SUFFOLK COUNTY LEGISLATOR  -  JACK EDDINGTON  -  SEVENTH Legislative District

The 7th Legislative District encompasses southwestern through central portions of Brookhaven Town. The district includes Blue Point, Patchogue, East Patchogue, North Patchogue and a large portion of Medford. Smaller portions of Coram, Farmingville, Holtsville, Ronkonkoma, Bellport and Fire Island are also included. It consists of fifty-three (53) election districts with approximately 79,000 residents of which 45,772 are registered voters.

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Suffolk County Legislator Jack Eddington has lived in the 7th Legislative District for the past 34 years. He moved here from New York City, he was born in Brooklyn and raised in the Queens Bridge Housing Projects. Eddington is married to his wife of 37 years, Patricia Eddington (NYS Assemblywoman). Together they have two children, Kerri and Brian and three grandchildren, Matthew, Olivia, and Collin.

Legislator Eddington volunteered to serve our country during the Vietnam War and spent 4 years in the United States Navy, during which time he was stationed on aircraft carriers overseas. Upon his discharge, he attended St. John’s University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies.

In 1974, Legislator Eddington secured a teaching position in the Patchogue-Medford School District, where he worked for 29 years. During his tenure at Patchogue-Medford, he achieved a Masters Degree in Education, in 1976, and a second Masters degree in Social Work in 1991; both from Stony Brook University. In addition, Legislator Eddington is certified in Reading Education and Drug Prevention Education.

As an employee of the Patchogue-Medford School District, Eddington worked as an alternative education teacher, reading teacher, social studies teacher, drug educator, and social worker. He has served as a consultant on many projects for the U.S. Dep’t. of Education and has authored two books: Impact Teaching and First Survive, Then Thrive.

Jack Eddington was elected to his first term as Suffolk County Legislator in November, 2005. He currently serves as the Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and it is in this capacity that the Suffolk County Probation Officers Association honored him as the 2006 Man of the Year. Eddington is Vice Chair of both the Veterans and Seniors Committee and the Consumer Protection Committee and is a member of the Public Works Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee.

Legislator Eddington has fought hard for the residents of the 7th Legislative District, passing legislation to condemn the dilapidated Plaza Theater in East Patchogue. He has secured funding to help attract the Artspace Project for downtown Patchogue, to create a new park on Route 112 in Medford, and community enhancements and a youth program in Blue-Point. Recently, Eddington partnered with the District Attorney to bring a gang prevention program to the Patchogue-Medford School District. Eddington has been an ardent supporter of immigration reform and recognizes the many problems the current failed policy has created for local governments.

Legislator Eddington maintains an open door policy to his office and welcomes his constituents to stop by or call to discuss any matter of concern.

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• Sponsored a Memorializing Resolution in opposition to proposed State Legislation that would provide legal resident aliens, who are not Naturalized Citizens, with the right to vote.

• Sponsored a Memorializing Resolution in opposition to proposed State Legislation that would allow resident aliens to use a Tax ID Number when applying for a Social Security Card.  Tax ID Numbers can be issued to any individual who pays Federal Income Taxes, and are issued without verifying the applicants ID.  The State Legislation could lead to pervasive identity theft.

• Sponsored a Memorializing Resolution in support of the Governors ‘Healthy Schools Initiative’, which sets nutritional standards to be implemented in school cafeterias.

• Sponsored a Memorializing Resolution in support of the creation of the Fire Island Beach Erosion Control District.  The District will act like an insurer to help property owners rebuild dunes and replenish sand after major storm events.

• Co-Sponsored Legislation to grant reduced park fees for active military personnel.

• Sponsored Legislation to require motor vehicle dealers to deliver their product to a licensed operator.  Often motorcycle dealers are allowing young individuals, who do not have a motorcycle license, to drive the bike of their lot.  Tragically, their inexperience with such a vehicle results with severe and devastating accidents.

• Co-sponsored legislation that deems bidders “nonresponsible” and ineligible to win a contract with Suffolk County if they have a history of non-compliance with state fair wage and job site safety laws.

• Sponsored legislation that directs the Suffolk County Department of Information Technology to implement a “Mapquest” styled information service on Suffolk County’s website on Suffolk County Bus Routes.

• Sponsored legislation directing Suffolk County’s Division of Real Estate to commence eminent domain proceeding for the Plaza Theater, a dilapidated structure on East Main Street in Patchogue.

• Co-sponsored legislation to require entities doing business with Suffolk County to certify that they comply with Federal Law with respect to lawful hiring of employees.

• Co-sponsored legislation creating the Suffolk County Department of Information Technology.

• Co-sponsored legislation creating the Suffolk County Department of Environment and Energy.

• Co-sponsored legislation authorizing the Suffolk County Probation Department to implement a pilot program using Remote Alcohol Monitoring Devices for repeat DWI offenders.

• Co-sponsored legislation creating a Domestic Partner Registry in Suffolk County.

• Co-sponsored legislation creating a Suffolk County Commission to evaluate school district expenses and efficiencies.

• Co-sponsored legislation transferring property to the Village of Patchogue for the creation of workforce housing.

• Co-sponsored legislation authorizing the acquisition of portions of the Overton Preserve in Medford.

