Pat Halpin due to register with Suffolk as lobbyist on sparkler bill

Suffolk’s former Democratic County Executive Patrick Halpin, who has already met with  county legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory about the controveresial so-called “sparkler” bill, is not registered as a lobbyist on the county website.

Halpin was surprised, noting that he has worked for the past year for Hudson River Health, a non-profit group that has taken over operation of county health centers.
Legislative Clerk Tim Laube said that Halpin was registered last year as a lobbyist for HRH, but that registration expired at year’s end. He said that a representative with Mecury Public Affairs, for whom Halpin now works, has been in contact about re-registering.

Halpin said other Mecury staffers have been working on the fireworks issue and he only met with Gregory to deliver material from the firm, though he said he may get more involved as the proposal moves forward. He also said the county law allows 10 days for him to register a new client, a period that has not yet elapsed.