Suffolk Legis. Leslie Kennedy rushed to hospital, in intensive care

Suffolk Legis. Leslie Kennedy was taken by ambulance Thursday evening to St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown after feeling ill and experiencing back and neck pains, according to county officials.

Kennedy, 61, a Nesconset Republican, was working in her district office in the Hauppauge county complex when she was stricken at about 5:30 p.m. She was placed in intensive care at the hospital, officials said.

Her husband, Suffolk Comptroller John M. Kennedy Jr., was with her when she became ill. The couple had planned to attend a Smithtown fire chiefs meeting scheduled for later in the evening, officials said.

Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory (D-Copiague) said he texted a message to the family.

“We hope that everything turns out for the best,” he said. “We certainly have Leslie, John and their family in our prayers.”

Kennedy, a registered nurse and certified drug and alcohol counselor, first won the 12th District legislative seat formerly held by her husband in a March, 2015 special election. She is up for re-election for a second full term in November.

She worked as an aide to her husband when he was the Republican leader of the county legislature. The couple has four adult children.