John E. Brooks - The New York State Senate

John E. Brooks is a lifelong Long Island resident. He earned an associate’s degree from the State University of New York at Farmingdale and a bachelor’s degree from the New York Institute of Technology. He lives in Seaford and is a father and grandfather.

John previously worked as an executive in the insurance industry and as Nassau County’s director of risk management. He also served as a volunteer firefighter with the Seaford, Medford, and Lindenhurst fire departments and as chief of the Seaford Fire Department.

The November 2022 Patch candidate profile reported: “Democrat John E. Brooks, 72, served two terms representing the 8th District, on Nassau County's South Shore.” The earlier 2020 Patch profile also reported that he had represented Senate District 8 since 2017.

State Senate District 5: John E. Brooks Runs Against Steven Rhoads | Oyster Bay, NY Patch

Meet The Candidates: John Brooks For Senate | Wantagh, NY Patch

John previously served as a member of the New York State Senate, representing the 8th District from 2017 to 2022.

2026 New York General Election

Asked about the most pressing issue facing the community and what he intended to do, Brooks responded: “The pandemic. I am actively working on various recovery programs, including economic stimulus within the community, and recovery from the costs associated with the pandemic.”

Said he is working on community economic stimulus and pandemic cost recovery programs.

Supports property tax relief and policies aimed at making Long Island more affordable.

- Supports property tax relief and policies aimed at making Long Island more affordable.

Economy

In describing campaign-platform issues, Brooks said: “I am working with the district in facing economic hardships with small business owners. I am actively working to add facilities to SUNY Farmingdale to increase enrollment. We are working to bring in environmental industries and jobs on Long Island.”

Supports protecting Long Island’s drinking water and expanding environmental industries and jobs on Long Island.

- Supports protecting Long Island’s drinking water and expanding environmental industries and jobs on Long Island.

Energy & the Environment

In discussing pandemic recovery, Brooks said: “The pandemic. I am actively working on various recovery programs, including economic stimulus within the community, and recovery from the costs associated with the pandemic. We have to learn from our mistakes and working on looking for better ways to fund government, address technology concerns within education, address problems associated with PPE and medical equipment, so that we do not end up in the same situation that we are in right now.”

Brooks said: “I am honored to be the chairman of the Veterans, Military Affairs and Homeland Security Committee in which we are actively working on issues regarding veterans, and issues as it relates to homeland security such as hurricane relief. I want to continue to work and address education reform, mental health services, etc.”

Calls for better government funding and attention to personal protective equipment and medical equipment to avoid repeating pandemic conditions.

- Calls for better government funding and attention to personal protective equipment and medical equipment to avoid repeating pandemic conditions.
- Wants to expand mental health services.

Healthcare

As of September 9, 2026, John E. Brooks did not have a website or any information online.

Voting & Elections

The November 2022 candidate-profile article states: “Brooks describes his legislative priorities as ‘tackling government corruption, ensuring that all students receive the highest quality education possible, addressing taxation evaluation, confronting hunger in our communities, protecting Long Island drinking water, combating the opioid epidemic, and making Long Island an affordable place to live and raise a family.’”

Supports efforts to address the opioid epidemic.

- Supports efforts to address the opioid epidemic.

Public Safety

Patch asked why Brooks was seeking elective office. Brooks responded: “I am seeking elective office to continue the work that I have begun. I want to improve funding in education, address environmental concerns on Long Island, reach economic growth, ensure that we address the recovery associated with the pandemic and ensure that we turn the economy around as we move out of the pandemic.”

Supports changing how New York funds public schools so schools rely less on local property taxes.

- Supports changing how New York funds public schools so schools rely less on local property taxes.

Education

Supports making Long Island more affordable for families and property tax relief for homeowners.

- Supports making Long Island more affordable for families and property tax relief for homeowners.

Housing & Urban Development

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John E. Brooks

As of September 9, 2026, John E. Brooks’s website did not contain information on this issue.

The official former-senator biography states: “Brooks holds a Bachelor’s degree from New York Institute of Technology and an Associate’s degree from the State University of New York at Farmingdale. He resides in Seaford, and is a proud father and grandfather.”

John E. Brooks | NYSenate.gov

John E. Brooks earned an associate's degree from the State University of New York at Farmingdale and a bachelor's degree from the New York Institute of Technology. He is a father and grandfather.

The official former-senator biography states: “Professionally, Senator Brooks was an executive in the insurance industry and worked as the Executive Director of Risk Management for Nassau County. He successfully challenged the New York State of Health Insurance Plans rate increases, resulting in its rollback and producing a savings of $400 million statewide.”

The official former-senator biography identifies several legislative priorities, then states: “Senator Brooks is a veteran of the New York Army Reserve National Guard, having served for eight years as a medic.”

