The Libertarian Party of New York (LPNY; also known as the Free Libertarian Party of New York) is the affiliate of the Libertarian Party in the U.S. state of New York. Due to changes in New York State election law in 2020, the Libertarian Party lost its ballot status. 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 live the way they please, except to initiate force, the threat of force, or fraud, against other persons or their property.
History The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971 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.
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 had achieved qualified party status, and ballot access, for the first time in its history. The party's membership jumped 25 percent after the qualification. However, the Libertarian Party lost its ballot status line in 2020 due to a change in New York State election law that is still under litigation.
Ballot access 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. Under the change in New York State election law, the Libertarian Party lost its status as one of the Qualified New York political parties. Nationally, the Libertarian Party has 208,456 voters registered by the respective state boards of election.Winger, Richard (Dec. 1, 2002) "2002 October Registration Totals", ''Ballot Access News.
Leadership 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.
Position Name Chair Duane Whitmer Vice-Chair Daniel Castello Secretary Andrew Kolstee Treasurer Chance Haywood Communications Director Christopher Skelly Fundraising Director Mark Axinn IT Director Justin Carman Legislative Affairs Director Rich Purtell Outreach Director Pietro Geraci Political Director Paul Grindle Volunteer Director Catrina Rocco
Past leadership Past Officers Chair Vice Chair Secretary Treasurer Edward E. "Ed" Clark (1972) Jerome J. Klasman (1972–1973) Andrea Millen (1973–1974) Raymond Strong (1974–1975) Gary Greenberg (1975–1976) John Deane (1976) Ann Weill (1976–1977) Carl Hastings (1977–1978) Thomas Frederick (1978) Charles Steber (1978–1979) Gary Greenberg (1979–1983) John Francis (1983–1985) Bill McMillen (1985–1989) Norma Segal (1989–1990) Fran Poretto (1990) Kevin Delany (1990–1991) W. Gary Johnson (1991–1992) Ludwig Vogel (1992–1994) Gail Bova (1994–1995) Blay Tarnoff (1995–1996) Lloyd Wright (1996–1998) Jim Harris (1998–1999) David Harnett (1999–2000) Richard Cooper (2000–2002) Albert Dedicke (2002) Jak Karako (2002–2003) John Clifton (2003–2006) Richard Cooper (2006–2007) Jeff Russell (2007–2008) Eric Sundwell (2008–2009) Chris Edes (2009–2010) Mark Axinn (2010–2015) Mark Glogowski (2015–2018) Jim Rosenbeck (2018–2020) Anthony D'Orazio (2020) W. Cody Anderson (2020–2022) Andrew Kolstee (2022–2024) Howie Rich (1973–1974) Raymond Strong (1973–1974) Bill Lawry (1974–1975) Mike Nichols (1974–1975) Charles Blood (1975–1976) Susan Corkery (1975–1976) Don Feder (1976) Ann Weill (1976) Carl Hastings (1976–1977) Roger Eisenberg (1976–?) Michael Kessler (1977–?) Carolyn Keelen (1977–?) Charles Steber (1978–1983) Robert Cassella (1978–1979) Jesse Cardillo (1979–1981) Jorge Cordina (1981–1982) Judith Jones (1982–1983) Dottie-Lou Brokaw (1983–1986) Reed Halstead (1983–1984) Bill McMillen (1984–1985) Tom Lowry (1985–1986) Dottie-Lou Brokaw (1987–1988) Tom Lowry (1987–1988) Fran Porretto (1989–1990) Kevin Delaney (1990–1991) Douglas Greene (1990–1991) Dottie-Lou Brokaw (1991–1993) Joseph Brennan (1992–1995) Dottie-Lou Brokaw (1994–1997) Jim Harris (1995–1996) Audrey Capozzi (1996–2002) Blay Tarnoff (1997–2002) Jak Karako (2002) Vince O'Neill (2002–2003) Bonnie Scott (2003–2004) Thomas Ruks (2003–2004) Richard Cooper (2004–2005) Stephen Healy (2004–2005) Bonnie Scott (2005–2006) Thomas Ruks (2005–2006) M Carling (2006–2008) Joseph Dobrian (2006–2007) Chris Garvey (2007–2008) Mark Axinn (2008–2010) Chris Edes (2008–2009) Joseph Dobrian (2009–2010) Audrey Capozzi (2010–2013) Donald Silberger (2010–2011) Richard Cooper (2011–2012) Chris Padgett (2012–2016) Gigi Bowman (2012–2013) Phil Ricci (2014–2015) Jim Rosenbeck (2015–2018) Brian Waddell (2016–2019) Shawn Hannon (2017–2019) Tucker Coburn (2019–2020) Anthony D'Orazio (2019–2020) Steve Minogue (2020) Anthony D'Orazio (2020–2022) Duane Whitmer (2020–2024) Rich Purtell (2022–2024) Mike Nichols (1973–1974) Lee Schubert (1974–1975) Murrell de France (1975) Martin E. Nixon (1975–1976) Louis J. Sicilia (1977–1978) Fred Cookinham (1978–1980) Carol Moore (1980–1981) Charles Kiessling (1982–1983) Christine Gopalan (1984) Dawn Davis (1984–1986; 1987–88) Wheatley Bergen (1988–1989) John Karr (1989–1990) Martin Solomon (1990–1991) Gail Bova (1992–1994) Lloyd Wright (1994–1996) Eric Gruber (1996–1997) David Harnett (1997–1998) Caryn Cohen (1998–2002) Bonnie Scott (2002–2003) Catherine Ruks (2003–2004) Bonnie Scott (2004–2005) Blay Tarnoff (2005–2007) Joseph Dobrian (2007–2009) M Carling (2009–2010) Brian DeMarzo (2010–2011) Blay Tarnoff (2011–2019) Fred Cole (2019–2020) Andrew Kolstee (2020–2022) Mark Braiman (2022–2024) Jerome J. Klasman (1973–1974) Dolores Grande (1974–1976) Peter Wilson (1976–1978) Wilbur Wong (1978–1980) Ira Gottlieb (1980–1983) Bill Stocker (1983–1991) Steve LaBianca (1992–1993) Pam Haberkorn (1993–1994) Audrey Capozzi (1994–1996) Jim Harris (1996–1998) John Ayling (1998–1999) John Clifton (1999–2002) Bill McMillen (2002–2003) Werner Hetzer (2003–2006) Gary Popkin (2006–2009) Sean Sherman (2009–2010) Gary Triestman (2010–2016) Mike Dowden (2016–2019) Cruger Gallaudet (2019) Lora Newell (2019–2022) W. Cody Anderson (2022–2024)
Listed local affiliates The Libertarian Party of New York contains local county affiliates, each of which is administered by its own local Libertarian Party. County officers are elected in accordance with their rules.
County Website ChairChautauquaChautauqua County Libertarian PartyAndrew KolsteeChemungNick GrassoColumbiaColumbia County Libertarian PartyScott HoskinsDutchessRobert CocomelloErieErie County Libertarian PartyDuane WhitmerKings (Brooklyn)Libertarian Party of BrooklynChristopher SkellyMadisonMark BraimanMonroeMonroe County Libertarian PartySteven BeckerNassauNassau County Libertarian PartyBlay TarnoffJonathan GuntherNew York (Manhattan)Libertarian Party of ManhattanChance HaywoodOneidaKeith RedheadOnondagaOnondaga County Libertarian PartyRachel BeckerQueensLibertarian Party of QueensJohn CliftonRichmond (Staten Island)Libertarian Party of Staten IslandSusan Overeem-CummingsSaratogaNaz GarabedianSuffolkSuffolk County Libertarian PartyRobert SchuonUlsterUlster County Libertarian PartySam KniffenWayneJim DaytonWestchester-PutnamRajib Maitra
Manhattan Libertarian Party The Manhattan Libertarian Party (MLP) is a chapter of the Libertarian Party of New York established in 2000.
The Manhattan LP was the host chapter of the 2012 Libertarian Party of New York convention, held January 21, 2012. The convention was attended by several candidates seeking the national Libertarian Party's presidential nomination, including former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson and New York attorney Carl E. Person.
Candidates endorsed in the 2008 election endorsed by MLP Bob Barr for President of the United States Isaiah Matos for US Congress, New York's 14th congressional district Susan Overeem for US Congress, New York's 13th congressional district Bill Buran for New York State Assembly District 72 Nic Leobold for New York State Assembly District 66
Sam Sloan and the Manhattan madam Kristin M. Davis both sought the Libertarian Party nomination for Governor of New York State. Andrew Clunn sought to be nominated for Lieutenant Governor, Carl Person sought the nomination for Attorney General. John Clifton sought the nomination for US Senate, and Michel Faulkner sought the nomination for US Congress from the 15th Congressional District previously held by Charles Rangel.
Libertarian Party of Queens County The Libertarian Party of Queens County, formerly known as the "Queens Libertarian Party" led by Tom Stevens (politician), is the local affiliate of the LPNY for the Queens county-borough in the City of New York. The chapter was known for whipping up candidates for public office until 2010 when Blay Tarnoff hijacked the party and passed a surprise motion to decertify the chapter.