Suffolk Democrats appear ready to tap Southampton Town Board member Bridget Fleming for an open South Fork legislative seat of term limited Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk).
Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman, met Saturday with Fleming in a bid to keep the second district seat in the majority Democratic caucus. Schaffer sought to enlist the five-year incumbent after trying to get veteran Assemb. Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor) to run.
Fleming, 55, of Noyak, is a former New York city assistant district attorney and was the top vote-getter among town board candidates in her last election in 2011. She lost in 2012 in a race against veteran GOP State Sen. Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson).
Republicans have endorsed Amos Goodman, 31, a financial consultant from Springs. The first-time candidate would be the first openly gay Republican to seek county office on Long Island.
Local Democratic officials, according to party sources, are also talking to former state Energy and Transportion Commissioner James Larocca, 71, about running for Fleming’s town board seat. Larocca, a Sag Harbor resident, was also once Long Island Association president and made an unsuccessful run for governor in 1998.