Fred Thiele

Last updated
Fred Thiele
Fred Thiele.jpg
Thiele in 2009
Member of the New York State Assembly
Assumed office
February 15, 1995

Thiele began his political career as counsel to former Assemblyman John L. Behan, a position in which he served until 1982. [2] Subsequent to his service as a legislative assistant he became Southampton Town Attorney and East Hampton Town Planning Board Attorney, from 1982 to 1987 and 1982 to 1986 respectively.

In 1987, Thiele won a bid to represent the 16th District within the Suffolk County Legislature, a position he would hold for the subsequent four years. After serving in the Suffolk County Legislature he would go on to be elected as Southampton town supervisor, where he would serve until winning a 1995 special election to succeed his former boss in the State Assembly.

Although elected as a Republican, after being elected to the Suffolk County Legislature, he joined the chamber's nine Democrats to elect a Democrat as presiding officer.

New York Assembly

In 1995, Republican Governor George Pataki appointed Assemblyman John L. Behan as New York State Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs. Behan resigned from the New York Assembly, leaving a vacant seat in the 2nd District. Thiele ran for the seat and defeated Democratic nominee Leo Davis 69%–28% in the March 1995 special election. [3]

He won re-election to his first full term with 62% of the vote. [4] Between 1998 and 2006, he never won re-election with less than 59% of the vote. In 2008, he defeated Democratic nominee Michael Pitcher 62%–38%. [5] [6] He won re-election for the first time as a member of the Independence Party, defeating Republican nominee Richard A. Blumenthal 59%–41%. [7]

Thiele announced on October 1, 2009, that he was joining the Independence Party, saying the Republicans no longer stood for "pocketbook issues" and was given permission to caucus with the Democratic supermajority along with the other Independence Party assemblyman, Timothy P. Gordon [8] [9] Thiele, the only Independent in the Assembly, supports an open primary in New York State and supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic Primary. [10] Before his switch, Thiele had been ranking minority member on the Assembly Education Committee and vice chairman of the Assembly Minority Joint Conference Committee.

Thiele was a member of the Democratic Party during his time in college. In 2022, left the Independence Party after its lost its automatic ballot line and joined the Democratic Party. [11]

He currently sits on the House Committee on Local Governments as Chair, House Committee on Future of the Long Island Power Authority, House Committee on Rules, House Committee on Environmental Conservation, House Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation, and House Committee on Transportation. [12]

In February of 2024, Thiele announced that he would not seek re-election to the Assembly. [13]

Personal life

Thiele is a native of Sag Harbor, New York, and graduated from Pierson Middle-High School in 1971. He graduated from Southampton College of Long Island University in 1976 with a B.A. summa cum laude in political science and history. Thiele received a Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School in 1979 and was admitted to the bar in New York in 1980.

Thiele resides in Sag Harbor. He has a daughter and two sons.

Electoral history

Election history
LocationYearElectionResults
Suffolk County
District 16 		1989General√ Fred Thiele (R) 74.31%
Roger E. Cullen 25.69%
Southampton Supervisor 1991General√ Fred Thiele (I) 45.11%
George S. Stavropoulos (R) 33.27%
Ronald J. Moss (D) 17.21%
John D. Eckart (Conservative) 4.42%
New York Assembly
District 2 		1995Special√ Fred Thiele (R) 68.92%
Leo P. Davis (D) 27.84%
Valerie Hegeland (Right to Life) 3.24%
New York Assembly
District 2 		1996General√ Fred Thiele (R) 61.90%
Melissa A. Walton (D) 30.90%
Margaret A. Eckart (Conservative) 4.55%
Michael J. Bradley (Right to Life) 2.65%
New York Assembly
District 2 		1998General√ Fred Thiele (R) 59.85%
Margaret A. Eckart (D) 29.94%
Marie F. Mulcahy (Conservative) 10.21%
New York Assembly
District 2 		2000General√ Fred Thiele (R) 60.17%
Kevin R. Mitchell (D) 34.48%
Marie F. Mulcahy (Conservative) 3.88%
Van Buren D. Howell (Green) 1.48%
New York Assembly
District 2 		2002General√ Fred Thiele (R) 68.89%
Harriet Blossick-Sanchez (D) 25.49%
Patricia Guarino (Conservative) 3.37%
Robert Colapinto (Right to Life) 2.25%
New York Assembly
District 2 		2004General√ Fred Thiele (R) 60.93%
M. Treewolf West (D) 35.98%
Patricia Guarino (Conservative) 3.09%
New York Assembly
District 2 		2006General√ Fred Thiele (R) 59.22%
M. Treewolf West (D) 40.79%
New York Assembly
District 2 		2008General√ Fred Thiele (R) 62.06%
William M. Pitcher (D) 37.94%
New York Assembly
District 2 		2010General√ Fred Thiele (I) 59.35%
Richard A. Blumenthal (R) 40.62%
New York Assembly
District 1 		2012General√ Fred Thiele (I) Unopposed
New York Assembly
District 1 		2014General√ Fred Thiele (I) 60.54%
Heather Collins (R) 32.41%
Brian DeSesa (Conservative) 7.02%
New York Assembly
District 1 		2016General√ Fred Thiele (I) 62.35%
Heather Collins (R) 37.65%
New York Assembly
District 1 		2018General√ Fred Thiele (I) 59.81%
Patrick M. O'Connor (R) 40.17%
New York Assembly
District 1 		2020General√ Fred Thiele (I/D) 57.6%
Heather Collins (R/C) 42.4%

