Redlich, Gaetani, Credico & Clifton Conspicuously Absent From Libertarian Party's 2010 National Convention

Mark Axinn, LPNY Chair, was lobbying hard at the Libertarian Party's 2010 National Convention held at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri over Memorial Day Weekend for a $30,000.00 donation to help the Libertarian Party of New York obtain the petition signatures it will need to get its statewide candidates on the ballot this year. This lobbying was especially important since it will be the new Libertarian Party National Committee that will vote on this allocation of funds and because Mr. Axinn has said "it is unlikely we will obtain ballot access without that financial help."

So where were the candidates nominated by the Libertarian Party of New York for statewide office? Were they in St. Louis introducing themselves and speaking of the importance of this upcoming race to our obtaining ballot access in New York for the LP's Presidential Candidate in 2012? Were they at the LPUS National Convention lobbying along with Mark Axinn to anyone who would listen? No. Warren Redlich, LPNY candidate for Governor, was nowhere to be seen. John Gaetani, LPNY's candidate for Comptroller was also absent as was Randy Credico and John Clifton, LPNY's candidates for United States Senate.

Only Alden Link, LPNY's candidate for Lt. Governor, and Carl Person, LPNY's candidate for Attorney General were present as delegates and Mr. Person has already committed $5,000.00 to the statewide petition drive, something none of the other candidates have done.

Dr. Tom Stevens, State Representative of the Libertarian Party of Queens County to the Libertarian Party of New York, said: "I personally witnessed Mr. Link and Mr. Person promoting their candidacies and providing a higher profile to the New York Delegation. In nominating speeches, Alden Link and Carl Person informed the delegates they were the duly nominated candidates of the Libertarian Party of New York for Lt. Governor and Attorney General, respectively. They went on to promote their candidacies in person in the hallways and in the hospitality suites arguing for the importance of the Libertarian Party of New York obtaining 50,000 votes in this year's gubernatorial race. It is a great disappointment that the other nominated LPNY candidates for statewide office didn't consider attending the LPUS National Convention to be a high priority. A failure to obtain financial support from the National LP for our statewide petition drive will place us at a distinct disadvantage. While better planning and increased fundraising might have avoided this crisis, there is no doubt we face an uphill battle in getting our candidates on the ballot this year. A greater presence of our statewide candidates at the LPUS National Convention would have been a help."