LONG ISLAND, NY - Suffolk County residents will be hitting the polls next month to elect several local representatives.
In addition to local town and village races, residents should look into who will be running to represent one of the 18 legislative districts in Suffolk County. This year, Election Day falls on Tuesday, November 5.
In anticipation of the big day, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.
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Kevin J. McCaffrey, 65, of Lindenhurst is running for re-election as Suffolk County Legislator for District 14, which consists of Lindenhurst Village, Babylon Village, the hamlets of West Babylon and North Lindenhurst, portions of Copiague, North Babylon, and Babylon's barrier beach communities.
His opponent is Thomas Gargiulo (D).
McCaffrey (R) and his wife, Julie, have two children, Michael (33) and Katie (30) who works as the assistant to Lindenhurst Mayor Michael Lavorata.
He graduated Berner High School in Massapequa and later attended Farmingdale State College and Empire State University. He received a certified Employee Benefit Specialist Designation from the Wharton School of Business.
McCaffrey worked as Teamsters Union President for 25 years and was then a Trustee and Deputy Mayor for the Village of Lindenhurst between 1990 and 2013. He was first elected to the Suffolk County Legislator 14th District in 2014.
Check out Patch's full Q&A with McCaffrey below:
Patch: The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
McCaffrey: Fiscal stress of the County. The county has run an operating deficit over over 800 million dollars since 2012. We need to reduce costs to match our revenues. There is still excessive borrowing and not enough focus on reducing the cost of providing services. I have been and will continue to be vigilant on how the county spends its money. The County cannot continue to borrow to balance it's operating budget.
P: What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
M: I am experienced in all levels of government including budgeting and government operations. 
P: Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.
M: Making Suffolk County a more affordable place to live, Fighting the Opioid epidemic, Protecting the environment, standing up for working people, controlling Southwest sewer district rates, bringing jobs and economic development to Suffolk.
P: What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
M: I am seen as a Legislator who can work across the aisle in a bipartisan manner to get things done for my constituents and ll of Suffolk County. One example is my bipartisan compromise bill to not ban plastic bags but charge 5 cents for plastic and paper, this reduced plastic bag use by 82% without an adverse impact on businesses.
P: The best advice ever shared with me was ...
M: Don't ever do anything you can't explain to your mother. 
P: What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
M: I am an experienced Legislator with a proven track record of working for the constituents of the 14th LD.