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York State Assembly</span> Lower house of the New York State Legislature

The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservative Party of New York State</span> Conservative third party in the United States

The Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party founded in 1962 following conservative dissatisfaction with the Republican Party in New York. Running on the Conservative Party line, James L. Buckley won election to the U.S. Senate in 1970 and served for one term. Since 2010, the party has held "Row C" on New York ballots—the third-place ballot position, directly below the Democratic and Republican parties—because it received the third-highest number of votes of any political party in the 2010, 2014 and 2018 New York gubernatorial elections. The party is known for its strategy of attempting to influence the Republican Party in a more conservative direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independence Party of New York</span> Third party in New York, United States

The Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of New York. The party was founded in 1991 by Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver and acquired ballot status in 1994. They lost their ballot status in 2020 under a change in the New York state election law that required at least 130,000 votes on the party line every two years. Although often associated with Ross Perot, as the party came to prominence in the wake of Perot's 1992 presidential campaign, it was created prior to Perot's run. In 2020, it affiliated with the Alliance Party, but disaffiliated in 2021. It used to have one elected member of the New York State Assembly, Fred Thiele, until Thiele switched his party affiliation to the Democratic Party in 2022. On December 9, 2022, New York governor Kathy Hochul signed S1851A, banning the use of the words "Independent" and "Independence" from use in political party names in New York state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Boyle</span> American politician

Phillip Michael Boyle is an American politician who served as the Senator for the 4th District of the New York Senate from 2013 to 2022. He is a Republican. The district he served includes the villages of Babylon, Brightwaters, Lindenhurst, Ocean Beach, Saltaire in Suffolk County on Long Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas DiNapoli</span> American politician

Thomas Peter DiNapoli is an American politician serving as the 54th and current New York State Comptroller since 2007. A member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed by a bipartisan majority of the New York State Legislature to the position of comptroller on February 7, 2007. He was then elected Comptroller by New York's voters in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. In his 2014 victory, he led the statewide ticket with the most votes. He was easily reelected to a third term in November 2018, receiving 64.9% of the vote. In 2022, he secured his fourth term in office, receiving 57% of the vote. He is the second longest-serving comptroller in New York State History.

New York State Assembly, District 99 is located in the southern part of the State of New York in the United States. District 99 is north of New York City and is composed of parts of Orange and Rockland Counties. It is encompassed by New York's 40th State Senate district and New York's 42nd State Senate district, as well as New York's 17th congressional district and New York's 18th congressional district since redistricting in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David McDonough</span> American politician

David G. McDonough is a member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 14th district, which includes portions of the town of Hempstead in Nassau County on Long Island. A Republican, McDonough was first elected through a special election in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Robach</span> American politician

Joseph E. Robach is an American politician who was a member of the New York Senate, representing the 56th district from 2003 until 2020. The district includes portions of Rochester, New York and the surrounding communities.

