Assemblyman Visits HHS Participation in Government Classes
Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci visited Huntington High School social studies teacher Deborah Mellon’s Participation in Government classes earlier this week, discussing state and local government operations and issues.
Mr. Lupinacci explained the basic philosophies of the Republican and Democratic Parties, discussed how a bill becomes a law and talked about some of the major issues facing New Yorkers.
“Students were able to question a ‘real’ politician and discuss how policy is made,” Ms. Mellon said. “How does the state government impact a student’s life? Do votes reflect the representative’s opinion or that of the constituents?”
Mr. Lupinacci, who succeeded Assemblyman James D. Conte in office, served three terms on the South Huntington School Board. A graduate of Walt Whitman High School, he obtained undergraduate, graduate and law degrees at Hofstra University, earning a BA in political science, a master’s in business administration at the Frank Zarb School of Business and a JD at Hofstra’s School of Law.
Ms. Mellon said her students find it valuable to meet people “directly involved in various issues they study. Not many courses have the luxury of inviting a primary source into the classroom.”
Elected to the Assembly in 2012, Mr. Lupinacci has worked as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, Farmingdale State College, St. John’s University and St. Joseph’s College, teaching business law and political science classes. His legal practice specializes in real estate law and estate planning.
As a Hofstra undergraduate, Mr. Lupinacci interned with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and in the office of Assemblyman Conte, a graduate of Huntington High School.