John previously worked as an executive in the insurance industry and as the Executive Director of Risk Management for Nassau County. He served for eight years as a medic in the New York Army Reserve National Guard.

The official former-senator biography states: “A lifelong resident of Long Island, John E. Brooks has devoted his life to giving back to his community. In November 2016, the people of the 8th Senate District elected him to continue his service as their representative in the New York State Senate.”

The header of the official biography identifies John E. Brooks as a “former New York State Senator” and gives his service dates as: “Served from January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2022.”

John was elected to represent the 8th Senate District in the New York State Senate in 2016 and served from 2017 through 2022.

Prioritizes protecting Long Island drinking water.

Prioritizes combating the opioid epidemic.

Prioritizes ensuring all students receive the highest quality education possible.

Prioritizes making Long Island affordable for residents to live and raise their families.

A lifelong resident of Long Island, John E. Brooks has devoted his life to giving back to his community.

Brooks holds a Bachelor’s degree from New York Institute of Technology and an Associate’s degree from the State University of New York at Farmingdale.

He resides in Seaford, and is a proud father and grandfather.

For more than 50 years, Senator Brooks has been an active volunteer firefighter with the Seaford, Medford and Lindenhurst Fire Departments, previously serving as Seaford's Chief of Department.

John E. Brooks is a lifelong resident of Long Island. He earned an associate degree from the State University of New York at Farmingdale and a bachelor's degree from the New York Institute of Technology. He resides in Seaford, is a father and grandfather, and has volunteered as a firefighter with the Seaford, Medford and Lindenhurst Fire Departments for more than 50 years.

Professionally, Senator Brooks was an executive in the insurance industry and worked as the Executive Director of Risk Management for Nassau County.

Senator Brooks is a veteran of the New York Army Reserve National Guard, having served for eight years as a medic.

John previously worked as an executive in the insurance industry and as the executive director of risk management for Nassau County. He served as a medic in the New York Army Reserve National Guard for eight years.

In November 2016, the people of the 8th Senate District elected him to continue his service as their representative in the New York State Senate.

# former New York State Senator
John E. Brooks
Served from January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2022

John previously served as a New York State senator representing the 8th Senate District from 2017 to 2022. He was elected in 2016.

Senator Brooks legislative priorities include tackling government corruption, ensuring that all students receive the highest quality education possible, addressing taxation evaluation, confronting hunger in our communities, protecting Long Island drinking water, combating the opioid epidemic, and making Long Island an affordable place to live and raise a family.

- Prioritizes protecting Long Island drinking water.

Professionally, Senator Brooks was an executive in the insurance industry and worked as the Executive Director of Risk Management for Nassau County. He successfully challenged the New York State of Health Insurance Plans’ rate increases, resulting in its rollback and producing a savings of $400 million statewide.

Currently, Brooks serves as Chairman of the NYS Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs in which he has sponsored numerous legislative efforts bolstering support for the rights and privileges due to New York’s thousands of women and men who have served in our nation’s military. These include increased and continued funding for the highly successful Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-To-Peer Counseling Program and the restoration of education funding for New York’s Gold Star Familes.

Challenged New York State health insurance plan rate increases, resulting in those increases being rolled back.

Sponsored legislative efforts for increased and continued funding for the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Counseling Program.

- Challenged New York State health insurance plan rate increases, resulting in those increases being rolled back.
- Sponsored legislative efforts for increased and continued funding for the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Counseling Program.

Sponsored legislative efforts to restore education funding for New York’s Gold Star Families.

- Sponsored legislative efforts to restore education funding for New York’s Gold Star Families.

## About Former Senator John E. Brooks's

A lifelong resident of Long Island, John E. Brooks has devoted his life to giving back to his community.

Brooks holds a Bachelor's degree from New York Institute of Technology and an Associate's degree from the State University of New York at Farmingdale.

John E. Brooks is a lifelong resident of Long Island. He earned an associate's degree from the State University of New York at Farmingdale and a bachelor's degree from New York Institute of Technology. He has volunteered as a firefighter with the Seaford, Medford and Lindenhurst Fire Departments for more than 50 years and is a father and grandfather.

John E. Brooks previously worked as an executive in the insurance industry and as the Executive Director of Risk Management for Nassau County. He served as a medic in the New York Army Reserve National Guard for eight years.

# former New York State Senator
John E. Brooks
Served from January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2022
## About Former Senator John E. Brooks's

John was elected to represent the 8th Senate District in the New York State Senate in 2016 and served from 2017 to 2022.

As a state senator, sponsored efforts to increase funding for and continue the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Counseling Program.

As a state senator, sponsored efforts to restore education funding for New York's Gold Star families.

Successfully challenged New York State of Health Insurance Plans rate increases, contributing to their rollback.

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Shannon R. Fredericks

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