Leslie Koppel, Middlesex County Commissioner

Record as County Commissioner

Keeping County Finances Strong

Leslie Koppel chairs the Middlesex County Finance Committee, which oversees the county’s financial planning, its annual operating and capital budgets, and its Department of Finance. Her work includes:

• • • • Maintaining Middlesex County’s AAA bond rating, which the county has held for 25 consecutive years and which keeps its borrowing costs low.
      • Reducing the county’s debt. Middlesex County now spends 46% less each year on debt payments than it did ten years ago.
      • Strengthening the county’s reserve fund to $114 million in 2025, money that protects against emergencies and helps keep property taxes stable.
      • Positioning the county to invest $90 million in capital improvements in 2026, including building upgrades and a new microgrid at Middlesex College.
      • Helping direct more than $500 million over the past decade toward roads, bridges, parks, and county buildings.

Protecting Taxpayers

Commissioner Koppel has focused on controlling county costs and holding others accountable for the costs residents bear. Her recent projects include:

• • • • Supporting the county’s 2026 lawsuit against major oil companies to recover the storm and flood costs taxpayers have paid. Hurricanes Irene, Sandy, and Ida alone cost the county more than $199.5 million.

Supporting Local Businesses and Underserved Communities

Commissioner Koppel has used her role on the Finance Committee to direct county resources to the residents and businesses that need them most. Her projects include:

• • • • Delivering $10.9 million in Small Business Relief Grants to 421 Middlesex County businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
      • Funding the county’s Housing First Capital Fund, which commits $1 million a year to create permanent affordable housing for homeless residents and veterans.
        
      • Supporting the county’s 2023 policy to set aside 20% of its contract dollars for minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses.

Investment in Monroe Township

Commissioner Koppel is the first Monroe Township resident to serve on the County Board. Her hometown has seen major county investment during her tenure, including:

• • • • Safety upgrades at the Applegarth Road and Prospect Plains Road intersection, where Commissioner Koppel worked with Monroe officials on dedicated sidewalks, pedestrian push buttons, and ADA-compliant ramps.
      • Nearly 250 acres of open space and farmland preserved since 2017, including expansions of Thompson Park and the 33.6-acre Barnes property in 2025.

About Leslie Koppel

Leslie Koppel is a lifelong resident of Monroe Township and Executive Director of Rise, a nonprofit serving families in central New Jersey. She holds a master’s degree in Politics and Public Policy from the Edward J. Bloustein School at Rutgers University and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Hunter College.

Koppel is the mother of three grown children. She tends a small farm and is a regular at Thompson Park, where she ice-skates, swims in the lake, and runs the trails with her dogs.

Monroe Township Council

Koppel’s public service began on the Monroe Township Council, where she was elected as an at-large member in 2006. She served more than a decade on the council, including as Council President.

On the council, Koppel focused on transportation planning, infrastructure improvements, and community development. She also served on Monroe’s Cultural Arts Commission and the Middlesex County Transportation Coordinating Committee.

Leading Rise

Koppel has served as Executive Director of Rise for more than a decade. Founded in 1967 and based in Hightstown, Rise is the largest social service agency and food pantry in eastern Mercer County.

Under her leadership, Rise has expanded its food security programs, youth enrichment initiatives, and case management services. In 2025, Rise supported about 1,060 families each month and distributed more than 300,000 food items and essential goods, including more than 8,500 diapers and wipes for babies.

Community Service

Koppel has served as a PTA president, on the Monroe Board of Education’s strategic planning committees, and as Chair of the Mercer County Human Services Advisory Committee. She is also active in regional advisory boards and mentoring initiatives.

Commissioner Leslie Koppel reading to students during Read Across America.

Honors

Koppel has received the Vision and Leadership Award from the Hispanic American Medical Association and the Diamond Award from the NJ Conference Women’s Missionary Society.

Frequently Asked Questions