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Brooklyn, NY 9/29/05-- NYC
Board of Elections tried to keep Gary Popkin
off the ballot as the Libertarian Party’s
candidate for Brooklyn Borough President. He
would not give in, and triumphed in court.
The retired computer science professor
needed 4000 signatures from Brooklyn voters
to
qualify. The NYC Libertarians presented a
consolidated multi-candidate
petition with the mayoral candidate Audrey
Silk, the other citywide candidates and
candidates for Brooklyn and Queens Borough
president. The Board of Elections not only
deemed Popkin’s signature total insufficient
but his petitions fraudulent. Judge Joseph
S. Levine agreed that Popkin had earned a
place on the Libertarian line in November
with 6083 signatures, rejecting the Board of
Elections claim that Popkin’s petitions were
fraudulent.
Former Libertarian Party of New York State
Chair Richard Cooper discovered the Election
Law’s explicit provisions for
multi-candidate petitions making it easier
for the group to run more candidates. Cooper
said “Popkin struck a blow for all New
Yorkers dissatisfied with the Republicans
and Democrats who have ruined New York by
making it easier for independent candidates
to get on the ballot, thus giving the voters
a choice.” Previously, the Libertarian Party
gained the right through a Green Party case
to have voters register Libertarian if they
choose. Popkin was represented in court by
Gary Sinawski and advised by Libertarian
attorney Gary Donoyan.
“My petition contained 6,083 unchallenged
signatures from residents of Brooklyn,” said
Popkin. “I am pleased that the judge agreed,
and I can now devote my time to spreading
the libertarian message of personal freedom
and personal responsibility.” Popkin is
campaigning against the Brooklyn Nets Arena
and smoking bans. 09.29.05
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