New York Record
Tompkins County
DW

Dan Wakeman

Legislator2026-01-01–2028-12-31 (three-year term: the county Tompkins County Legislators page states legislators are elected and serve for three years with current terms 2026 through 2028; elected November 4, 2025 per Tompkins County Board of Elections 2025 Statement of Votes Cast , unofficial, certified results not located; begins January 1 per N.Y. Public Officers Law § 4, 1 and ends December 31, 2028; sworn at the January 6, 2026 organizational meeting; start shown is the current-term start)

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Dec 31, 2028.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
32
Total speaking time
1:35:35
Avg per meeting
2:59
Segments
1890

Want every word Wakeman has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Wakeman said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

critical↑May 2026[55]

2027 County Budget and 2027-2031 Capital Program

Sets the county's spending plan and five-year capital priorities; no minutes were provided, so the adopted figures are unknown.

high↓Mar 2026[46]

Countywide Minimum Wage Study

Unknown; the study examines potential effects of raising the minimum wage for private and public employers countywide.

high↑Apr 2026[39]

Comprehensive Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Plan

Could raise roughly $950,000 a year in new revenue, nearly tripling what vehicle owners currently pay at registration.

high→Jan 2026[32]

Housing Affordability and Target Market Analysis

$50,000 state grant funds the planning work; no county cost.

high↓Mar 2026[25]

Community Justice Center contract pulled for more review

Up to $100,000 per year of county money for three years, subject to annual appropriation.

high↑Aug 2026[25]

Vehicle Use Tax Discussion

Would raise vehicle registration costs for county residents if enacted; the proposed increase amount is not stated in the agenda.

critical↑Jun 2026[24]

2027 County Budget Process and Online Budget Book

A 7.69% tax levy increase is proposed, above the roughly 2.86% tax cap.

high↑Oct 2026[23]

Special Victims Unit and Survivor-Centered Prosecution

Not yet determined — the Sheriff said resources to establish and sustain the unit still must be identified.

high↑Oct 2026[23]

Medicaid Cuts to Autism (ABA) Services

State reimbursement cuts could shrink the pool of autism providers accepting Medicaid, shifting families to fewer, costlier options.

medium↓Jun 2026[22]

Youth Deer Hunting Pilot Program Extension

About $200 in youth permit fees last year — negligible to the county budget.

high→Apr 2026[21]

Countywide drug task force and methamphetamine seizures

critical→May 2026[21]

Homelessness, Code Blue cuts, and the Asteri evictions

State allocation cut by $1.159 million; county capping local share at zero for now.

high↑Feb 2026[21]

Homeless services and shelter contract

The project's capital depends heavily on state HHAP funding; the county has already purchased the building and may supplement costs.

high↑May 2026[20]

Continuation of virtual public meetings

No direct cost noted; it preserves access options for residents who can't attend in person.

high↑Oct 2026[20]

Vehicle Use Tax as EMS Funding Mechanism

An increased local vehicle use tax share would raise new countywide revenue for EMS services.

low↑Oct 2026[20]

Kratom Regulation

high→Aug 2026[19]

2025 Audit Results

Costs $41,250 from the 2026 budget, funded partly through vacancy savings.

high→Jun 2026[19]

Natural Infrastructure funding for three land conservation acquisitions

$94,425 from a fund whose balance would drop to about $285,000, with no replenishment in the last three budget years.

medium↑Mar 2026[18]

New Recycling Regulations Effective July 1

Not specified; a program vision and 2027 budget presentation was requested.

high↓Jul 2026[18]

Tompkins County Animal Abuse Registry (Local Law No. d of 2026)

A proposed $100 registration fee was debated and dropped; the Sheriff will decide any fee, and the registry itself is expected to cost little given fewer than ten local convictions a year.

Decisions during term (640)

Recorded while Wakeman was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

approved7-0Nov 9, 2026

Approval of Minutes — October 19, 2026

approved5-0Nov 9, 2026

Bond Resolution — $2,400,000 for Road and Highway Reconstruction (ID #14443)

approved5-0Nov 9, 2026

Bond Resolution — $655,270 for Townline Road Bridge (ID #14444)

approved7-0Nov 9, 2026

Bond Resolution — $204,600 for Hines Road Bridge (ID #14445)

approved7-0Nov 9, 2026

Bond Resolution — $374,495 for Genung Road Bridge (ID #14446)

approved7-0Nov 9, 2026

Bond Resolution — $1,675,000 for Construction and Maintenance Machinery (ID #14447)

approved7-0Nov 9, 2026

Contingent Fund Appropriation — DMV Terminal Pay Reimbursement (ID #14470)

approved7-0Nov 9, 2026

Whole Health Budget Adjustment — AOT and Complex Care Positions (ID #14441)

approved7-0Nov 9, 2026

Payment to TC3 for 2026–2027 Capital Program (ID #14467)

approved7-0Nov 9, 2026

Year-End Resolutions I through N (IDs #14411, #14401, #14402, #14409, #14410, #14412)

approved7-0Nov 9, 2026

Adoption of 2027 County Budget and 2027–2031 Capital Program (ID #14425)

tabled7-0Nov 9, 2026

Vehicle Use Tax Increase for Emergency Medical Services (ID #14481)

approved7-0Nov 9, 2026

Resolution: Authorization to Participate in Various Contracts Let by Any Government Entity of the United States of America (ID #14412)

approved12-0Nov 6, 2026

Consent Agenda (Resolutions A, C–J and Advisory Board Appointment)

tabledNov 6, 2026

Res. No. _g_ – Medicaid Safety Net Payment and Budget Adjustment

approved12-0Nov 6, 2026

Res. No. _k_ – Whole Health Grant Acceptance (Safer Communities Act / Block Grant)

tabledNov 6, 2026

Res. No. _l_ – Comprehensive County EMS Plan Submission

tabledNov 6, 2026

Res. No. _m_ – Victims' Rights Resolution (Weiser)

approved12-0Nov 6, 2026

Res. No. _N_ – Contingent Fund Appropriation, Automotive Fuel for the Sheriff's Office

approved12-0Nov 6, 2026

Minutes of Previous Meetings

Voting record (254)

