Winding up 30 years in the state legislature and a 45-year public service career, Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. announced he will not seek reelection in November. Having served as an elected official for 37 years, Thiele successfully ran for public office 19 times and represented Suffolk’s East End in the assembly longer than anyone in history.
“Government service was my dream from my days as a student in elementary school in Sag Harbor when I heard the call of President John F. Kennedy to ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ Being chosen by my neighbors to be their representative has truly been the greatest honor of my professional life,” said Thiele, who ran as an Independent, but caucused with the Democrats. “I now look forward to other opportunities to serve the community that has been home to my family for almost two hundred years.”
The assemblyman, 70, noted many victories and achievements over his years in government, singling out the creation of the Peconic Bay Community Preservation Fund to help protect the East End’s natural resources as one of his greatest achievements. “There have been many successes that have kept eastern Long Island a special place,” he said. “It has been a privilege to have the opportunity to shape the future of our community and to work with others to achieve goals that are larger than ourselves. That has been one of the rewards of public service.”
Noting that the greatest reward of his career was the people and relationships he made along the way, Thiele reminisced, “What I will remember most is the people with which I have had the chance to work or the opportunity to help as a public official. I have been enriched by each of you. It is what defines the East End. There have been thousands of you throughout the years. Still, I must give a special mention to Kevin McDonald from the Nature Conservancy. We started our professional careers at the same time and have worked together on so many important community issues over the years.”
The Community Preservation Fund authorized five towns in the Peconic Region to establish dedicated accounts, financed by a 2% real estate transfer tax, for land preservation and water quality protection. Since its enactment 20 years ago, the fund has generated more than $1.4 billion and resulted in the preservation of more than 10,000 acres of sensitive lands.
The assemblyman, who also served as Southampton Town supervisor and a Suffolk legislator, said he “will always be indebted to my predecessor, the late John Behan who gave me the chance to come home and begin my professional life. A true American hero, John’s life was an example to all on what it means to be a leader.” He also thanked Coach Vishno and Steve Petras at Pierson, and professor Don Baker at Southampton College.
“I had the chance to serve with former state Senator Ken LaValle in Albany for 25 years,” Thiele continued. “He is the definition of a statesman. I cherish the special bond we developed through the years that transcended government and politics.” He thanked his family for the role they played in his public service career, remembering the inspiration he drew from dinner table political discussions with his dad and his mother’s determination that her kids have a better life. “My wife, Nancy Lynn, my children, grandchildren, and my sister continue to be my source of strength.” He also highlighted Denise McRedmond from his district office and Lisa Lombardo in Albany “who have been the MVPs of Team Thiele for so many years.” He thanked Joann Scalia with whom he worked in collaboration with Senators LaValle and Anthony Palumbo. “It often seemed like we had two offices, but only one staff.”
The 45-year government official concluded: “At the end of this year, I will close this chapter of my life. I look forward to new beginnings. There will be new challenges and new ways to serve. Endings and beginnings are bittersweet. I am guided by the advice of Dr. Seuss. ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.’”
A 1971 Pierson alumnus, Thiele attended Cornell University and is a 1976 graduate of Southampton College of Long Island University, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and History. In 1979, he received a law degree from Albany Law School. His government service career began in 1975 after he was selected by his college to participate in an Assembly intern program. Upon graduation from law school, he became counsel to Assemblyman Behan, serving in that capacity until 1982. From there, he became the Southampton Town Attorney and then was elected to the Suffolk Legislature, where he enacted legislation that nominated Peconic Bay and Gardiners Bay for the National Estuary Program. In 1991, Thiele was elected as an Independent to serve as Southampton Town Supervisor before moving over to the assembly, where he is finishing out his 13th term.