Taxpayers Party of New York
Encyclopedia
The Taxpayers Party of New York State was an American political party active in the state of New York
. It was not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the U.S. Taxpayers' Party (now known as the Constitution Party
), which predates it by 18 years, or the Tax Revolt Party
active in Nassau County
. The Taxpayers Party of New York was founded by Carl Paladino
in 2010, with the help of Rus Thompson, Leonard Roberto, Michael Caputo and Gary Berntsen
. It officially gained ballot access on August 10, 2010 and fielded candidates in the New York state elections, 2010
.
Other than a committee to fill vacancies, the party does not have operations and is currently serving only as an additional ballot line for Republican candidates; it was originally designed to counter the decisions of the Conservative Party of New York State under New York's electoral fusion
laws. It originally endorsed candidates the Conservative Party passed up in statewide races; after the September primaries, the losers dropped out the races, and each party has cross-nominated the primary winners as their nominees. The party has not endorsed incumbents in most races. Should Paladino receive 50,000 votes on the line in 2010 and gain permanent ballot access, the party will need to put together an organizational structure. The party's name derives from the motto "taxed enough already," the acronym of which (TEA) forms the basis of the TEA Party movement
. Paladino has received significant supported from the Tea Party movement.
The party had ceased active campaigning due to Paladino earning the endorsement of the Conservative Party until releasing a last-minute advertisement on Election Day.
The recently disbanded Jefferson County chapter of the Independence Party of New York
has seen the majority of its leaders switch allegiance to the Taxpayers Party, with the rest supporting the Anti-Prohibition Party of Kristin M. Davis.
The party registered 25,820 votes on election night, leaving it well short of the necessary votes to achieve a permanent ballot line. In portions of Western New York, the line drew vote totals on par with the Working Families Party
and the Green Party
. The party's founders have not indicated whether or not it will pursue ballot lines in future elections. Rus Thompson, Gary Berntsen and Michael Caputo, who helped organized the party line, orchestrated an attempted ballot access campaign for David Bellavia
in the New York's 26th congressional district special election, 2011
, but because Paladino and Leonard Roberto endorsed Republican nominee Jane Corwin
, the organization used the name "Federalist Party" for Bellavia's petitions instead of the Taxpayers Party.
Thompson, originally on petitions as a dummy candidate
, has not actively campaigned for the comptroller position, due to both his position as Paladino's campaign treasurer and a desire not to act as a spoiler in the race. He has relinquished his spot on the ballot.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It was not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the U.S. Taxpayers' Party (now known as the Constitution Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
), which predates it by 18 years, or the Tax Revolt Party
Tax revolt party
The Tax Revolt Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in Nassau County, New York in 2009. It is unrelated to the similarly named Taxpayers Party of New York founded by Carl Paladino in 2010.-Background:...
active in Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
. The Taxpayers Party of New York was founded by Carl Paladino
Carl Paladino
Carl Pasquale Paladino is an American businessman and political activist from Buffalo, New York. Paladino is the founder and chairman of Ellicott Development Company, a real estate development company he founded in 1973. He was the 2010 Republican nominee for the New York gubernatorial election,...
in 2010, with the help of Rus Thompson, Leonard Roberto, Michael Caputo and Gary Berntsen
Gary Berntsen
Gary Berntsen is a decorated former Central Intelligence Agency career officer who served in the Directorate of Operations between October 1982 and June 2005...
. It officially gained ballot access on August 10, 2010 and fielded candidates in the New York state elections, 2010
New York state elections, 2010
The 2010 New York state elections took place on November 2, 2010. These included elections for both Senate seats and a gubernatorial election....
.
Other than a committee to fill vacancies, the party does not have operations and is currently serving only as an additional ballot line for Republican candidates; it was originally designed to counter the decisions of the Conservative Party of New York State under New York's electoral fusion
Electoral fusion
Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate...
laws. It originally endorsed candidates the Conservative Party passed up in statewide races; after the September primaries, the losers dropped out the races, and each party has cross-nominated the primary winners as their nominees. The party has not endorsed incumbents in most races. Should Paladino receive 50,000 votes on the line in 2010 and gain permanent ballot access, the party will need to put together an organizational structure. The party's name derives from the motto "taxed enough already," the acronym of which (TEA) forms the basis of the TEA Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
. Paladino has received significant supported from the Tea Party movement.
The party had ceased active campaigning due to Paladino earning the endorsement of the Conservative Party until releasing a last-minute advertisement on Election Day.
The recently disbanded Jefferson County chapter of the Independence Party of New York
Independence Party of New York
The Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
has seen the majority of its leaders switch allegiance to the Taxpayers Party, with the rest supporting the Anti-Prohibition Party of Kristin M. Davis.
The party registered 25,820 votes on election night, leaving it well short of the necessary votes to achieve a permanent ballot line. In portions of Western New York, the line drew vote totals on par with the Working Families Party
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
and the Green Party
Green Party of New York
The Green Party of New York is a ballot-qualified political party in New York, which was founded in 1992. It is a part of the national Green Party movement...
