Libertarian Party of New York

The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971[4] 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 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.

Since 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 up to that point to do so. Several 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 declined to achieve ballot status by this means, although Republican William Weld flirted with the LPNY gubernatorial nomination in 2006.[5]

In 2018, Larry Sharpe, the Libertarian Party nominee for governor that year, finished with over 90,000 votes, the most in the state party's history for a gubernatorial candidate. By surpassing 50,000 votes, the Libertarian Party achieved qualified party status, and thus automatic ballot access, for the first time in its history.[6] The party's membership jumped 25 percent after the qualification.[7]

After it first received write-in votes in 1972 for presidential candidate John Hospers and vice presidential candidate Tonie Nathan (The first female candidate for Vice President to receive an electoral vote), the LPNY has obtained at least 15,000 petition signatures and placed statewide candidates on the ballot in every statewide election between 1974 and 2016, except 1986. These signatures were, by law, collected in a six-week period in mid-July to August (except in 1994, see Schulz v. Williams, 44 F.3d 48 (2d Cir. 1994)).

In the gubernatorial elections, Libertarian candidates included a full slate of the possible statewide candidates: Governor, Lieutenant 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 42 years indicates substantial support in New York State. Nationally, the Libertarian Party has 208,456 voters registered by the respective state boards of election.[8]

The officers of the Libertarian Party of New York are elected annually. In 2018, the party become a ballot-recognized party, and a political entity was created that is recognized under election law. Therefore, the party is current going through a transition as it works to restructure. The officers of both entities are listed.[9][10]

The Libertarian Party of New York contains Local Chapter affiliates, each of which is administered by its own local Libertarian Party; after having attained NYS party status, all affiliate chapters must be associated with a respective county by 2020.

Chapter Officers are elected annually at their own Conventions and serve alongside their state counterparts during the year. The Chairman of each County Chapter is usually the state representative for the County.

Occasionally, local chapters may choose to appoint or elect a State Representative to the LPNY.

As of September 19, 2020:[2]

• Debra Altman -- New York City Education Council, District 75
• Michael Becallo -- Cicero Town Councilor
• Nick Grasso -- Elmira City Council, District 1
• Mark Grozio -- Niagara County Legislator, District 3
• Gavi Hoffman -- West Hempstead School Board
• Ryan Sanders -- Sherman Village Board
• Michael Korchak -- Broome County District Attorney
• Brandon Lyon -- Johnstown Water Board
• Michael Paestella -- Minetto Town Council
• Jame VanDewalker -- Allen Town Clerk

• Bob Schulz's fight for more fair ballot access, November 1994 LP Press Release
• Ballot access in New York State, (written around 1995) by William Kone
• National Libertarian Party website
• Libertarian Party of NY website
• Libertarian Party of Manhattan website
• Nassau County Libertarian Party
• Libertarian Club of New York (independent organization, not formally affiliated with any political party)