Fred W. Thiele Jr., who has represented the East End in the New York State Assembly for nearly 30 years, leaves enormous shoes to fill in not seeking re-election this year. Looking to succeed him are Tommy John Schiavoni, a Democratic and Working Families candidate who lives on North Haven, and Stephen Kiely, a Republican and Conservative candidate from Mattituck.
Mr. Thiele himself has endorsed Mr. Schiavoni in this race, calling him the candidate with "the temperament, maturity, and leadership skills needed to get things done." And now we echo Mr. Thiele's endorsement with one of our own. We believe Mr. Schiavoni, a former government and history teacher who now serves on the Southampton Town Board, is the right candidate to maintain continuity even as Mr. Thiele departs office having set an impossibly high standard for elected officials. Mr. Schiavoni's track record in office in Southampton Town is largely one we can get behind.
There's one caveat. Many voters in the Sag Harbor School District still hold a grudge against Mr. Schiavoni owing to his less-than-fully-supportive stance on the school district's attempt to purchase four vacant properties on Marsden Street back in 2023. Because of these lingering salty feelings, some in the district are encouraging people to write in "Tommy John Marsden" for Assembly. It feels kind of petty, when all other things at stake in the State Legislature are considered, to continue letting Marsden Street divide a community this way. To those who feel the need to send a message this way, we say: Let this be the final expression of your displeasure. It's time to move forward.