New York State Assembly, 17th 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.
Kimberly L. Snow
Democratic
Background: Snow, 51, of Bethpage, is running on the Democratic and Women's Equality party lines. Since 2015, she has worked as a court attorney for Ellen R. Greenberg, supervising judge of the Nassau County Family Court. She earned a bachelor of science degree in political science and philosophy from Northeastern University in Boston. After graduation from college, Snow was a congressional aide from 1990 to 1992 for Rep. Robert J. Mrazek. She returned to school and earned a juris doctor law degree from Touro Law Center. Snow worked in the Nassau County Attorney's Office from 2003 to 2011. She worked in private practice from 2012 to 2014 as a family law attorney. Snow ran in 2012 for district court judge for the 4th District in the Town of Oyster Bay and the following year, ran as a Democrat for the Oyster Bay Town Board. She is married and has one child.
Issues: Snow said she believes in term limits of no more than two terms for "all elective offices." She said she is an advocate for children's rights and has "taken part in every aspect of family law." Throughout her career, Snow says, she has demonstrated a "powerful advocacy for children" and "helped many of those who have no voice in our community." Snow said, "I am a huge proponent of school safety," but she added, "I don't want teachers to be armed." Snow said that with the prospect of legalized marijuana, along with the ongoing opioid crisis, the consequences of texting while driving "need to be more severe to get people off the phone." She said that if elected, she would support efforts to "clean up the Bethpage plume" groundwater contamination. Snow said she also would support development of clean, affordable energy sources including solar power.