Leigh Pollet and Nicholas Hensley issue joint statement
Our dear friends in New York and across the United States,
The recent events in New York are absurd. We can almost picture former, disgraced governor Andrew Cuomo laughing like a comic book villain, as numerous small parties ceased to exist. His actions were an egotistical power play that illustrated perfectly his point: If you don’t align with the political establishment, I can destroy your organization with the stroke of a pen.
All at once every minor party was purged, except for those that exist exclusively to endorse Democratic and Republican candidates. During this unconstitutional power play, numerous long existing political parties were destroyed, including the Independent Party of New York, the Libertarian Party of New York, and the Green Party of New York. The changes also keep other parties like the Reform Party or the Forward Party from qualifying for ballot access.
It is an utter, malice violation of all New Yorkers’ right to assemble. Now New Yorkers only have the right to assemble if they agree with the left and right extremes. To hell with that.
Now you are sitting there asking yourself, “what is Nicholas Hensley and Leigh Pollet rambling about this time?”
A little bit ago, Democratic lawmakers submitted a budget from Andrew Cuomo’s office. This bill was supposed to lay out the fiscal priorities of the State of New York and pay for services. Cuomo’s staff however added to it a “ballot access reform measure” that doubled the requirements necessary for a political organization to exist. This intentionally hidden grenade essentially killed every single political party in New York State except the Democratic and Republican Parties and their two allied endorsement lines, The Conservative Party and the Working Families Party.
We find it ridiculous that New York liberals have screamed about Southeastern voting rights, but committed this atrocious act against voting rights in their own state. It is further proof that the Democratic establishment will bathe in hypocrisy if hypocrisy benefits them.
The Reform Party of New York has made it clear. The Reform Party of New York will regain its ballot access in the next cycle by any means necessary. If we need to fight this governmental overreach in court, then so be it. The Reform Party National Committee stands by to lend support in every possible way. The Reform Party and our allies look forward to this battle.
Usually the Reform Party of New York would announce a list of ballot qualifying Reform Party candidates, and a list of candidates it endorsed using electoral fusion. Due to these trying times, the Reform Party of New York will be listing the candidates that it endorsed using this letter.
The Reform Party of New York has endorsed:
- Taylor Darling – 18th Assembly District
- Eduson Tyson Francois – 97th Assembly District
- Merima Smajic-Oren – Oneida County Clerk
- Jim Scarchilli – Oneida County Sheriff
Regaining ballot access in New York will be a large step towards regaining national viability. If you wish to support us in rebuilding the Reform Party of the United States, voting for these candidates is the first step.
Thank you for your time and attention,
Leigh Pollet, Chairman, Reform Party of New York
Nicholas Hensley, Chairman, Reform Party National Committee
