NY Women’s Equality Party Picks Interim Chair

Gov. Cuomo's campaign launched the Women's Equality Party last year as it sought to court women voters and use Republican foe Rob Astorino's pro-life stance against him.

More than 50,000 voters cast their ballot for Cuomo on this third-party line, giving it permanent status on New York ballots for the next four years and requiring it to set up a party infrastructure.

Officials filed paperwork to make Barbara Fiala the interim chair of the new Women’s Equality Party July 2, 2016.

Fiala, who was DMV commissioner during Cuomo's first term, will serve as chair of the group as it transitions from a ballot line to a full-fledged political party, according to a document filed Thursday with the State Board of Elections.

Prior to her time in Cuomo's administration, Fiala was the first female to serve as Broome County executive and clerk. She stepped down from her DMV post at the end of 2014.

Fiala's new position is unpaid.

"I have always been involved in women’s issues, especially salary inequities," Fiala said Thursday. "It’s an opportunity to use my expertise."

UPDATE
A technical glitch has emerged in the formation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Women’s Equality Party that could open the new found political organization to legal challenges if it seeks to operate in next year’s elections.

Gov. Cuomo and LG Kathy Hochul, both of whom ran on the WEP line last fall, signed the documents, which is where the trouble starts.

A spokesman for the state Board of Elections confirmed that Section 6-128, Subdivision 4 of the state Election Law requires a “majority” of the candidates who ran on a party’s line agree on the rules of that party.

AG Eric Schneiderman and state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli also ran on the WEP line last year, but neither of their signatures appear on the documents on file with the board.

Spokespeople for both the AG and the comptroller confirmed that neither had signed off on the WEP’s rules and interim leadership, but declined to provide any additional information, like whether they had been formally asked to sign, or why they decided not to.

It would take three signatures, not two, to constitute a majority of WEP candidates. So, technically speaking, the party’s rules and structure are not legal.

CLICK HERE to read the filed document.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker