Hampton Bays Resident Jeremy Brandt Set To Challenge Fred Thiele In November Election

Jeremy Brandt, 36, a Sag Harbor native and resident of Hampton Bays, has been tapped to challenge 2nd District State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. in November’s election.

Mr. Brandt was endorsed this week by both the Suffolk County Republican Party and the Suffolk County Conservative Party, of which he has been a member since 1994, he said Tuesday. Due to redistricting, the 2nd District seat will become the 1st District starting in January.

Mr. Brandt, who lives with his wife, Melissa, and his son, Bradley, 2, owns and operates a small plumbing corporation called Brandt Plumbing. He graduated from Pierson High School in 1994. It is his first time running for public office.

He said he wants to bring the voice of the local people to the Assembly.

“If you spend so much time in Albany, you lose touch,” Mr. Brandt said. “There is no way not to. My generation’s voice needs to be heard.”

After working under Donald Scarlato as a plumbing contractor for 12 years, Mr. Brandt launched his own plumbing firm and has been in business since. He said that experience, along with his experience working with pool companies when he was younger, has taught him the difficulties of the small business world and can help him better represent the people of the Assembly district, which encompasses the entire South Fork of Long Island and a portion of Brookhaven Town. His wife works for Prudential Real Estate and waitresses part time. Mr. Brandt said they moved to Hampton Bays six years ago after it became difficult for them to afford living in Sag Harbor.

“I am the district,” Mr. Brandt said. “I’m the small painting company, the small electric company, the small contractors. I live that every day to try to make ends meet, and it’s harder and harder. I have to do my best for people like us.”

Suffolk County Conservative Party Chairman Edward M. Walsh Jr. called Mr. Brandt a great conservative.

“In this day and age, when taxes and spending are out of control, who better to go to Albany and try to fix that mess?” Mr. Walsh said of Mr. Brandt’s candidacy. “He’s an energetic, bright young guy, and we’re hoping he does really well.”

Mr. Thiele has held the Assembly seat since 1995. Neither he nor Suffolk County Republican Party Chairman John Jay LaValle returned calls seeking comment.