By Hector Flores
³I¹m very happy that people have chosen me to represent them for the rest of the year, but come next November I have to start preparing for my re-election,² McKevitt said.
McKevitt, a Republican of East Meadow, beat out Democratic rival and neighbor Zahid Ali Syed by almost 2,000 votes, 3,561 to 1,691. The two ran for the assembly seat left vacant by Maureen O¹Connell, who is now Nassau County clerk. The election was held on Feb. 28.
After his win, McKevitt had to take a crash course in being a state representative. ³The ceremony took place at 1 p.m., and by 2 p.m. the assembly commenced its session,² he said. ³I had to sit on my desk and start voting on bills.²
McKevitt¹s district office, at 224 7th St. in Garden City, is officially open, and the phone number is (516) 739-5119.
As Assembly representative of the 17th District, McKevitt represents parts of Mineola, Garden City, Williston Park, East Williston, New Hyde Park, Garden City Park, Carle Place, Westbury, Uniondale, Albertson, East Meadow, Floral Park, Roosevelt, Wantagh, Merrick, North Merrick, Bellmore and North Bellmore.
McKevitt was an attorney for the Town of Hempstead for nine years. He is a graduate of Hofstra and Hofstra Law School, and holds membership in the American, New York state and Nassau County bar associations. He is also a longtime member of the East Meadow Kiwanis Club and Chamber of Commerce. In his spare time, he mentors children from local middle schools.
McKevitt¹s father, Thomas, was a New York City police detective and his mother, Patricia, was a school secretary at St. Anne School in Garden City. When McKevitt was born, in 1971, his parents lived in East Rockaway, but they moved to East Meadow a year later.
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