. The party's founders have not indicated whether or not it will pursue ballot lines in future elections. Rus Thompson, Gary Berntsen and Michael Caputo, who helped organized the party line, orchestrated an attempted ballot access campaign for David Bellavia
David Bellavia
David Bellavia is an American Iraq War veteran who was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the Second Battle of Fallujah. Bellavia has also received the Bronze Star, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals and the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross...
in the New York's 26th congressional district special election, 2011
New York's 26th congressional district special election, 2011
A 2011 special election in New York's 26th congressional district was held on May 24, 2011 to fill a seat in the U.S. Congress for New York's 26th congressional district. The vacancy was due to the February 2011 resignation of married Republican Chris Lee who resigned amid a scandal involving...
, but because Paladino and Leonard Roberto endorsed Republican nominee Jane Corwin
Jane Corwin
Jane Lewis Corwin is an American politician and businesswoman who has served as a Republican Party member of the New York State Assembly since 2009. She represents the 142nd Assembly District which covers parts of Erie and Niagara counties...
, the organization used the name "Federalist Party" for Bellavia's petitions instead of the Taxpayers Party.
2010 candidates
- Carl PaladinoCarl PaladinoCarl Pasquale Paladino is an American businessman and political activist from Buffalo, New York. Paladino is the founder and chairman of Ellicott Development Company, a real estate development company he founded in 1973. He was the 2010 Republican nominee for the New York gubernatorial election,...
for Governor - Greg EdwardsGreg EdwardsGregory J. Edwards is the current county executive of Chautauqua County, New York. A registered Republican, Edwards served as an attorney and dairy farmer prior to his election in 2005...
for Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor of New YorkThe Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
(replaced original nominee Thomas Ognibene) (lost) - Joseph J. DioGuardiJoseph J. DioGuardiJoseph J. DioGuardi is a certified public accountant and a Republican politician. DioGuardi served in the House of Representatives representing the 20th Congressional district of New York from 1985 to 1989. He was also the Republican nominee for U.S...
for Senate (Class 1) (replaced original nominee David MalpassDavid MalpassDavid R. Malpass is an American economist and also ran in the 2010 Republican primary for U.S. Senate in New York. He is the founder and president of Encima Global LLC, an economic research and consulting firm based in New York City...
) (lost) - Gary BerntsenGary BerntsenGary Berntsen is a decorated former Central Intelligence Agency career officer who served in the Directorate of Operations between October 1982 and June 2005...
for Senate (Class 3) (withdrew from ballot) - Rus Thompson for New York State ComptrollerNew York State ComptrollerThe New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
(withdrew from ballot) - Leonard Roberto for New York's 27th congressional districtNew York's 27th congressional districtThe 27th Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in Western New York. It includes all of Chautauqua County and the southern part of Erie County. The district contains much of the city of Buffalo and most of its eastern and...
(lost) - Patty RitchiePatty Ritchie-External links:*...
for New York State SenateNew York State SenateThe New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
48th District (won) - Jack Quinn IIIJack Quinn IIIJohn Francis "Jack" Quinn, III is a former New York State Assemblyman representing Erie County. He is a Republican, who was first elected in 2004. He is the son of former U.S. Representative Jack Quinn....
for New York State SenateNew York State SenateThe New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
58th District (lost) - Nicole MalliotakisNicole MalliotakisNicole Malliotakis is a Republican politician from New York City who represents parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island in the New York State Assembly. She is the first Hispanic-American to win elective office to any district that encompasses Staten Island. She is one of the first Greek-American women...
for New York State AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
60th District (won) - Robert CastelliRobert CastelliRobert J. "Bob" Castelli is an American security consultant, politician, professor and media personality from Goldens Bridge, New York. He is currently a member of the New York State Assembly, representing northeastern Westchester County, New York.During the Vietnam War, he served with the 7th...
for New York State AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
89th District (incumbent) (won) - Deborah Busch for New York State AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
104th District (lost) - John CerettoJohn CerettoJohn D. Ceretto is an American politician and a Republican member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 138th Assembly District...
for New York State AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
138th District (won) - Brian Biggie for New York State AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
144th District (lost) - Kevin SmardzKevin SmardzKevin S. Smardz is an American Republican politician. In 2010, he was elected to an open seat in the New York State Assembly for the 146th district in southern Erie County, New York, which includes Blasdell, Boston, Brant, Collins, Concord, Eden, Evans, Hamburg, Holland, Lackawanna, North Collins,...
for New York State AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
146th District (won)
Thompson, originally on petitions as a dummy candidate
Dummy candidate
A Dummy candidate is a candidate who stands for election with no intention of winning but to direct preferences to other candidates in order to increase their share of the vote....
, has not actively campaigned for the comptroller position, due to both his position as Paladino's campaign treasurer and a desire not to act as a spoiler in the race. He has relinquished his spot on the ballot.
Endorsed, but not on line
- Anthony Mele for New York's 17th congressional districtNew York's 17th congressional districtNew York's 17th Congressional District is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives located in Southern New York. It encompasses portions of the Bronx, Westchester County, and Rockland County...
(lost) - Andrew Russo for New York State SenateNew York State SenateThe New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
49th District (lost) - James Domagalski for New York State Senate 59th District (lost in primary)
- Steven McLaughlinSteven McLaughlinSteven Francis "Steve" McLaughlin is an American banker and politician. He is a Republican member of the New York State Assembly representing the 108th Assembly District, which includes parts of Albany, Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer counties in the Capital Region.-Early life and...
for New York State AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
108th District (won) - Jennifer Whalen for New York State AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
109th District (lost)