Legislator Roger Corbin Tel: (516)571-6202 Fax: (516)571-6761 Committees: Finance - Chair Minority Affairs - Chair Veterans - Chair Budget Review Towns, Villages and Cities	Upcoming Events
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Biography:

Roger H. Corbin currently serves as Nassau County Legislator of Legislative District 2, representing the diversified communities of New Cassel, Westbury, and parts of East Garden City, East Meadow, Hicksville, Hempstead, Lakeview, Old Westbury, Uniondale and West Hempstead. He is currently serving his seventh term as legislator.

He was a leader in securing a $50 million environmental bond in 2005 and a $100 million environmental bond approved by the voters in 2006. These two bonds provide funds to preserve the few open spaces left in Nassau County, and will ensure that future generations have natural areas to explore.

Most recently, Corbin was instrumental in the passage of laws that make party hosts criminally responsible for underage guests found to be drinking alcohol, prohibit the sale of products containing the often abused cough suppressant chemical DXM to minors, and allow for law enforcement to track the online activity of registered sex offenders.

Among his top priorities, Corbin counts quality of life and child care issues. He was instrumental in the passage of legislation designed to educate motorists about the dangers of backover accidents, as well as the passage of Tobacco 19, a local law that raised the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 19 in an effort to keep cigarettes off high school campuses.

The legislator also recently approved a “living wage” law that increased wages for workers contracted by the county to $9.50 in 2007. Increases will follow in 2008 to $10.50 an hour and rising up to $12.50 an hour in 2010. Supporters of the law included many labor groups representing home health care workers, and the Long Island Progressive Coalition. The bill was signed into law on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2006.   

Corbin was also instrumental in the passing of a bill providing a partial tax exemption for qualified first-time homebuyers in Nassau County. The bill will provide a break on property tax bills for the first five years.

For the fifth straight year, the Legislature approved a “no tax increase” budget for Nassau county taxpayers, and added belt-tightening measures for county departments while funding programs that benefit the County’s neediest residents.

Some of Legislator Corbin’s many major accomplishments include fighting for increased funding for anti-gang initiatives and youth programs; approving legislation on many environmental initiatives, including open space, renewable “Green Power,” and solar power tax exemptions; strengthening Megan’s Law to protect our vulnerable children against sex offenders in their communities; passing charity care legislation to provide healthcare for the uninsured; and sponsoring anti-smoking legislation and a more humane County eviction policy. 

Legislator Corbin’s involvement in public service officially began when he served as a member of the original Charter Revision Committee in 1994, the body that set the foundation for the Nassau County Legislature, a new historic form of government, which changed the system for the first time in over 100 years. He again made history in 1995 when he ran for office and became the first Black Democrat to be elected to the newly formed Legislature. He was appointed by his colleagues to the position of Deputy Presiding Officer in 1999 and held that position until 2007.  Since his election to public office, Corbin has given a voice to the concerns of minorities in Nassau County. His additional political experience includes serving as Deputy Town Leader of North Hempstead in 1991, serving many years as Zone Leader of Westbury, and attending many conventions as a delegate of National Democratic Conventions.

For well over 30 years he has been a community activist and a strong advocate for people. He has always chosen people over government in many tough issues he faced during his political career. Corbin serves as Chair to both the Finance Committee and Minority Affairs Committee and is a member of the Budget Review Committee and Town, Villages and Cities Committee.

Legislator Corbin bases his dedication to serving the public on the belief that the needs of the people require someone who is sensitive, but strong, and dedicated to solving the problems of: lack of affordable housing, HIV/AIDS, economic development, senior citizen concerns, high taxes and environmental issues.

Legislator Corbin takes great pride in representing the community he grew up in, one that is very much a part of his everyday life. A Westbury High School graduate, Corbin attended Yankton College in South Dakota on a full track & field scholarship. Following his education, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving during the Vietnam War conflict. After his service he attended Pace University, majoring in business law. Now retired from New York City Off–Track Betting Corp., where he served for three decades as Branch Manager, Corbin also served as a community liaison for the North Shore Health Systems.

Corbin is happily married to his wife, Regina and they have three sons; Jason, Jarrett and Joshua, one daughter, Jeannine, one grandson Jarrett Jr. and one granddaughter Jasmine.