Libertarian Party of New York
Encyclopedia
The Libertarian Party of New York is a political party in the United States
active in the state of New York
. It is the recognized affiliate of the national Libertarian Party
.
The Libertarian Party of New York is dedicated to the principle that free people have the right to do anything they please, except to initiate force, the threat of force, or fraud, against other persons or their property. Any law that violates this principle should be repealed. The only moral laws are those designed to protect this principle.
Libertarian Party of New York members currently hold one elective local offices: Dan Halloran
is a member of the New York City Council. Halloran is a registered Republican who was cross-endorsed by the Libertarians.
The Libertarian Party of New York was founded as an unregistered political party in 1970 by Paul and Michael Gilson who became its first people in public office the next year on election to a zoning board in Upstate New York. It helped drive the creation of a national party, and was re-organized in 1972 by a group now centered around Ed Clark, later the Libertarian Party presidential candidate. Its name was changed to the "Free Libertarian Party" when the New York Board of Elections
ruled that the name Libertarian Party would confuse voters with the Liberal Party of New York
. However, the Board of Elections eventually allowed the name "Libertarian Party" to be used. The Statue of Liberty
is their ballot symbol, and they now appear on the ballot as the Libertarian Party.
Starting in 1974, the Libertarian Party of New York has had a candidate for Governor of New York
on the ballot every four years except for 1986, the only party in New York State without official ballot status to do so. Most other minor parties in New York have achieved ballot status through electoral fusion
, endorsing the candidate of a major party. The Libertarian Party of New York calls itself "The Party of Principle" and has so far refused to achieve ballot status by this means, although Republican William Weld flirted with the Libertarian Party nomination in 2006.
After it first received write-in votes in 1972 for Presidential Candidate John Hospers and Vice Presidential Candidate Toni Nathan (The first woman Candidate for Vice-President to receive an electoral vote), the Libertarian Party has obtained at least 15,000 petition signatures
and placed statewide candidates on the ballot in every statewide election between 1974 and 2002, except 1986. These signatures were by law collected in a mere six-week period in mid-July to August (except in 1994, see Schulz v. Williams, 44 F.3d 48 (2d Cir. 1994)). During the
six-week petition period, which is scheduled by the State Legislature, many voters are away from their voting districts on summer vacation. The petition period allotted the New York Libertarian Party excludes petitioning among the crowds of persons celebrating Independence Day
.
In spite of these impediments, in the Gubernatorial Elections, Libertarian candidates included a full slate of the possible statewide candidates: Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, and, when one is up for election: Senator. In the Presidential races, candidates included the full number of Electors for President and Vice President, and when one is up for election, Senator. This regular achievement of statewide ballot status by a full slate of candidates for 29 years indicates substantial support in New York State.
The party has at various times petitioned and placed local candidates on local ballots in New York, such as in the last New York City Mayoral election. Nationally, the Libertarian Party has 208,456 voters registered by the
respective state boards of election. See Richard Wingerâs Ballot Access News (Dec. 1, 2002) at www.ballot-access.org (Click to the December 2002 issue) for a chart of state official registrations as of Oct. 2002 or go to:
http://www.ballot-access.org/2002/1201.html#11.
In Green Party, et al., -vs- NYS Board of Elections, et al., 02-CV-6465 (JG), Judge Gleeson, in his Memorandum at pages 5–6, recognized the anomalous unfairness of using the 50,000 vote threshold in a race for governor, as the sole means to qualify as a recognized party. Indeed, the criterion seems calculated to minimize the possibility of a new party receiving such status. Or the criterion can wipe a small party out, if that party's governor candidate stops running at the wrong time, as happened to the Liberal Party. By Order of Sept. 13, 2003 Judge Gleeson gave voters a right to enroll as Libertarian. He was affirmed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
The major parties have a history of passing laws to disadvantage minor parties in New York. Where three-judge court panel had struck down an election statute on Equal Protection grounds, the New York legislature simply reenacted the provision. Schulz v. Williams, 44 F.3d 48, 60 (2d Cir. 1994).
