Throughout her life, DawnMarie has put an emphasis on being educated in her field. In 2009 she received her undergraduate degree from St. Joseph's College in Social Sciences. She then went on to obtain an M.A. from Brooklyn College in Public Administration and Urban Development. She received her second M.A. from Fordham University in Campaign and Election Management. In 2024 DawnMarie graduated with her third M.A. from Columbia University in Quantitative Methods in Social Sciences.

Councilwoman Kuhn | Islip, NY

Dawn Marie Kuhn earned an undergraduate degree in social sciences from St. Joseph's College, followed by master's degrees in public administration and urban development from Brooklyn College, in campaign and election management from Fordham University, and in quantitative methods in social sciences from Columbia University in 2024.

Councilwoman DawnMarie Kuhn - Town of Islip

DawnMarie has worked in both Town and County Government giving more than a decade of municipal service to our local community. She worked in the Town of Islip D.E.C for five years where she handled thousands of constituent concerns within the Town. DawnMarie then served as Chief of Staff to Islip Town Councilman James O'Connor, her predecessor, and served as Chief of Staff to Suffolk County Legislator Anthony A. Piccirillo.

In addition to her governmental experience, DawnMarie is a proud small business owner. As a daughter of a small business owner, working side by side with her family in her father's delicatessen, DawnMarie was inspired to open a small business of her own in 2017. She brings a unique perspective of both having municipal and private sector experience to the Islip Town Board.

Dawn Marie Kuhn is a small business owner. She previously worked for the Town of Islip and served as chief of staff to Islip Town Councilman James O'Connor and Suffolk County Legislator Anthony A. Piccirillo.

DawnMarie was elected to her first term as Islip Town Councilwoman for Council District 2 on Tuesday November 4, 2025, and assumed office on January 1st, 2026. Her district includes Bohemia, Oakdale, West Sayville, Great River, North Great River, East Islip, Islip Terrace, Central Islip and Hauppauge.

Dawn Marie Kuhn currently serves as an Islip Town councilwoman for Council District 2. She was elected in 2025 and is serving her first term.

2026 New York General Election

“Bail reform is a tremendous issue and it needs to be repealed,” said Kuhn. Fixing Tier 6, of which Kuhn as a municipal employee is a member, is also a priority. “We’re doing the same job as our colleagues that may be ten, fifteen, twenty years older than us. We don’t have the same retirement and that’s not fair,” said Kuhn. “My cousins, who are teachers, shouldn’t have to be in the same classroom from twenty years old to sixty-three years and retire with less of a pension than their colleagues who were lucky enough to be in Tier 4.”

Islip Councilwoman Kicks Off NYS Assembly Campaign

Kuhn, a lifelong Town of Islip resident, brings a diverse background in government, education, and small business. She says she’s ready to serve from day one and hopes to focus on lowering taxes, improving government efficiency, and preserving Islip’s suburban quality of life.

Kuhn Dominates Early Fundraising in Town Council Race

Advocates for changes to Tier 6 retirement benefits, citing disparities between newer public employees and colleagues in Tier 4.

Advocates for changes to retirement benefits, citing disparities between newer public employees and longer-standing employees.

Plans to lower taxes and improve government efficiency.

- Advocates for changes to retirement benefits, citing disparities between newer public employees and longer-standing employees.
- Plans to lower taxes and improve government efficiency.

Economy

“We need to make sure our water quality is good and that we protect our sole-source aquifer,” said Kuhn, noting that she is “keen on the environment”, adding that the Second District borders a precarious environmental situation with the Great South Bay and houses the mouth and majority of the Connetquot River.

DawnMarie Kuhn Kicks Off Campaign for Islip Town Council

“We need to preserve our suburban way of life and that our blighted and vacant properties are refurbished instead of knocking down woods,” Kuhn told The Messsenger. The Connetquot High School graduate (class of ‘05) also holds a degree in political science and minor studies in art and history from St. Joseph’s College – now University.

Calls for protecting water quality and the sole-source aquifer.

Advocates refurbishing blighted and vacant properties rather than clearing woods for development.

- Calls for protecting water quality and the sole-source aquifer.
- Advocates refurbishing blighted and vacant properties rather than clearing woods for development.

Energy & the Environment

As of September 9, 2026, Dawn Marie Kuhn’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

Kuhn hosted her official campaign kickoff last Thursday in East Islip. She said her impetus for running is to bring her election law, local government, and data analytics skills to the various committees in the State Legislature’s lower chamber, as well as to support law enforcement and enhance Suffolk’s safety and affordability.

“Bail reform is a tremendous issue and it needs to be repealed,” said Kuhn. Fixing Tier 6, of which Kuhn as a municipal employee is a member, is also a priority.

- Plans to support law enforcement.
- Calls for repealing bail reform.

