Fred is a lifelong resident of Sag Harbor, where he lives with his wife NancyLynn. He is a 1971 graduate of Pierson High School, attended Cornell University and is a 1976 graduate of Southampton College of Long Island University. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in Political Science and History. In 1979, he received his law degree from Albany Law School. In 1980, he was admitted to the Bar in the State of New York.
Fred began his career in government service in 1975 after he was selected by his college to participate in the New York State Assembly Intern Program. Upon graduation from law school in 1979, he became counsel to then Assemblyman John Behan of Montauk. He served in that capacity until 1982.
From 1982 to 1987, Fred was Southampton Town Attorney, where he was the Town’s chief legal officer and was involved in the implementation of open space and environmental zoning and land preservation programs.
In November 1987, Fred was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature. As a Legislator, he chaired the Energy and Environment Committee and enacted legislation that nominated Peconic Bay and Gardiners Bay for the National Estuary Program.
In November 1991, he was elected as an independent to serve as Southampton Town Supervisor. Under his leadership, the Town decreased taxes for three consecutive years, bringing much needed stability to the Town's finances. He enacted several important initiatives including open space preservation, affordable housing, environmental protection, comprehensive long-term planning, economic development, and government reform.
In 1995, Fred was elected to the New York State Assembly to fill the seat vacated by Assemblyman John Behan in District 1. This district includes the Towns of East Hampton, Southampton, Shelter Island, southeastern Brookhaven, and Southold.
Fred is Chairman of the Assembly Local Governments Committee and serves on the following Assembly Committees: Rules, Environmental Conservation, Oversight, Analysis and Investigation, and Transportation. He is also a member of the Assembly Majority Steering Committee.
Fred has served nearly 30 years in the New York State Assembly, where he has achieved numerous accomplishments, including legislation which created the Peconic Bay Community Preservation Fund Act (CPF). This groundbreaking legislation authorized the five towns in the Peconic Region to establish dedicated funds, financed by a 2% real estate transfer tax for land preservation and water quality protection. Since its enactment 26 years ago by public referendum, the fund has generated billions of dollars and has resulted in the preservation of tens of thousands of acres of sensitive land.
Other environmental initiatives have included State funds for improving water quality, Peconic Bay and South Shore Estuary projects, farmland preservation, and state acquisition of critical environmental parcels.
Fred has also been very involved in transportation issues including the establishment of the South Fork Commuter Connection, the region’s first multi-modal commuter system providing an alternative to traffic congestion, as well as focusing on affordable housing. During the 2019 Session, the Legislature passed his bill to permit the Peconic Bay region towns to establish Community Housing Funds, which would generate up to $20 million annually to provide financial assistance and new housing opportunities for residents.
Fred continues his efforts to insure fiscal responsibility at all levels of government. He has supported successful initiatives to reduce income taxes and was an original proponent of the STAR program to reduce school taxes.
