New York State is one of eight states that permit fusion voting or party cross-endorsements allowing candidates to accumulate separate votes from more than one political party on Election Day.
The Conservative Party was founded in 1962 out of frustration with the ballot status Liberal Party. The Queens County Conservative Party Chairman Tom Long is one of the nicest guys in politics – a real stand up, old school gentleman; this also goes for his District Leaders’ ladies too. I am talking from experience.
When political pundits discuss political parties like the Conservative Party – unless you helped found it, hold a leadership position or ran for office as their candidate – your news is second hand.
I was recently exposed to this first hand – up close and personal news by helping a candidate obtain the necessary qualifying petition signatures required to be on the Election Day ballot. I was using current Board of Elections (BOE) Conservative Party voter enrollment lists. I believe the last time these lists where updated was 1964 when conservative Barry Goldwater ran for President.
We hit a dead end using current BOE lists, so the candidate sent a nice letter to party voters with much success. Not only did we surpass the necessary qualifying amount, I am happy to say the Conservative Party is alive and well even within a minority district.
I met all kinds of conservatives, the compassionate ones, the late William F Buckley, National Review brainy types – even a wing-nut who blames all our troubles on European-Americans.
Nevertheless, they demonstrated an impressive political scope and depth from a Conservative Party point-of-view, very refreshing. Much of the credit goes to the Long Brothers, State Chairman Michael and Queens Chairman Tom and their members for keeping the party alive and well.
Elio Forcina is a conservative Democrat running for the open Whitestone/Bayside 26th Assembly District seat. I had the pleasure to attend his gala “FUN”-raiser held at Verdi’s of Whitestone. The place was packed with civic, business, community and political leaders. Like Independence Party founder Tom Golisano, Forcina is the son of hard working Italian immigrants who instilled within him positive civic virtues, honesty, fair play and a good sense of humor -“buona fortuna..”