Public Safety

Education

“I want to keep local control, not Hochul control,” Kuhn told The Messenger, referencing Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D-Hamburg) bipartisanly panned 2022 plan to erode local zoning controls to ameliorate the state’s housing stock concerns.

Opposes state limits on local zoning control.

Opposes state limits on local zoning controls.

- Opposes state limits on local zoning controls.

Housing & Urban Development

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Dawn Marie Kuhn

- Advocates refurbishing blighted and vacant properties rather than clearing woods for development.

- Opposes state limits on local zoning control.

DawnMarie has worked in both Town and County Government giving more than a decade of municipal service to our local community. She worked in the Town of Islip D.E.C for five years where she handled thousands of constituent concerns within the Town. DawnMarie then served as Chief of Staff to Islip Town Councilman James O'Connor, her predecessor, and served as Chief of Staff to Suffolk County Legislator Anthony A. Piccirillo.

In addition to her governmental experience, DawnMarie is a proud small business owner. As a daughter of a small business owner, working side by side with her family in her father's delicatessen, DawnMarie was inspired to open a small business of her own in 2017. She brings a unique perspective of both having municipal and private sector experience to the Islip Town Board.

Dawn Marie currently serves as Islip Town Councilwoman for Council District 2. She was elected in 2025 and is serving her first term.

## Solving the Affordability Crisis

New Yorkers deserve a government that lives within its means so families can afford to stay here and build their future. I am fighting to reduce taxes, eliminate costly unfunded state mandates that drive up local property taxes, lower utility and energy costs, and cut wasteful government spending.

By making government more efficient and accountable, we can ease the financial burden on working families, seniors, and small businesses while making Long Island a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.

DawnMarie for New York – Fighting for Long Island

Advocates reducing taxes, ending unfunded state mandates, lowering utility and energy costs, and cutting government spending.

- Advocates reducing taxes, ending unfunded state mandates, lowering utility and energy costs, and cutting government spending.

## Preserving Our Environment

Long Island is our home, and we have a responsibility to protect it for future generations. I will continue fighting to preserve our beautiful parks, beaches, and open spaces while protecting our sole source aquifer, one of our region’s most precious natural resources.

I remain committed to restoring the Great South Bay, expanding sewer infrastructure to improve water quality, and advancing responsible environmental policies that safeguard our natural treasures while supporting our local economy and quality of life.

Plans to preserve parks, beaches, and open spaces while protecting Long Island's sole-source aquifer.

Committed to restoring the Great South Bay and expanding sewer infrastructure to improve water quality.

- Plans to preserve parks, beaches, and open spaces while protecting Long Island's sole-source aquifer.
- Committed to restoring the Great South Bay and expanding sewer infrastructure to improve water quality.

## Supporting Law Enforcement

Keeping our communities safe will always be one of my highest priorities. I will continue fighting to ensure our police officers, firefighters, and first responders have the tools, resources, and support they need to protect our neighborhoods.

I support repealing New York’s failed cashless bail laws that have allowed dangerous criminals to be released back onto our streets, and I oppose sanctuary state policies that undermine public safety and put our communities at greater risk. Every family deserves to feel safe in their home and every law enforcement officer deserves leaders who will stand behind them.

Plans to support police officers, firefighters, and first responders with resources and tools.

Supports repealing New York's cashless bail laws.

- Plans to support police officers, firefighters, and first responders with resources and tools.
- Supports repealing New York's cashless bail laws.
- Opposes sanctuary-state policies.

## Educating the Next Generation

Every child deserves access to a high-quality education. I will fight to fully fund our public schools, expand educational opportunities for students, increase access to higher education and career training, and ensure every child is prepared for success.

I will also protect property taxpayers by opposing the unchecked expansion of charter schools that divert critical funding away from our best-in-the-nation Long Island schools and the students they serve.

Plans to fully fund public schools, expand educational opportunities, and increase access to higher education and career training.

Opposes the unchecked expansion of charter schools.

- Plans to fully fund public schools, expand educational opportunities, and increase access to higher education and career training.
- Opposes the unchecked expansion of charter schools.

Wants to retain local control over zoning rather than state control.

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love this community. I was born at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore and like both my parents, I graduated from Connetquot High School. I am a proud homeowner in the same neighborhood in Bohemia where my family has lived for four generations.

Dawn Marie Kuhn was born in Bay Shore. She graduated from Connetquot High School. She owns a home in Bohemia.

As a small business owner myself, I understand the challenges entrepreneurs face because I’ve lived them. Since 2017, I’ve owned a marketing and data analytics company, helping businesses grow while navigating the same rising costs and obstacles that so many families and employers face today.

