Pat Halpin, a former Suffolk County executive and state assemblyman, is seeking a return to public office, arguing that rising living costs, housing shortages and political gridlock are threatening Long Island families and the region’s future.
Halpin, now 73, still the youngest elected Suffolk County executive, pointed to decades of public service including as chair of the Suffolk County Water Authority and Babylon town’s planning commission. He said he is concerned about whether younger generations will have similar prospects as those who came before them.
“I’m running now because I’m really concerned about the future of our country,” he said. “I have two daughters, and I’m now a grandfather. And I worry, really worry about, are they going to have the same opportunities that we've enjoyed growing up in this country.”
Halpin criticized federal policies that he said have increased costs for consumers, including tariffs, and argued that restrictions on the federal deduction for state and local taxes disproportionately affect New York taxpayers.
He is concerned about federal healthcare funding, noting that reductions to Medicaid and the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies could leave residents struggling to afford coverage while placing additional pressure on hospitals and community health centers.
“I’m going to Washington with a strong knowledge about the importance of federal funding to hold down healthcare costs,” Halpin said. “To provide assistance in a variety of other ways to pay the heating bills and food assistance.”
He said Long Island’s aging power infrastructure is expensive to operate and needs modernization. He supports examining a range of energy sources, including Canadian hydropower and offshore wind, and criticized federal efforts to halt previously approved offshore wind projects.
Halpin also questioned the public benefits of large-scale developments, including a proposed Amazon mega-warehouse in Holbrook and a potential AI data center.
“I'm against it,” he said, noting the impact on Long Island’s quality of life, the volume increase on already highly trafficked roads, the strain on local infrastructure and the federal and state breaks that corporations receive.
Housing remains a focus of Halpin’s public service. He noted his involvement in establishing a workforce housing initiative in Suffolk County — the Long Island Housing Partnership — that repurposed tax-foreclosed properties for residential development.
“It's made a difference in the lives of a lot of people and kept a lot of bright, talented young people here,” he said.
Halpin also suggested that underused shopping centers, including the former Sunrise Mall in Massapequa, could be candidates for redevelopment into housing for younger residents and seniors seeking to downsize. He said there also must be a way to balance residents’ concerns with the need to provide housing and sustain the region’s workforce.
Halpin also criticized what he described as excessive partisanship in Washington, saying lawmakers should focus on governing rather than headlines. He cited his experience working with officials from both parties during his time in state and county government.
“I watch what’s going on in Washington, and they seem to spend more time arguing with each other and doing their jobs,” Halpin said.
Halpin said he is not seeking a permanent place in Congress but an opportunity to address issues affecting residents’ everyday lives.
“I've always taken public service seriously, because you have the opportunity to have a very positive impact on the people that you serve,” he said. “It’s not about collecting a paycheck, it’s about making a difference.”
Incumbent U.S Representative Andrew Garbarino did not respond to the Herald’s request for interview.