Victor B. Tosi is a New York politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L. Dean Murray</span> American politician

L. Dean Murray is an American politician and former Republican member of the New York State Assembly, representing the assembly's third district from 2010 to 2013 and again from 2015 to 2019. The district includes portions of the town of Brookhaven, including Bellport and Mastic Beach in Suffolk County on Long Island. Dean Murray was recently elected to serve in the New York State Senate after the 2022 elections.

Edward P. Ra is a member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 19th district, which includes portions of the towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay in Nassau County on Long Island. A Republican, Ra was first elected in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 New York state elections</span> Election in the United States

The 2012 New York state elections took place on November 6, 2012. These elections included the 2012 presidential election, an election to one U.S. Senate seat, and elections to all 27 New York congressional seats, all 63 seats in the New York State Senate, and all 150 seats in the New York State Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luis R. Sepúlveda</span> American attorney and politician (born 1964)

Luis R. Sepúlveda is an American attorney and politician who currently serves as the New York State Senator from the 32nd Senate District, which includes parts of the Bronx. Prior to being in the state senate Sepúlveda was a member of the New York State Assembly from 2013 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Palumbo</span> American politician

Anthony Howard Palumbo is an American Republican Party politician who currently represents the 1st district of the New York State Senate. He previously served as a member of the New York State Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Garbarino</span> American politician (born 1984)

Andrew Reed Garbarino is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 2nd congressional district since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the New York State Assemblyman for the 7th district from 2013 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 New York gubernatorial election</span> Election for Governor of New York

The 2018 New York gubernatorial election occurred on November 6, 2018. Incumbent Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo won re-election to a third term, defeating Republican Marc Molinaro and several minor party candidates. Cuomo received 59.6% of the vote to Molinaro's 36.2%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas M. Smith</span> American legislator

Douglas M. Smith is an American legislator serving as the New York State Assemblyman for the 5th district since 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 New York State Assembly election</span>

Elections to the New York State Assembly were held on November 3, 2020 in the U.S. state of New York. The elections were part of the biennial elections in the United States, with elections for the State Senate, the U.S. House, and U.S. president being held on the same day. Primary elections were held on June 23.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 New York State Assembly election</span>

The 2022 New York State Assembly election was held on November 8, 2022. Elections were held to elect representatives from all 150 districts across the State of New York. This election coincided with New York elections for the governorship, U.S. Senate, and state senate, among others. Districts for this election were redrawn following the 2020 United States census. Democrats have held a majority in the New York State Assembly since 1975.

New York's 1st State Assembly district is one of the 150 districts in the New York State Assembly. It has been represented by Democratic Assemblyman Fred Thiele since 2013. Before 2022, Thiele was the only Assemblyman registered with the Independence Party.

References

  1. ↑ "Elected Officials - Alliance Party". Alliance Party . Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  2. ↑ Chinese, Vera (October 10, 2008). "Thiele is seeking reelection on experience". The East Hampton Press.
  3. ↑ Effort to Preserve a Political Dynasty in East Harlem Fails by a Wide Margin Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine by David Firestone, in The New York Times on March 15, 1995
  4. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NY Assembly 02 Race - Nov 05, 1996". www.ourcampaigns.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NY Assembly 02 Race - Nov 04, 2008". www.ourcampaigns.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  6. ↑ Chinese, Vera (October 30, 2008). "Thiele defeats Pitcher; LaValle wins reelection". The Southampton Press.
  7. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NY Assembly 02 Race - Nov 02, 2010". www.ourcampaigns.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  8. ↑ Brand, Rick. "Republican Thiele switching to Independence Party Archived 2012-10-07 at the Wayback Machine ". Newsday . October 2, 2009.
  9. ↑ Editorial Board (2016-10-16). "Fred Thiele to represent New York's 1st Assembly District". Newsday. Archived from the original on 2017-01-02. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  10. ↑ "Independents Make Last-Ditch Effort to Vote in NY's Primary: Gothamist". Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  11. ↑ "Elizabeth Holtzman". The Suffolk Times. July 5, 2022. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Fred W. Thiele, Jr. - Assembly District 1 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  13. ↑ Kotz, Stephen (February 12, 2024). "State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. Will Not Seek Reelection This Fall". 27east. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
New York State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 2nd district
1995–2012		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 1st district
2013–2025		Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.