On October 3, Patrick Halpin, who is running as a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, will be the guest speaker at LIMBA (Long Island Metro Business Action). This event will take place at the Candlelight Diner, located at 56 Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack, starting at 8:30 a.m.
A lifelong Long Islander, Halpin was elected to the Suffolk County legislature at just 26; he served in that position from 1979 to 1982. He later became the first Democrat in over 100 years to represent his Assembly district from 1982 to 1987. While in the Assembly, he chaired the Ethics Committee and the Subcommittee on the Long Island Marine Resources.
In 1987, at the age of 34, Halpin was elected Suffolk County executive — the youngest person in the county’s history to be elected to that post. He later served from 1988 to 1991. During that time, he expanded housing options for families and veterans through the Long Island Housing Partnership, launched community-based policing and anti-domestic violence programs, partnered with schools to bring the anti-drug education program DARE into classrooms and instituted a nationally recognized open space and preservation program, safeguarding parks and natural lands for future generations.
In addition, Halpin was appointed board member of the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) in 2006. In 2018, he was appointed chair of the organization. As chair, he protected clean, affordable drinking water for over one million residents — while cutting waste, boosting transparency, and working closely with law enforcement to protect public health.
Halpin also served as executive vice president of the Institute for Student Achievement in Lake Success, which partnered with schools to help low-performing students stay in school, graduate and go on to college, work, other post-secondary education or job training. He was also the managing director of Mercury Public Affairs LLC until 2023.
He has announced his intentions to run against Andrew Garbarino (R-Patchogue) in New York’s 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses the south shore of Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
For more information about upcoming LIMBA programs, visit https://limba.net/.