Patrick G. Halpin is a Managing Director in Mercury’s New York office. He is the former Suffolk County Executive and brings extensive government relations experience to the service of clients. Patrick has served in Federal, State and County governments. He provides government relations counsel to a broad range of clients, including the Institute for Student Achievement, Microsoft, Motorola, Cablevision, Hudson River Health Care, Renaissance Downtowns and Syosset Park Development.

Patrick’s public service began as a congressional aide to New York Congressman Thomas Downey. In 1979 he was elected at the age of 26 to represent the 13th District of the Suffolk County Legislature. In a special election held in 1982, he won the New York State Assembly seat for the 11th District, becoming the first Democrat in 116 years to be elected from that district. During his three terms in office, he chaired the Standing Committee on Ethics and the Long Island Marine Resources subcommittee and the Long Island Economy Subcommittee.

From 1988 to1992, Patrick served as the Suffolk County Executive. Elected at the age of 34, he was the youngest Suffolk County Executive in its history. Responsible for an annual budget of more than $1.4 billion and for over 12,000 employees, he demonstrated his ability to manage the political complexities of government while tending to the needs of the 1.3 million residents of Suffolk, the 15th largest county in the United States. He instituted the highly successful drug education program, DARE; a comprehensive anti-domestic violence program; a nationally recognized open space and environmental program, and an extensive affordable housing initiative. In the important area of job creation and economic development, Patrick is credited for successfully luring Computer Associates International World Headquarters to Suffolk County creating over 10,000 jobs in the software sector of the economy.

During the 2000 Presidential campaign Patrick was chosen by Vice President Al Gore to serve as the New York State Director of the Gore/ Lieberman 2000 campaign. That successful effort resulted in New York providing Vice President Gore the largest statewide plurality in America. During the primary he was New York State Co-Chair of the Gore Primary campaign and a New York State Presidential Elector for Al Gore.

Patrick is one of Long Island’s leading citizens. He a member of the Long Island Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of such notables as Robert Moses, William Casey, Charles Wang, and Leroy Grumman. He has received numerous awards including the President’s Public service award of the Nature Conservancy, the National Farmlands Trust Award for his stewardship of Suffolk’s environmental and farmlands preservation program. Patrick is a Director of the Long Island Housing Partnership. He also serves as a Director of the Suffolk County Water Authority and Chair of the Town of Babylon Industrial Development Agency.

Patrick has extensive experience in broadcasting and communications. He has been frequent guest host of Fox News’ Hannity and Colmes, Host of PBS Ch. 21’s Learning Curve, and Host of Cablevision’s Meet the Leaders as well as NewsTalk Television’s Prime Time moderator.