Patrick G. Halpin graduated from West Babylon High School in 1971. He graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia earning a B.A. degree in political science in 1975. Patrick has had a long career in public service that first surfaced as a student in West Babylon. Growing up during the tumultuous 1960’s, young people were called to action. In 1970, Pat ran for and became the Student Body President of WBHS. His first act as president was to organize a voting drive, during which he registered the entire senior class of over 400 18-year-olds to vote.

In 1976, Pat served as Town of Babylon Campaign Manager for Congressman Thomas J. Downey (D-West Islip) who was elected to the House of Representatives. Patrick became a congressional aide for Congressman Downey in Washington, D.C. In 1979, at 26 years of age, he was elected to represent the people of the 13th District on the Suffolk County Legislature. He served in the Legislature from 1979-1982. As County Legislator, Pat passed the Suffolk County Bottle Bill that became the NYS Bottle Bill putting a five-cent deposit on beverage containers.

In 1982, he was elected to the NYS Assembly from the 9th District on Long Island. Halpin was the “first Democrat in 116 years to be elected to the Assembly” from the Babylon South Shore. Patrick served in the NYS Assembly from 1983-1987.

In 1987, at the age of 34, Assemblyman Halpin was elected as the Suffolk County fifth and youngest County Executive in history. In his four years as County Executive, he instituted the DARE program. In the first year of his mandated “pro-arrest” policy, the number of arrests for domestic abuse went from 167 to over 2,600. Suffolk County was the first government in NYS to take this action over 26 years ago. Patrick is a nationally recognized environmental leader having saved thousands of acres of pine barrens, farm land and sensitive environmental lands through his Clean Drinking Water, Open Space and Farm Lands programs.

In the years after serving as Suffolk County Executive, Patrick has worked as Executive Vice President for External Affairs for the Institute for Student Achievement (ISA) on Long Island. The ISA “works in partnership with schools to help low-performing students stay in school, graduate and go on to college, work and other post-secondary education or job training.” He has also served as the host of Cablevision’s Meet the Leaders public affairs television show and as a political consultant for Fox News. In addition, he also had the honor of serving as a NYS Presidential Elector for Al Gore in 2000. Patrick has also been inducted into the Long Island Hall of Fame.

Most recently, Patrick served as the Secretary/Director of the Suffolk County Water Authority, Inc. He is also a trustee with the LI Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, as well as a Director of the LI Housing Partnership. Patrick is a Managing Director for Mercury, a high-stakes public strategy firm in New York City.