Also in Attendance: Legislator Leslie Kennedy - District No. 12; Richard Donoghue - Special Counsel/Cyber Attack Investigation Comm.; Antonia Post - Law Clerk to Special Counsel Richard Donoghue; David N. Kelley - Partner/O'Melveny & Myers, LLP; Lisa Black, Former Chief Deputy County Executive of Suffolk County; Leah Korn - Summer Associate/O'Melveny & Myers LLP; Bill Duffy - Counsel/Chief of Staff-Suffolk County Legislature; Maria Barbara - Deputy Chief of Staff to P.O. McCaffrey; Frank Tassone - Clerk of the Suffolk County Legislature; Hope Clark - Deputy Clerk of the Suffolk County Legislature; Ali Nazir - Aide to Presiding Officer McCaffrey; Dawn Marie Kuhn - Aide to Legislator Piccirillo; Tim Rothang - Aide to Legislator Mazzarella.

06262024-Suffolk-County-Cybersecurity-Investigation-Committee-Minutes-PDF

Kuhn has no shortage of government experience, starting with the Town’s Department of Environmental Control in 2012, where she spent five years. She then spent two-and-a-half years as Councilman O’Connor’s Chief of Staff. Although the Town did not have councilmanic districts yet, Kuhn still became acquainted with the areas that would become the very district that she is now running to represent.

Dawn Marie Kuhn currently owns a marketing and data analytics company. She has worked as an aide to Legislator Piccirillo, in the Town’s Department of Environmental Control, and as chief of staff to Councilman O’Connor.

01052026-Organizational-Meeting-Minutes-PDF

Kuhn was elected to represent the Town’s Second Council District in 2025, a contest in which she defeated David Chan (D-Oakdale) 58%-41%. Kuhn holds multiple high-level degrees in public policy and statistical/data analytics and served as Chief of Staff for six years to then-Legislator, now-Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville).

Today, I have the privilege of serving as your Islip Town Councilwoman, representing more than 85,000 residents. Every decision I make starts with a simple question: “Will this make life better for the people I represent?” Whether it’s supporting our local businesses, protecting taxpayers, preserving our quality of life, or improving town services, I’m focused on delivering results that matter to families.

Dawn currently serves as an Islip Town Councilwoman for the town’s Second Council District. She was elected in 2025.

New Yorkers deserve a government that lives within its means so families can afford to stay here and build their future. I am fighting to reduce taxes, eliminate costly unfunded state mandates that drive up local property taxes, lower utility and energy costs, and cut wasteful government spending.

Said public employees covered by Tier 6 receive less favorable retirement benefits than longer-serving colleagues.

Advocates for reducing taxes, ending unfunded state mandates, lowering utility and energy costs, and cutting government spending.

- Advocates for reducing taxes, ending unfunded state mandates, lowering utility and energy costs, and cutting government spending.

I remain committed to restoring the Great South Bay, expanding sewer infrastructure to improve water quality, and advancing responsible environmental policies that safeguard our natural treasures while supporting our local economy and quality of life.

- Committed to restoring the Great South Bay and expanding sewer infrastructure to improve water quality.

Keeping our communities safe will always be one of my highest priorities. I will continue fighting to ensure our police officers, firefighters, and first responders have the tools, resources, and support they need to protect our neighborhoods.

I support repealing New York’s failed cashless bail laws that have allowed dangerous criminals to be released back onto our streets, and I oppose sanctuary state policies that undermine public safety and put our communities at greater risk. Every family deserves to feel safe in their home and every law enforcement officer deserves leaders who will stand behind them.

Plans to provide police officers, firefighters, and first responders with tools, resources, and support.

Supports repealing New York's cashless-bail laws.

- Plans to provide police officers, firefighters, and first responders with tools, resources, and support.
- Supports repealing New York's cashless-bail laws.
- Opposes sanctuary-state policies.

Every child deserves access to a high-quality education. I will fight to fully fund our public schools, expand educational opportunities for students, increase access to higher education and career training, and ensure every child is prepared for success.

I will also protect property taxpayers by opposing the unchecked expansion of charter schools that divert critical funding away from our best-in-the-nation Long Island schools and the students they serve.

Supports fully funding public schools and expanding educational opportunities, higher education access, and career training.

Opposes unchecked charter-school expansion, saying it diverts funding from Long Island public schools.

- Supports fully funding public schools and expanding educational opportunities, higher education access, and career training.
- Opposes unchecked charter-school expansion, saying it diverts funding from Long Island public schools.

Wants local governments to retain control over zoning decisions.

Advocates reducing taxes, ending unfunded state mandates, lowering utility costs, and cutting government spending.

The campaign website continues: “I remain committed to restoring the Great South Bay, expanding sewer infrastructure to improve water quality, and advancing responsible environmental policies that safeguard our natural treasures while supporting our local economy and quality of life.”

Supports restoring the Great South Bay and expanding sewer infrastructure to improve water quality.

