This week, Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (D-Sag Harbor) announced that he has been re-appointed by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to be the Chairman of the Assembly Standing Committee on Local Governments. Thiele has been serving in this position since 2018.

The Local Governments Committee considers legislative remedies to address the needs of New York State’s local governments, including counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts, fire districts and various other special districts and local agencies. Local issues addressed in this committee in the past have included the Peconic Bay region septic system replacement loan program, water quality improvement projects, as well as matters related to Industrial Development Agency (IDA) reforms, municipal transparency, housing and benefits for volunteer ambulance workers and volunteer firefighters.

Assemblyman Thiele’s decades of experience in local government make him aptly qualified for this position. As Southampton Attorney and later Southampton Town Supervisor, he was involved in numerous town initiatives including open space, environmental conservation, transportation, affordable housing, economic development and government reform. He also served in the Suffolk County Legislature. Thiele was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1995 and has been re-elected to the Assembly ever since. Before chairing the Local Governments Committee, Thiele served as the Chair of the Assembly Small Business and Libraries and Educational Technology committees.

Assemblyman Thiele said, “Local governments play a critical role in the daily lives of their residents. It is an honor to be re-appointed as part of the new Assembly leadership team and I am thankful to Speaker Heastie for entrusting me with this major responsibility. From law enforcement and fire protection to schools, public water and economic growth, the issues we are facing across the state and on Long Island are extremely relevant to this committee and I will keep working knowing that these issues are a top priority for our local governments. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues to achieve meaningful results for the people of New York and of the 1^st Assembly District.”