It should also be noted that though the Libertarian Party has not yet achieved automatic ballot access, several other political parties outside the Democratic and Republican Parties have. Currently, four "third parties" (the Conservative, Independence
, Working Families
and Green) have automatic ballot access, and it is not uncommon to see competitive three-way elections in New York. The first three of those four parties have made extensive use of electoral fusion
and often endorse established candidates from one of the two major parties; the Libertarian Party has historically resisted that strategy and almost never cross-endorses candidates, limiting their opportunity to gain the requisite 50,000 gubernatorial votes. (Other than the Greens, the last political party in New York to have automatic ballot access without significant cross-endorsements was the Right to Life Party, which lost ballot access in 2002.) The party has also been, for the most part, unable to find self-financing candidates, as the Independence Party did with Tom Golisano
in the 1990s, and the candidates the Libertarian Party has put forward have historically had few resources to run a viable statewide campaign. (Gubernatorial candidate Howard Stern
could have been an exception, but he pulled out of his 1994 race due to a dispute over disclosure laws.)
In 2006, Lt. Governor candidate was Donald Silberger.
In 2010, Lt. Governor candidate was Alden Link.
Both gentlemen are in their 80's.
(Remainder of Lt. Governor candidate list needed: vote totals are the same as for Governor)
NOTES:
For lists of Libertarian candidates who have run in NY since 1998, please see: http://ny.lp.org/official/
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
active in the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It is the recognized affiliate of the national Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
.
The Libertarian Party of New York is dedicated to the principle that free people have the right to do anything they please, except to initiate force, the threat of force, or fraud, against other persons or their property. Any law that violates this principle should be repealed. The only moral laws are those designed to protect this principle.
Libertarian Party of New York members currently hold one elective local offices: Dan Halloran
Dan Halloran
Dan Halloran is a Republican member of the New York City Council. He was also endorsed by the Libertarian, Independence and Conservative parties in his 2009 election to the New York City Council. He represents the 19th District, in Queens. Elected on November 3, 2009, he succeeded Tony Avella, who...
is a member of the New York City Council. Halloran is a registered Republican who was cross-endorsed by the Libertarians.
History
The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971 (see http://www.lp.org/organization/history/) on the libertarian principle: that people should be free to do whatever they wish, except to initiate force, the threat of force, or fraud against others or their property. The principle does not preclude retaliatory force, as in the redress of wrongs through courts, and as in the traditional common law of self-defense. National Libertarian Party Members, including the New York Members, have paid $25 per year, and have as a condition of membership signified: "I certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals."The Libertarian Party of New York was founded as an unregistered political party in 1970 by Paul and Michael Gilson who became its first people in public office the next year on election to a zoning board in Upstate New York. It helped drive the creation of a national party, and was re-organized in 1972 by a group now centered around Ed Clark, later the Libertarian Party presidential candidate. Its name was changed to the "Free Libertarian Party" when the New York Board of Elections
New York Board of Elections
The New York Board of Elections may refer to:*The New York State Board of Elections*The New York City Board of Elections...
ruled that the name Libertarian Party would confuse voters with the Liberal Party of New York
Liberal Party of New York
The Liberal Party of New York is a minor American political party that has been active only in the state of New York. Its platform supports a standard set of social liberal policies: it supports right to abortion, increased spending on education, and universal health care.As of 2007, the Liberal...
. However, the Board of Elections eventually allowed the name "Libertarian Party" to be used. The Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
is their ballot symbol, and they now appear on the ballot as the Libertarian Party.
Starting in 1974, the Libertarian Party of New York has had a candidate for Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
on the ballot every four years except for 1986, the only party in New York State without official ballot status to do so. Most other minor parties in New York have achieved ballot status through electoral fusion
Electoral fusion
Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate...
