Southampton council member announces run for First Assembly District seat

Southampton Town Council Member Tommy John Schiavoni has announced his candidacy for the Assembly seat long held by Assembly Member Fred Thiele, who said last week he is retiring at the end of his current term, which expires Dec. 31.

Schiavoni, a Sag Harbor native is serving his second term on the Southampton Town Board. A retired teacher, he has served on the Southampton Town Zoning Board of Appeals, the North Haven Village Board and ZBA and the Sag Harbor school board.

“I am running for the New York State Assembly for the same reason that I sought every office thus far, to maintain what is best about our community and make changes for the better where we need them,” Schiavoni said in a press release issued Monday. 

“I understand how people can benefit from good government, and I will use my education and experience in Albany to improve the day to day lives of all East Enders,” he said.

Schiavoni was first elected to the Southampton Town Board in 2017. He was re-elected in 2021. In 2022 he sought the Democratic nomination for State Senate in the First Senate District, polling third in a five-way party primary contest.

The First Assembly District takes in the towns of Southampton, East Hampton, Shelter Island and Southold, as well as a sliver of eastern Brookhaven Town, from the Forge River to the Southampton town line, south of Montauk Highway — an area that takes in much of the hamlets of Center Moriches, East Moriches and Eastport.

So far, no one else has announced a run for the seat this year. In 2022, Peter Ganley of Southold was the Republican candidate for the First Assembly District seat.  Ganley said this morning he is not making another run for the seat this year.

Assembly Member Jodi Giglio (R) is seeking re-election in the Second Assembly District and so far no challenger has stepped forward.

First District State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R) is also seeking re-election. Former County Legislator Sarah Anker (D) has announced her candidacy for the seat.

The Suffolk County Republican Committee is expected to pick a slate of candidates at a meeting tomorrow evening. Suffolk GOP Chairperson Jesse Garcia did not respond to a request for information about candidates being considered.

The Suffolk County Democratic Committee could not be reached for comment.

Candidates may begin gathering signatures on party designating petitions on Feb. 27. Petitions must be filed by April 4. If there are two or more candidates seeking a party’s nomination for the same office, the candidate will be determined in a primary election on June 25.