235 yes10 no9 abstained

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

Resolution No. 2026-202: Resolution Authorizing an Independent Comprehensive Review of the District Attorney's Office and Calling for Policy Changes in Alignment with Victim-Centered Practices

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

Award of 2026 Tourism Capital Grants (ID #14342)

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

October 1, 2026 Minutes

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

Consent Agenda

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

Adoption of Amendments to the 2027 Tentative Tompkins County Budget and 2027-2031 Capital Program (ID #14302)

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

Approval of the 2027 Amendment to the Municipal Cooperative Agreement for the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium (ID #14400)

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

Renewal of Tompkins County Board of Elections Lease (ID #14369)

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

Monroe Balancing Test - 654 Elmira Road, Ithaca, New York (ID #14393)

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

Adoption of Local Law No. 6 of 2026 - A Local Law Amending the Authorized Exemption from Taxes Pursuant to Sections 459-c and 467 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law for Certain Older and Disa

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

Negative Declaration for Authorizing Disbursement of Tourism Capital Grant (ID #14373)

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

Consent Agenda (Res. Nos. 2026-203 through 2026-210 and appointments)

Voted noOct 20, 2026

Packman amendment to Res. 2026-202 (seven case-specific WHEREAS clauses)

The resolution should stay general rather than react to a specific case.

Voted yesOct 20, 2026

Resolution No. 2026-202: Independent Comprehensive Review of the District Attorney's Office

Constituents trusted legislators to work out these deliberations.

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

The consent agenda was adopted by roll call vote.

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Add Resolution N — Voluntary Intoxication Exclusion Loophole — to agenda

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Add Resolution 2026-200 — Monroe Balancing Test public hearing — to agenda

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Consent Agenda (Resolutions a, b, c, f, g and Board of Health appointment)

Voted noOct 6, 2026

CJC — Amendment to amendment restoring three-year term (FAILED)

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

CJC — Dawson amendment shortening contract to two years (PASSED)

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Resolution 2026-194 — Community Justice Center contract (adopted 14-1)

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Resolution 2026-195 — TC3 capital funding, $251,100 from Contingent Fund

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Motion — County Attorney legal opinion on Cornell Greek-letter property tax exemptions

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Resolution 2026-196 — Public hearing on Local Law No. f (senior/disabled tax exemption income limits)

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Resolution 2026-197 — Local Law No. 5 of 2026, Youth Deer Hunting Pilot Program (adopted 13-2)

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Resolution 2026-198 — Rabies post-exposure biologicals, $47,000 contingent funds

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Resolution 2026-199 — Stephen M. Dewitt reappointed Democratic Election Commissioner

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Resolution 2026-200 — Public hearing on Monroe Balancing Test analysis, 654 Elmira Road shelter

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Resolution — Call to close the Voluntary Intoxication Exclusion Loophole

Voted yesOct 6, 2026

Minutes of Previous Meeting — September 15, 2026

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Recommendation for Appointment to Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit Board of Directors (ID #14328)

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

August 20, 2026 Minutes

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Authorizing Acceptance New York State Department of Transportation Fiscal Year 2026 Comprehensive Review Final Report - Department of Planning and Sustainability (ID #14340)

Voted yesSep 17, 2026

Placement of a Historic Marker Commemorating James A. Burr, Town of Lansing (ID #14327)

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Resolution No. 2026-188: Support for the Department of Planning and Sustainability to use Budgeted Funds for Housing Target Market

Voted yesSep 15, 2026

Resolution No. 2026-188: Housing Target Market Analysis Funding

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Amendment to Local Law No. f – adopt exemption scale 1 ($40,400)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Adoption of Local Law No. f of 2026 (senior/disability tax exemption)

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Consent Agenda Item Nos. 2026-179, 2026-180, and 2026-181

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Resolution No. 2026-183: Budget Adjustment - Whole Health Department - Ithaca Alpha House, Doing Business as (DBA) Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Resolution No. 2026-178: Authorization A Draw From The Contingency & Tax Stabilization Reserve to Reduce 2027 Tax Levy Increase

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Resolution No. 2026-182: Adoption of Local Law No. 4 of 2026 - A Local Law Establishing a Tompkins County Animal Abuse Registry

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Minutes of Previous Meeting August 18, 2026

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Resolution 2026-178 – Draw $1.6M from Tax Stabilization Reserve to reduce 2027 tax levy

Voted noSep 1, 2026

Sigler amendment to draw full $2.7M from reserve

The full draw could be made later in deliberations if chosen.

Voted yesSep 1, 2026

Resolution 2026-182 – Local Law No. 4 of 2026, Animal Abuse Registry

Voted yesAug 20, 2026

Resolution No. - Contingent Fund Appropriation - Highway Department - Unexpected Fuel Expenses

Voted yesAug 20, 2026

July 16, 2026

Voted yesAug 18, 2026

Acceptance of 2025 Audited Financial Report (Res. 2026-159)

Voted yesAug 18, 2026

Consent Agenda (Res. 2026-160 through 2026-163; advisory appointment)

Voted yesAug 18, 2026

Public Hearing Authorized for Animal Abuse Registry Local Law (Res. 2026-164)