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Rep. Eliot L. Engel

Mr. Speaker, in a loss we are only just beginning to feel, Connie Coker stepped down as Rockland County Legislator at the end of 2011. To me she typified the Rockland spirit of enthusiasm, common sense, hard work, and intelligence. She cared for people and worked hard to help them in any way a legislator could. To top it off, she is a genuinely nice person and I'm happy to call her a good friend.

Connie came to the legislature in April, 2006, winning a special election and then winning her re-election in 2007. She was tireless in advocating for clean air and water, affordable housing, green space, clean energy, a fair tax structure, and against overdevelopment and the dangers associated with Indian Point.

In the County Legislature she served as Chair of the Environmental Committee, Vice-Chair of the Multi-Services Committee and the Special County Comprehensive Plan Committee, was a member of the Public Safety Committee and the Solid Waste Authority Board, and served as the Legislative Liaison to the Fire Advisory Board, to the Volunteer Counseling Service, and to the Environmental Management Committee.

She is a Registered Nurse and a Licensed Midwife and her legislative agenda was based on her commitment to the health, well-being and safety of the citizens of Rockland County.

Connie lives in South Nyack with her husband Erik Larsen, a doctor. They have two daughters: Keah Larsen, a graduate of Nyack High School and SUNY New Paltz with a degree in Women's Studies; and Anika Larsen, also a graduate of Nyack High School who attended SUNY Delhi-Culinary Arts and Rockland Community College.

I will miss seeing Connie at the events we both went to. I will miss far more the wise counsel she had to offer and her sound advice about the areas we both represented. By happy coincidence we both represented a 17th District. She is a good and gracious person who represented her constituents wisely and well. We are all better for knowing her.