, endorsing the candidate of a major party. The Libertarian Party of New York calls itself "The Party of Principle" and has so far refused to achieve ballot status by this means, although Republican William Weld flirted with the Libertarian Party nomination in 2006.
Ballot access
The Libertarian Party of New York regularly expends great effort in petitioning to get its candidates onto the voting ballot in New York State. Special impediments in NY Election Law are responsible for the relatively slow progress, when compared to the Libertarian Parties in other states.After it first received write-in votes in 1972 for Presidential Candidate John Hospers and Vice Presidential Candidate Toni Nathan (The first woman Candidate for Vice-President to receive an electoral vote), the Libertarian Party has obtained at least 15,000 petition signatures
and placed statewide candidates on the ballot in every statewide election between 1974 and 2002, except 1986. These signatures were by law collected in a mere six-week period in mid-July to August (except in 1994, see Schulz v. Williams, 44 F.3d 48 (2d Cir. 1994)). During the
six-week petition period, which is scheduled by the State Legislature, many voters are away from their voting districts on summer vacation. The petition period allotted the New York Libertarian Party excludes petitioning among the crowds of persons celebrating Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
.
In spite of these impediments, in the Gubernatorial Elections, Libertarian candidates included a full slate of the possible statewide candidates: Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, and, when one is up for election: Senator. In the Presidential races, candidates included the full number of Electors for President and Vice President, and when one is up for election, Senator. This regular achievement of statewide ballot status by a full slate of candidates for 29 years indicates substantial support in New York State.
The party has at various times petitioned and placed local candidates on local ballots in New York, such as in the last New York City Mayoral election. Nationally, the Libertarian Party has 208,456 voters registered by the
respective state boards of election. See Richard Wingerâs Ballot Access News (Dec. 1, 2002) at www.ballot-access.org (Click to the December 2002 issue) for a chart of state official registrations as of Oct. 2002 or go to:
http://www.ballot-access.org/2002/1201.html#11.
In Green Party, et al., -vs- NYS Board of Elections, et al., 02-CV-6465 (JG), Judge Gleeson, in his Memorandum at pages 5–6, recognized the anomalous unfairness of using the 50,000 vote threshold in a race for governor, as the sole means to qualify as a recognized party. Indeed, the criterion seems calculated to minimize the possibility of a new party receiving such status. Or the criterion can wipe a small party out, if that party's governor candidate stops running at the wrong time, as happened to the Liberal Party. By Order of Sept. 13, 2003 Judge Gleeson gave voters a right to enroll as Libertarian. He was affirmed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
The major parties have a history of passing laws to disadvantage minor parties in New York. Where three-judge court panel had struck down an election statute on Equal Protection grounds, the New York legislature simply reenacted the provision. Schulz v. Williams, 44 F.3d 48, 60 (2d Cir. 1994).
It should also be noted that though the Libertarian Party has not yet achieved automatic ballot access, several other political parties outside the Democratic and Republican Parties have. Currently, four "third parties" (the Conservative, Independence
Independence Party of New York
The Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
, Working Families
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
and Green) have automatic ballot access, and it is not uncommon to see competitive three-way elections in New York. The first three of those four parties have made extensive use of electoral fusion
Electoral fusion
Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate...
and often endorse established candidates from one of the two major parties; the Libertarian Party has historically resisted that strategy and almost never cross-endorses candidates, limiting their opportunity to gain the requisite 50,000 gubernatorial votes. (Other than the Greens, the last political party in New York to have automatic ballot access without significant cross-endorsements was the Right to Life Party, which lost ballot access in 2002.) The party has also been, for the most part, unable to find self-financing candidates, as the Independence Party did with Tom Golisano
Tom Golisano
Blase Thomas Golisano is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder of Paychex, the second-largest payroll processor in the United States and former co-owner of the Buffalo Sabres hockey team and of the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team...
in the 1990s, and the candidates the Libertarian Party has put forward have historically had few resources to run a viable statewide campaign. (Gubernatorial candidate Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
could have been an exception, but he pulled out of his 1994 race due to a dispute over disclosure laws.)
