A.) and Yale (Ph.D.), Michael believes democracy works best when public servants stay close to the people they represent. [...] With three children in and through public schools, Michael understands how a community is built around families and traditions, while welcoming newcomers.

Michael Peppard for Westchester County Legislator

Dr. Michael Peppard is a scholar and teacher whose primary work brings to light the meanings of the New Testament and other Christian materials in their social, political, artistic, and ritual contexts. A professor of theology at Fordham University, he received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Yale University, with prior degrees from Yale Divinity School, its Institute of Sacred Music, and the University of Notre Dame.

Michael Peppard | Fordham

Michael L. Peppard earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. in religious studies from Yale University. He has three children who have attended public schools.

Michael L. Peppard is a professor of theology at Fordham University.

Michael is a professor of theology at Fordham University.

Peppard said he made a point while a Pleasantville trustee of reaching out to Republican neighbors and friends to better understand their concerns. The one-term former trustee, who decided not to run for reelection in 2024, recalled arranging informal conversations where residents could speak candidly about issues.

Michael Peppard, Professor and Former Pleasantville Trustee, Challenging Cunzio for County Legislator | The Examiner News

Michael previously served one term as a Pleasantville trustee and decided not to run for reelection in 2024.

2026 New York General Election

As your County Legislator, I’ll continue to direct our common funds toward the common good. I will hold the line on taxes, and make sure that our county’s prosperity is shared by all. We will continue to explore housing options where they make the most sense – especially for our seniors, so that you can stay in the county you love.

Plans to hold the line on taxes while directing county funds toward broadly shared prosperity.

- Plans to hold the line on taxes while directing county funds toward broadly shared prosperity.

Economy

In terms of Peppard’s priorities, he said supporting community-based organizations will be another focus. “I would want to prioritize those organizations, especially in Sleepy Hollow,” said Peppard, referring to the area of the district with the heaviest Hispanic population.

Plans to prioritize community-based organizations, especially in Sleepy Hollow.

- Plans to prioritize community-based organizations, especially in Sleepy Hollow.

Public Services

“I believe that when you get all the stakeholders to the table and you talk about smart development and putting housing only where it makes the most sense, I think Westchester can really take the lead on that,” he stated in Friday’s wide-ranging phone interview.

Advocates for stakeholder discussions on smart development and housing in locations where they make the most sense.

Plans to explore housing options for seniors where they make the most sense.

- Advocates for stakeholder discussions on smart development and housing in locations where they make the most sense.
- Plans to explore housing options for seniors where they make the most sense.

Housing & Urban Development

During our county planning meetings, inclusivity also means a new crosswalk design that helps the dad in a wheelchair. It means mental health response teams that have the staff they need. It means someone on the other end of the emergency line who speaks your language, to summon life-saving intervention.

Supports adequately staffed mental-health response teams and language access for emergency callers.

- Supports adequately staffed mental-health response teams and language access for emergency callers.

Public Safety

As your County Legislator, I will continue to make life more mobile and connected for all. More space for our seniors with walkers, for moms with zig-zagging toddlers, for buses and cars and bikes and … whatever scooter they come up with next. You’ll know this part of your government is working well when you simply don’t have to think about it. So I’ll keep making it easier to get around – for you to connect with each other, from rails to trails.

Plans to make travel easier and more connected for pedestrians, transit riders, drivers, cyclists, and scooter riders.

Calls for crosswalk designs that improve accessibility for wheelchair users.

- Plans to make travel easier and more connected for pedestrians, transit riders, drivers, cyclists, and scooter riders.
- Calls for crosswalk designs that improve accessibility for wheelchair users.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As your County Legislator, I will protect our remaining natural landscapes, by pursuing smart development only where it makes the most sense and pushing for adaptive re-use of existing buildings. We can also make budget choices with sustainability in mind. In my town, this meant getting an electric lawnmower for the parks and building out our electric vehicle infrastructure. At the county level, we can really make a big difference: by enhancing flood mitigation, preserving watersheds, and weaning our local economies, one step at a time, off fossil fuels.

Westchester is blessed with abundant natural resources. The balance of bustling town centers surrounded by bucolic landscapes is what drew many of us to live here. We must vigorously protect our lands and water, while also building new climate resiliencies.

Plans to pursue smart development and repurposing existing buildings to protect remaining natural landscapes.

Calls for protecting land and water while building climate resilience.

Calls for reducing flood risks, preserving watersheds, and reducing local economies’ reliance on fossil fuels.

- Plans to pursue smart development and repurposing existing buildings to protect remaining natural landscapes.
- Calls for protecting land and water while building climate resilience.
- Calls for reducing flood risks, preserving watersheds, and reducing local economies’ reliance on fossil fuels.

Energy & the Environment

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Michael L. Peppard

- Plans to explore housing options for seniors where they make the most sense.

- Calls for protecting land and water while building climate resilience.
- Calls for reducing flood risks, preserving watersheds, and reducing local economies’ reliance on fossil fuels.