Sag Harbor - State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) has filed a complaint with the New York State Board of Elections charging that his opponent Richard Blumenthal has violated the state election law with regard to campaign finance disclosure.

Blumenthal is the duly nominated candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties for State Assembly. He has already expended funds in the pursuit of that office. More importantly, he is soliciting contributions for his candidacy through the Internet. He is asking persons to send checks made out to him personally at his home address.

Blumenthal has failed to establish a political committee for soliciting contributions and making expenditures to support his candidacy. Further, he has failed to file a statement of contributions and expenditures, as required by state law on July 15, 2010.

Thiele stated, "Mr. Blumenthal demonstrates that his hypocrisy knows no bounds. He signed a pledge stating he will be a hero for reform, but his first act as a candidate is to violate a state law that is designed to bring openness, transparency, and public disclosure to the electoral process. He is neither a hero nor a reformer."