John K. Mikulin, 17th Assembly district

John K. Mikulin

Republican

BACKGROUND: Mikulin, 30, of Bethpage, an attorney, is a registered Republican and is also on the Conservative, Independence and Reform party lines. Mikulin is running for a full two-year term after winning an April special election to replace Thomas McKevitt of East Meadow, who was elected to the Nassau County Legislature. Mikulin worked in Hempstead Town government for a decade, serving as a legal assistant in the town attorney’s office, an assistant to the town board, and most recently as a deputy Hempstead Town attorney. Mikulin, who lives a few blocks from the Bethpage home where he grew up, is a 2006 graduate of Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville. He graduated from St. John’s University in Queens, with a bachelor of arts degree in government and a master’s degree in government with a public administration concentration. He has a juris doctor's degree from Touro Law School in Central Islip. Mikulin served on the Island Trees Library Board from 2010 to 2018, and was its president from 2012 to 2018. He is married.

ISSUES: Mikulin said that if re-elected, passing legislation to combat the ongoing opioid crisis will be among his priorities. To combat opioid abuse, he has co-sponsored a bill proposed by New York State Assemblyman Andrew P. Raia (R-East Northport). Mikulin said the bill would set long jail sentences for “criminals who are pushing killer Fentanyl.” Mikulin said the Narcan opioid antidote “doesn’t even work on Fentanyl,” a drug he said “is 10 times more deadly than heroin.” Mikulin said he also supports proposed legislation that “would make insurance companies provide the proper care for those who are addicted” to opioids. Mikulin said that another reason he is running for re-election is what he called “this culture of corruption in Albany with Gov. Andrew Cuomo.” Mikulin said that he supports ethics reform measures, such as term limits for state legislators.