In 2014, Rob Astorino, the Republican Party's Nominee in that year's Gubernatorial Election, Petitioned to create the “Stop Common Core Party,” a Single-Issue Ballot Line designed to declare Opposition to the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Under New York State Law, the Stop Common Core Party would qualify to Automatically appear on the Ballot for every Election through 2018 if it received at least 50,000 Votes in the Gubernatorial Election, a Threshold it narrowly achieved despite Astorino's overall Loss.
On February 17th, 2015, Astorino announced he would change the name of the State Party to the "Reform Party" to broaden its appeal beyond a single issue.
On January 12th, 2016, Bill C. Merrell, Ph.D. was Elected the Chair of the National Reform Party.
The National Reform Party lost Control of the State Party in September 2016 when Curtis Sliwa and Frank Morano led a Coup of the Party, installing Sliwa as Chairman.
Merrell Sued to Invalidate the Coup but lost. It is currently under Appeal. The original decision from Albany-based Supreme Court Justice Christina Ryba Dismissed this Suit. Much of her Order was based on Technical Grounds, but she also argued that the fundamental Logic behind the Challenge was “flawed in several regards.”
"We're appealing it," Merrell said. "We feel the decision has no basis in law." Currently, an Appeal has been filed as to Supreme Court Justice Christina Ryba's decision.
The Sliwa Faction attempted to have the Appeal Dismissed, and their attempt Failed. The Appeal went Forward on November 20th, 2017 to the Appellate Court.
The name REFORM PARTY is owned by the National Reform Party, and, in the event the Court Rules in the Sliwa Factions favor we will immediately Demand they change the Name, since they have already Rejected the idea to work with the National Reform Party which has already Won in Federal Court in 2009, when the Independence Party attempted to take over the Party. Said Merrell.
The Battle for Control of the New York State Reform Party has taken a hard left turn into the bizarre.
More than a year after a State Supreme Court Judge in Albany ruled that a band of rogues led by Guardian Angels Founder Curtis Sliwa had taken Control of the Minor Party and Legally changed Rules to, among other things, open otherwise Closed Primaries to Unaffiliated Voters, last month Appellate Judges Dismissed an Appeal from National Reform Leadership.
The Dismissal came on Technical grounds that while Sliwa’s Group had Won a Judgement in their favor, they never properly Filed the Judgement with the Albany County Clerk’s Office. Thus, if No Judgement is on Record, there can be No Appeal of that Judgement.
As of late last week, neither side seemed ready to back off their Claims to Party Leadership.
Sliwa said in a Statement that the party showed during the 2017 Elections that “we would no longer be just a rubberstamp for the Republican Party.” “We now look forward to reforming state government as a whole, including both sides of the political aisle as we face the upcoming 2018 elections,” He said.
But National Reform Party Chairman Bill Merrell, who wants the State Chapter to Realign with the National, intends to go to the State Board of Elections contending that because of the Judgment Filing Error, by default he should take over the Party.
What happens next is murky.
If Sliwa still is Recognized as Party Leader, Merrell could start his Lawsuit all over again.
Or, Merrell said he Plans to have enforced a previous Federal Court Order giving Control of the Reform name to the National Party.
If Sliwa’s Party isn’t Affiliated with Merrell’s Reform Party, Merrell wants the Name changed.
As of Nov. 1, 2017, the New York Reform Party has 1,586 Active Registered Members, and the State has 11,546,694 Total Active Registered Voters.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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