Patricia A. Harrington of Westbury recently announced she is the Republican candidate for Receiver of Taxes in the Town of North Hempstead. In addition, she has received the endorsement of the Conservative Party.

Harrington is no stranger to public service. While working as an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County for nine years, she tried numerous cases and successfully argued matters in New York State and federal courts. During her eight years in private practice, Harrington regularly accepted court appointments to represent indigent defendants in the county courts of both Nassau and Suffolk. For the past eight years she has been principal law clerk to a Nassau County Court Judge.

Education has always been important to Harrington. In 1970, she graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead and went on to earn a bachelor of arts in mathematics in 1974 from Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Newton, MA, and a JD degree from St. John's University's School of Law in 1997. Over the years, Harrington has taken various courses in criminal law, psychology and real estate appraisal. She enjoys reading, playing the piano, cooking and entertaining as well as spending time with family and friends.

In addition to being a member of several professional organizations, including the Nassau County Bar Association, Harrington is currently president of the Nassau County Courthouse Kiwanis Club, vice president of the Alumnae Association of Sacred Heart Academy and, for the last six years, has been an Island Harvest volunteer. Over the years, she has been a member of the "Play it Safe" board, an organization dedicated to instructing parents and children on how to stay safe. She has also been a stage manager of several theater productions for and the house manager of Plaza Playhouse.

Harrington said she wants to be North Hempstead Town's next receiver of taxes so "she can bring efficiency to an office in need of organization and leadership," adding that she will "make every effort to ensure that payments are processed in an expeditious manner, that records are kept up-to-date and that timely notices are sent to taxpayers."

While stating that these improvements will minimize inconvenience to residents, Harrington said she will be part of a progressive and responsive town administration that solves the serious problems in town government and assures her door will always be open to the suggestions and concerns of taxpayers. "No one likes to pay taxes, but they are a necessary fact of life and while the receiver's office can do nothing to reduce taxes, [I] assure that if elected, it will be efficient, accommodating and run with a personal touch," she said.

Harrington and her husband, Russell, a retired longshoreman and Vietnam veteran, have lived in Westbury for six years and are members of St. Brigid's Parish. Harrington, the daughter of Ann and the Honorable Raymond Harrington, a retired County Court judge, grew up in East Rockaway. She has three brothers and numerous nieces and nephews. Her brother, Kevin, and sister-in-law Phyllis, are the producers of Plaza Theatrical Productions, a local theater company.