Fred Thiele
| Fred W. Thiele, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 2nd district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1995 | |
| Preceded by | John Behan |
| Supervisor of the Town of Southampton | |
| In office 1993–1995 | |
| Member of the Suffolk County Legislature from the 16th district | |
| In office 1987–1993 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 26, 1953 Southampton, New York |
| Political party | Republican (1982-2009) Independence (2009-present) |
| Residence | Sag Harbor, New York |
| Profession | politician |
| Website | Official website |
Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (born August 26, 1953), represents District 2 in the New York State Assembly, a post he has held since 1995.[1] The 2nd Assembly District includes East Hampton, Southampton and the southeastern section of Brookhaven. He is a member of the Independence Party of New York, after switching from the Republican Party in October 2009.
Early life and education
Thiele is a native of Sag Harbor, New York and graduated from Pierson 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 law degree from Albany Law School in 1979 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1980.[1]
Early political career
Thiele began his political career as counsel to former Assemblyman John 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 1982–1987 and 1982-1986 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.
New York Assembly
Elections
- 1995
Republican Governor George Pataki appointed Republican State Representative John Behan to become Director of the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs. Behan resigned from the New York Assembly, leaving a vacant seat. Thiele decided to run for the vacant 2nd district and defeated Democratic nominee Leo Davis 69%-38% in the March 1995 special election.[3]
- 1996
He won re-election to his first full term with 62% of the vote.[4]
- 1998–2006
During this time period, he never won re-election with less than 59% of the vote.
- 2008
He defeated Democratic nominee Michael Pitcher 62%-38%.[5][6]
- 2010
He won re-election for the first time as a member of the Independence Party, defeating Republican nominee Richard A. Blumenthal 59%-41%.[7]
Tenure
Although Thiele had been a lifelong Republican, he has always been somewhat independent-minded. After being elected to the Suffolk County Legislature, he joined the chamber's nine Democrats to elect a Democrat as presiding officer. On October 1, Thiele announced he was joining the Independence Party, saying the Republicans no longer stood for "pocketbook issues." He is seeking permission to caucus with the Democrats; the other Independence Party now former assemblyman, Timothy P. Gordon, also caucused with the Democrats.[8]
Committee assignments
Before his switch, Thiele had been ranking minority member on the Assembly Education Committee and vice chairman of the Assembly Minority Joint Conference Committee.
He currently sits on the House Committee on Education, House Committee on Election Law, House Committee on Environmental Conservation, House Committee on Oversight, House Committee on Transportation, and House Committee on Ways and Means.[9]
Personal life
He currently resides in Sag Harbor.[1] He has a daughter who recently graduated from Colby College and two sons, one living and working in Manchester, New Hampshire, and the other in Brooklyn, New York. The Thiele family are lifelong fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New York Mets and the New York Islanders.
Electoral history
- November 1998 general election, NYS Assembly, 2nd AD[10]
Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (REP - IND) ... 20,795 Margaret A. Eckart (DEM) ... 10,404 Marie F. Mulcahy (CON - RTL) ... 3,549
- November 2000 general election, NYS Assembly, 2nd AD[11]
Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (REP) ... 28,948 Kevin R. Mitchell (DEM - IND) ... 16,585 Marie F. Mulcahy (CON) ... 1,864 Van Buren D. Howell (GRE) ... 710
- November 2002 general election, NYS Assembly, 2nd AD[12]
Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (REP - IND - WOR) ... 23,314 Harriett C. Blossick-Sanchez (DEM) ... 8,625 Patricia A. Guarino (CON) ... 1,142 Robert Colapinto (RTL) ... 763
- November 2004 general election, NYS Assembly, 2nd AD[13]
Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (REP - IND - WOR) ... 33,515 M. Treewolf West (DEM) ... 19,789 Patricia A. Guarino (CON) ... 1,699
- November 2006 general election, NYS Assembly, 2nd AD[14]
- November 2008 general election, NYS Assembly, 2nd AD[15]
- November 2010 general election, NYS Assembly, 2nd AD[16]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Official biography from New York State Assembly web site. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
- ↑ Chinese, Vera (October 10, 2008). "Thiele is seeking reelection on experience". The East Hampton Press.
- ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=185601
- ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=164880
- ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=472279
- ↑ Chinese, Vera (October 30, 2008). "Thiele defeats Pitcher; LaValle wins reelection". The Southampton Press.
- ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=689049
- ↑ Brand, Rick. "Republican Thiele switching to Independence Party". Newsday. October 2, 2009.
- ↑ http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=002&sh=comm
- ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 3, 1998" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 15, 1998. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 7, 2000" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 11, 2000. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 5, 2002" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 2, 2004" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 6, 2004. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 7, 2006" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 14, 2006. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 4, 2008" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 4, 2008. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ↑ "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by |
Suffolk County Legislature, 16th District 1987–1993 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by |
Southampton Town Supervisor 1993–1995 |
Succeeded by |
| New York Assembly | ||
| Preceded by John Behan |
New York State Assembly, 2nd District 1995–present |
Incumbent |