Governor
| Year | Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Jerome Tuccille | 10,503 |
| 1978 | Gary Greenberg | 18,990 |
| 1982 | John Northrup | 16,913 |
| 1990 | Gary Johnson | 24,611 |
| 1994 | Robert Schulz | 9,506 |
| 1998 | Christopher Garvey | 4,722 |
| 2002 | Scott Jeffrey | 5,013 |
| 2006 | John Clifton | 15,068 |
| 2010 | Warren Redlich | 48,386 |
In 2006, Lt. Governor candidate was Donald Silberger.
In 2010, Lt. Governor candidate was Alden Link.
Both gentlemen are in their 80's.
(Remainder of Lt. Governor candidate list needed: vote totals are the same as for Governor)
Attorney General
| Year | Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Daniel A. Conti | 19,202 |
| 2002 | Dan Conti | 23,213 |
| 2006 | Chris Garvey | 29,413 |
| 2010 | Carl Person | 36,547 |
Comptroller
| Year | Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | James Eisert | 19,235 |
| 2006 | John J. Cain | 40,472 |
| 2010 | John Gaetani | 27,485 |
U.S. Senate
| Year | Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Norma Segal | 108,530 |
| 1994 | William P. McMillen | 8,223 |
| 2000 | John Clifton | 4,734 |
| 2004 | Donald Silberger | 19,093 |
| 2006 | Jeff Russell | 15,929 |
| 2010 | Randy A. Credico | 25,975^^ |
| 2010^ | John Clifton | 17,872 |
NOTES:
- ^special electionBy-electionA by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
- ^^Includes votes Credico earned on the Anti-Prohibition Party line. It is impossible to determine separate vote tallies for each line due to the fact that some jurisdictions conflated both of Credico's ballot lines onto one space on the ballot.
Electors for U.S. President
| Year | Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Ed Clark | 52,648 |
| 1996 | Harry Browne | 12,220 |
| 2000 | Harry Browne | 7,649 |
| 2004 | Michael Badnarik | 11,607 |
| 2008 | Bob Barr | 19,513 |
New York City candidates in 2005
- Audrey Silk for Mayor 3,105 .25%
- Jim Lesczynski for Public Advocate 17,034 2.22%
- Ron Moore for Comptroller 12,629 1.67%
- Joseph Dobrian for Manhat. Boro Pres. 2,891 1.17%
- Gary PopkinGary PopkinGary S. Popkin is a retired Professor of Computer Systems at New York City College of Technology and is a Libertarian activist. He has written several college textbooks on the Cobol Programming Language. He has a Ph.D. from Polytechnic University...
for Brooklyn Boro Pres. 2,143 .82% - Claudia Flanagan for City Council D. 2 643 2.59%
- Jak Karako for City Council - Dist. 4 358 1.03%
- Thomas Ruks for City Council - Dist. 22 352 2.26%
Statewide candidates in 2010
- Warren RedlichWarren RedlichWarren Redlich is a lawyer and politician from Guilderland, New York. In 2004 and 2006, Redlich ran for US Congress for the 21st District of New York State as a Republican. In 2005, he briefly served as the Political Director of the Libertarian Party of New York. He is currently a town councilman...
for Governor - Alden Link for Lieutenant Governor
- John Gaetani for Comptroller
- Carl Person for Attorney General
- Randy CredicoRandy CredicoRandy Credico , is an American political comedian and activist and the former Director of the . Once active on the comedy circuit, including an appearance on the Tonight Show at age 27, he began a seven year campaign against New York state's Rockefeller drug laws, which he thought were too harsh,...
for U.S. Senate (regular election) - John Clifton for U.S. Senate (special election)
For lists of Libertarian candidates who have run in NY since 1998, please see: http://ny.lp.org/official/