• Co-sponsored legislation to enact ‘Alec’s Law’ to protect children from SUV accidents.

• Co-sponsored legislation that will establish regulations of scrap metal dealers, including licensing and recording of all scrap metal purchases.

• Co-Sponsored legislation supporting the civil confinement of sexually violent predators.

• Sponsored a Memorializing Resolution calling on New York State to extend the statute of limitations for criminal and civil action for certain sexual assault cases.

• Sponsored a Memorializing Resolution calling for the amendment of the EPIC program to allow seniors who have lost income to recalculate their co-payment schedule.

• Sponsored a Memorializing Resolution calling for the Public Service Commission to review LIPA ‘Fuel Surcharges’ as it would review rate increases.

• Sponsored a Memorializing Resolution calling any hospital or health related facility to disclose any health service that is performed outside of the United States, such as billing and medical coding.

• Sponsored legislation to conduct planning steps to acquire 40 acres of pristine wetlands and woodlands between Blue Point and Patchogue.

• Sponsored legislation to conduct planning steps to acquire one of the last parcels of old-forest in Medford.

• Co-Sponsored legislation to ensure representation of Environmental Interest and Historic Preservation on the Council for Environmental Quality.

• Co-Sponsored legislation to encourage the participation of minority and women owned businesses with respect to Suffolk County contracts.

• Co-Sponsored Legislation prohibiting Registered Sex Offenders from residing within one-quarter mile of a school, day care center or playground.

• Co-Sponsored legislation to provide a waiver of the Civil Service Application Fee for individuals who are unemployed.

• Co-Sponsored legislation to establish a Commission to examine school district expenses and efficiency.

• Co-Sponsored legislation to establish a Homeowners Tax Reform Commission to explore the feasibility of using sources of funding as an alternative to property taxes.

• Co-Sponsored legislation to supplement the existing HEAP program to benefit a wider range of Suffolk residents.

• Co-Sponsored legislation to expand the maximum allowance for the Veteran’s Real Property Tax Exemption.

• Co-Sponsored legislation to require sufficient notice for Planning Commission Meetings when a proposal affects residents in more than one town.

• Co-Sponsored legislation establishing a county policy for permitting leaves of absences for breast cancer and prostate cancer screenings.

• Co-Sponsored legislation authorizing appropriations to purchase open space on the headwaters of Mud Creek.

• Co-Sponsored legislation establishing a policy requiring the Suffolk County Department of Health Services to administer mercury-free vaccines at all Suffolk Health Centers.

• Co-sponsored legislation to implement LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) Program for future County construction projects.

• Co-sponsored a Charter Law to promote a non-political professionally divers County Planning Commission.

• Co-sponsored legislation to provide emergency response equipment for the Medford Volunteer Ambulance Company.

• Sponsored legislation to provide funding for the SCPD to purchase fingerprinting equipment to assist child protection advocates.

• Co-sponsored legislation to establish a new program in the Office of Women’s Services to help mitigate domestic violence.

• Sponsored legislation to authorize planning steps to create a small park on Tremont Avenue in Medford.

• Co-sponsored legislation providing veterans with discounted parks fees.

• Co-sponsored legislation to add ecological health and marine productivity as criteria for County dredge projects.

• Co-sponsored legislation that extends protections to residents of planned retirement communities.

• Sponsored legislation waiving or reducing Tobacco Cessation Program fees for those without health insurance.

• Co-sponsored legislation authorizing the purchase of open space at the headwaters of Patchogue River.

• Co-sponsored legislation naming picnic areas 8 & 9 at Southaven County Park in honor of “Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth”.

• Co-sponsored legislation prohibiting sex offenders from loitering on or near playgrounds, day care centers and other locations where minors gather.

• Co-sponsored legislation to begin a stormwater remediation project to Patchogue Bay from South Country Road.

• Co-sponsored legislation expanding property tax exemptions for spouses of deceased volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.

• Co-sponsored legislation authorizing the SCPD and Sheriff’s Office to monitor registered sex offenders.

• Sponsored legislation to appropriate funds for the redevelopment of East Main Street in East Patchogue.

• Co-sponsored legislation creating a County-wide Senior Citizen Task Force.

• Sponsored legislation requiring a detailed report of SCPD civilianization program.

• Co-sponsored a Home Rule Message requesting the State to establish an independent Office of School Inspector General.

• Co-sponsored a Memorializing Resolution in support of Nixmary’s Law.

• Co-sponsored a Memorializing Resolution in support of property tax exemptions for Military Reservist.

• Co-sponsored a Memorializing Resolution in support of “Timothy’s Law”, which creates mental health parity by insurance companies.

• Co-sponsored a Memorializing Resolution requesting the State to share in the construction cost of a new mandated County Jail.

• Co-sponsored a Memorializing Resolution in support of Combating Autism Act of 2005.

• Co-sponsored a Memorializing Resolution in support of requiring vehicle dismantlers and scrap processors to obtain solid waste management permits from the DEC.

• Co-sponsored a Memorializing Resolution to restrict the placement of sex offenders in certain social service shelters.

• Sponsored Legislation prohibiting the obstruction of County public ways.

• Sponsored legislation to prohibit the use of outdoor wood-burning furnaces.

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