NY Governor Candidates

The final ballot for New York Governor is:

A New York state court removed Steven Cohn from the New York ballot. He had filed to be on the November ballot as the gubernatorial candidate of the Tea Party.

As a result, there are seven candidates for Governor on the ballot:

Andrew Cuomo (DEM-Democrat, IND-Independence, WOR-Working Families)

Carl Paladino (REP-Republican, CON-Conservative, TXP-Taxpayers)

Howie Hawkins (GRN-Green)

Jimmy McMillan (RDH-Rent is 2 Damn High)

Warren Redlich (LBT-Libertarian)

Kristin Davis (APP-Anti-Prohibition)

Charles Barron (FDM-Freedom)

This is the first year New York will use an optical scan ballot. In some counties the party is shown from top to bottom. In New York City it is from left to right. The order of the parties will be:

Democratic
Republican
Independence
Conservative
Working Families
Green
Rent is 2 Damn High
Libertarian
Anti-Prohibition
Freedom
Taxpayers

NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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NY Mayor Now Woos Political Parties

From February 19, 2009 article in the New York Times by MICHAEL BARBARO:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has denounced political parties as a "swamp of dysfunction," has bankrolled a campaign to eliminate them from the New York City elections and has dismissively cast off his own party affiliations like ill-fitting garments. (Democrat? Been there. Republican? Done that.)

But now, in what may rank as the most humbling experience of his mayoralty, Mr. Bloomberg is pleading with those same scorned parties to put his name on their ballot lines this fall, dispatching aides to apologize for past offenses and arguing that he cannot win re-election without their support.

Mr. Bloomberg faces the unenviable prospect of running without the backing of a major party, something no victorious candidate for mayor has pulled off in the last half century. Even if he spent the money to create his own party, his name would appear in what one Republican operative called "ballot Siberia," about six rows over to the right — traditionally home to the Socialist Workers and Marijuana Reform Parties, a potential turnoff to voters.

Bradley Tusk, Mr. Bloomberg's campaign manager, has visited the West Village home of two founding members of the Independence Party, Fred Newman and Jackie S. Salit. According to Mr. Newman, Mr. Tusk's message was, "We don't think the campaign can make it without the Independence Party."

Under NY city's election system, a candidate can appear on multiple ballot lines, improving the odds of capturing votes. To run on a party's ballot line, a candidate must secure support of three of a party's five county committees (for the Independence Party you need the majority vote of the five Borough Executive Committee members). If Mr. Bloomberg does not secure a party line, he will be forced to collect 7,500 signatures to get on the ballot.

Last year, Mr. Bloomberg and his aides stepped into a messy battle between factions of the Independence Party. In a risky move, they sided with the state party chairman, Frank MacKay — a Bloomberg presidential booster — who tried to oust the party's leadership in New York City.

But a series of court cases left the city's party leaders in power and livid with Mr. Bloomberg. In interviews, at least three of the Independence Party's five county leaders expressed objections to nominating the mayor, even as they praised his record in office. "He regarded us as a group of people he needed, could use, and then he could walk away from," Mr. Newman said.

This year, both the Independence and Working Families Parties may end up nominating a Democrat, said people briefed on the situation. One Democratic mayoral candidate, William C. Thompson Jr., has already approached the Independence Party, according to party members.

Use the above link to read the entire article.

Use these links to read more about New York City/State Politics

Villiage Voice Blog
The New York Observer
The New York Times City Room
Newsday
NY1

Michael H. Drucker
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NY Mayoral Race Update

Thanks to Ballet Access News for this:

A New York Daily News story of February 9 says Mayor Mike Bloomberg still has bleak prospects for winning the nomination of any of the state’s ballot-qualified parties. The story quotes the Mayor as saying at this point he has no idea how he will run for re-election. If he petitions as an independent candidate, he will be at the bottom of a confusingly laid-out ballot. It is always possible he could file a lawsuit, and potentially win that lawsuit, that the Constitution requires a random order of candidates on the ballot. Such lawsuits have won in the 7th circuit, the 8th circuit, and in U.S. District Courts in New Mexico and Oklahoma, as well as in the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

Since New York State has not finalized its new voting machines, the ballot format is still up-in-the-air.

Stories state he needs three of the five County Chairs to get acceptance to appear on a party line. As a member of the Executive Committee of the Independence Party Manhattan County, the entire Executive members of all five boroughs will decide who will appear on our line and if we will require a primary.

Michael H. Drucker
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New York Bill to Double Vote Requirement for “Party” Status

From Ballot Access News:

New York Assemblymember J. Gary Pretlow (D-Mt. Vernon) has introduced A2681, to change the definition of “political party” from a group that polled 50,000 votes for Governor, to a group that polled 100,000 votes for Governor. Assemblymember Pretlow has been in the legislature since 1992 and is a member of the Puerto Rican and Black Caucus.

The New York definition of “political party” is already constitutionally suspect. New York and Indiana are the only states in which it is impossible for a group to attain status as a “political party” during presidential election years. Also, New York is one of eleven states in which it is impossible for a group to transform itself into a qualified party in advance of any particular election.

WE NEED TO STOP THIS!

Michael H. Drucker
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