Fitzpatrick and O'Keefe Clash on Spending in 8th Assembly Race

The race for New York’s 8th Assembly District comes down to two distinct views on the size and role of state government.

Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick, a Republican seeking a 13th term, points to the state budget as evidence that spending has run out of control. He notes the budget grew from $93 billion when he first took office to $277 billion today. Fitzpatrick argues this growth has not solved the financial pressures on residents and businesses. He says New York must lower its tax burden to stay competitive with other states.

Lynn Trupiano-O’Keefe, a Democrat and first-time candidate, argues the state must do more for residents. She cites the struggles of her own adult children, three of whom still live with her, as proof that young people are leaving Long Island. O’Keefe says her 36-year career in nuclear medicine at St. John’s Hospital and NYU Langone shaped her view that health care is too expensive. She supports the New York Health Act, a single-payer system funded by payroll taxes.

Fitzpatrick, a Hauppauge native, has served on the Smithtown Town Council for 15 years before joining the Assembly. He describes himself as a fiscal conservative who wants to rebrand the State University of New York system as the University of New York. He believes a stronger national brand will help campuses compete as the number of traditional college-age students declines. He has discussed the plan with Governor Kathy Hochul and SUNY leadership. He also wants to increase investment in college athletics, particularly football at Stony Brook University, to bring in more visitors.

O’Keefe has lived in Kings Park for 59 years. She proposes a pilot program to use vacant buildings at the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center for housing. She wants to work with vocational schools, unions, and nonprofits to create homes for young workers and veterans. She says this approach would let local residents help build and maintain the housing. She also supports the direction of Smithtown’s Main Street revitalization but calls for better communication with residents and utility companies.

Both candidates agree that housing density is necessary, but they differ on the method. Fitzpatrick points to projects near Long Island Rail Road stations in Smithtown, St. James, and Kings Park. He says modest increases in housing near downtowns will help young residents stay on Long Island. He emphasizes the need for sewer infrastructure to protect groundwater while allowing development. O’Keefe agrees on the need for more housing but focuses on accessibility, citing dangerous crossings on Main Street. She wants sidewalk design and lighting to better accommodate people with disabilities.

Tax policy is another point of friction. Fitzpatrick criticizes proposed changes to public employee pensions, specifically Tier 6, saying the commitments pressure taxpayers. O’Keefe opposes privatizing pensions, arguing public employees need reliable retirement benefits. O’Keefe says seniors on fixed incomes are struggling with rising heating oil bills and property taxes. She calls for additional tax credits and better outreach to help residents access existing assistance programs. She cites Ghost Town Coffee in Kings Park, a business that took two years to open, as an example of the red tape that discourages entrepreneurs.

Fitzpatrick says he has worked with former Assemblyman Steve Englebright on legislation for a master plan for the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center. He says the state park designation will preserve the property, with future projects dependent on funding. He also discusses his work on public safety, including legislation to protect retail employees from retaliation when preventing shoplifting. He supports speed cameras on Route 347 due to safety concerns. O’Keefe criticizes Fitzpatrick for insufficient communication about his work in Albany. She questions if his focus on SUNY rebranding addresses immediate concerns like health care costs. She acknowledges his work funding local historical societies but says residents need more information about legislative outcomes.

Fitzpatrick says fiscal discipline is necessary to protect residents from further tax increases. O’Keefe says she will hold regular town halls to remain accessible and accountable. Both candidates identify affordability as the central challenge for the district, though they offer different paths to a solution.