How Independent is the Independence Party? - Daily Hudson Valley News

How Independent is the Independence Party?

Mar 5th, 2013 | By | Category: OP ED

In response to the announcement that the state Independence Party endorsed a candidate for Orange County Executive without giving equal consideration and time to all candidates, Orange County Executive Edward A. Diana released the following statement:

“Like many, I was surprised to read in the Times Herald-Record that Frank MacKay, Chairman of the New York State Independence Party, has already made his choice in the race for Orange County Executive. Even more astonishing is that he apparently made his decision without interviewing all the candidates and without the input of local Orange County Independence Party members. These members have been denied a voice in this process and the opportunity to hear the record and vision of those who seek authority to manage a budget of nearly $800 million and thousands of county employees.

Orange County has a long tradition of fair, open, and honest elections. By maintaining that tradition, we honor the freedoms enshrined in our constitution and the brave soldiers who have fought to preserve those freedoms.

I encourage Chairman MacKay rethink his dictatorial decision and allow a fair and open process to run its course. To do otherwise will only serve to sully the good reputation of the Independence Party and needlessly subject it to charges of bossism, favoritism, and chicanery. I stand ready, willing, and able to meet with any of the members of the Independence Party anytime, anywhere.”

Orange County Executive
Edward A. Diana

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  1. Stephen Krasner March 6th, 2013 2:43 pm

    While I take issue with several of Mr. Diana’s stances on policy and some decision making, I do think he raises some good points here in his letter as this has been an issue in past elections on a more local level. Municipal public offices, regardless of what the party rhetoric often says, have more to do with practical management issues rather than partisan issues. That being said it would be interesting to see what happens in some of these races if you removed the party label and just had to vote based on what you heard and read about a candidates platform and ideas in governing without a party label alongside of them.

    Stephen Krasner
    Town of Newburgh, NY