- Supports restoring the Great South Bay and expanding sewer infrastructure to improve water quality.

Under the heading “Supporting Law Enforcement,” the campaign website says: “Keeping our communities safe will always be one of my highest priorities. I will continue fighting to ensure our police officers, firefighters, and first responders have the tools, resources, and support they need to protect our neighborhoods.”

The campaign website says: “I support repealing New York’s failed cashless bail laws that have allowed dangerous criminals to be released back onto our streets, and I oppose sanctuary state policies that undermine public safety and put our communities at greater risk. Every family deserves to feel safe in their home and every law enforcement officer deserves leaders who will stand behind them.”

Plans to support police officers, firefighters, and first responders with the tools and resources they need.

- Plans to support police officers, firefighters, and first responders with the tools and resources they need.
- Supports repealing New York's cashless bail laws.

Under its education section, the campaign website says: “Every child deserves access to a high-quality education. I will fight to fully fund our public schools, expand educational opportunities for students, increase access to higher education and career training, and ensure every child is prepared for success.”

The campaign website says: “I will also protect property taxpayers by opposing the unchecked expansion of charter schools that divert critical funding away from our best-in-the-nation Long Island schools and the students they serve.”

Plans to fully fund public schools and expand opportunities in education, higher education, and career training.

Opposes unchecked charter-school expansion, citing its effect on funding for Long Island public schools.

- Plans to fully fund public schools and expand opportunities in education, higher education, and career training.
- Opposes unchecked charter-school expansion, citing its effect on funding for Long Island public schools.

Wants to preserve local control over zoning.

Advocates refurbishing blighted and vacant properties instead of clearing woods for development.

Councilwoman Kuhn | Islip, NY (Councilman DawnMarie Kuhn - District 2)

Dawn Marie Kuhn currently serves as the Islip Town council member for Council District 2. She was elected in 2025 and is serving her first term.

Prioritizes changes to Tier 6 retirement benefits, arguing that public employees should not receive lower pensions than their Tier 4 colleagues.

Supports law enforcement and seeks to enhance safety in Suffolk County.

Calls for reviewing traffic flow near new development along Lakeland Avenue in Bohemia.

Wants to keep local control over zoning rather than state control.

Calls for refurbishing blighted and vacant properties rather than clearing woods for development.

- Wants to keep local control over zoning rather than state control.
- Calls for refurbishing blighted and vacant properties rather than clearing woods for development.

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love this community. I was born at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore and like both my parents, I graduated from Connetquot High School. I am a proud homeowner in the same neighborhood in Bohemia where my family has lived for four generations. That’s why I’ve dedicated my career to serving the people who live here and why I work every day to make our neighborhoods safer, stronger, and more affordable.

I’ve always believed that learning is a lifelong journey. Every opportunity to grow, challenge myself, and gain new knowledge has made me a better leader and a better public servant. That passion for learning led me to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Joseph’s University here in Patchogue, followed by Masters’ Degrees from Brooklyn College, Fordham University, and Columbia University with degrees in Public Administration, Urban Development, and Quantitative Methods in Social Sciences.

I’m presently a Fellow at Columbia University pursuing my fourth Master’s Degree. The more I learn, the better prepared I am to solve problems, make informed decisions, and fight for the people I serve.

Dawn Marie Kuhn was born in Bay Shore. She earned a bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's University and master's degrees in public administration, urban development, and quantitative methods in social sciences from Brooklyn College, Fordham University, and Columbia University; she is pursuing a fourth master's degree at Columbia University. She owns a home in Bohemia.

Dawn Marie Kuhn owns a marketing and data analytics company. She previously worked for the Town of Islip and served as chief of staff to Islip Town Councilman James O'Connor and Suffolk County Legislator Anthony A. Piccirillo.

Before being elected to the Town Council, I spent more than a decade serving our community in both town and county government. Those experiences taught me how government should work, and just as importantly, how it can work better. I believe public service is about listening, solving problems, and never forgetting who you’re there to serve.

Dawn Marie was elected to the Town Council.

Advocates for reducing taxes, eliminating unfunded state mandates, and cutting government spending to lower costs.

- Advocates for reducing taxes, eliminating unfunded state mandates, and cutting government spending to lower costs.

Advocates for lowering utility and energy costs.

- Advocates for lowering utility and energy costs.
- Committed to restoring the Great South Bay and expanding sewer infrastructure to improve water quality.

- Supports repealing New York's cashless bail laws.
- Opposes sanctuary state policies.

Plans to fully fund public schools and expand higher education and career-training access.

- Plans to fully fund public schools and expand higher education and career-training access.
- Opposes the unchecked expansion of charter schools.

Supports local control over housing-related zoning decisions rather than state intervention.

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Patricia Kopp

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Your representative and state lawmaker in the New York State Assembly.