Results tagged “Special Election” from Sundwall for Congress - Special Election 2009
The decision of the Board of Election to remove my name from the ballot proves once again that the political system in New York is rigged by professionals to make sure that average citizens are excluded from the process. While the two major parties could choose their candidates in a smoke-filled room, they made us go out and attempt the impossible: obtain 3500 valid signatures in just 12 days. We came very close but ultimately, the technicalities they built into the law to disenfranchise the people proved too strong to overcome.
In addition, I faced baseless allegations of wrongdoing and threats of criminal prosecution in a lawsuit brought by Tedisco supporters. While I wanted to file a lawsuit in Albany County to overturn the Board's decision, we got stuck down in Dutchess County where the machine felt they would have a friendly bench. While the court there should have dismissed that lawsuit as moot, the judge instead was prepared to keep us down there litigating silly issues concerning the Libertarian Party emblem and whether witnessing signatures from outside the district constitutes fraud. There was no end in sight and we might have been down there for days facing the inevitable loss with no time to appeal and no time to campaign either. The Tedisco supporters who brought the case sought and received an order requiring me to be present in Court, thereby preventing me from campaigning.
I was also concerned that continued litigation would jeopardize the ballots of military personnel and disabled voters who use special machines that need to be programmed several days before the election.
Faced with the prospect of spending much of the rest of campaign on the witness stand being harassed by the machine's hired gun, I chose not to play that game. Since I could not file suit in the county of my choosing, I decided to end my candidacy and not subject myself and my family to any further abuse, threats or harassment from the political machine.
Thus, the Stalinist New York Election Law forced us to spend the first half of the campaign getting signatures and the second half fighting a lost cause in court.
The voters will be deprived of any choice but the two parties that have destroyed the nation's economy in recent years and have us bogged down in two land wars in Asia.
Mr. Tedisco denies any involvement with the concerted effort by his supporters to knock me off the ballot. I don't believe him. The ruthless effort by his supporters to knock me off the ballot without a word of protest by him proves his unfitness for any office let alone Congress in these critical times.
I will be voting for Scott Murphy on Tuesday. While we disagree on some important issues, I find him to be a man of honor, a good family man and successful businessman. Unlike Tedisco, he actually lives in the District. And, unlike Mr. Tedisco, I view Scott's business success as a virtue, not a vice.
I urge my supporters and all those who believe in open and free elections to show their disgust at the tactics of the Republican political machine to win at all costs. Please join me in voting for Scott Murphy on Tuesday.
I want to thank all those who worked tirelessly on my behalf and who donated their precious funds to help this effort. And I wish to thank the media for all their courtesies during this Sysiphean struggle.
We live to fight another day.
Eric Sundwall
Hi all. Jim Ostrowski got in from Buffalo about an hour ago and we're off to Poughkeepsie in the morning. We appreciate all the support coming in and continue to fight. 
I do consider myself somewhat a political prisoner at the moment because of my requirement to be in court tomorrow. We can't update the contributions at the moment, but thank you to all digging deep right now. Every penny and minute counts.
Anybody watch the bickerfest on WNYT tonight ? Sorry I missed it . . . lol
Steve Fellano had to sit in for Dr. Chartock for Eric's spot on the Congressional corner.
Here's the first of three segments.
We're still alive folks ! Don't give up.
Due to a lack of expected fundraising in this special and unique opportunity, I'm 'loaning' the campaign an additional four grand in order to pay necessary bills and upcoming legal expenses this week.
I hope this doesn't reflect a lack of confidence in the campaign. In order to keep my word to vendors and support the real legal bargains Jim Ostrowski and Warren Redlich are providing, this is necessary.
This campaign can still accomplish a lot with some generous support, unfortunately our backs are up against a wall and the two indomitable machines that run our lives. Eventually I get to go back to work and be normal again. Please help if you can.
In Liberty,
Eric Sundwall
I was invited into the RPI radio station this morning to discuss LBGT issues. It was a great time. I felt these guys listened politely and gave me an opportunity to express and poise issues unlike anything you can get on commercial couterparts. Here's the interview in three parts, thanks to Jeff Russell again.
This post is so we don't forget to highlight this video somewhere. Thanks again to Tom Caruso & Mark Femenella for producing this. Mark supplied the guitar rifts.
Sunday
Eric will in the WRPI radio studio at 11 AM for the show "Homo Radio". Neither Mr. Murphy or Mr. Tedisco have returned calls to WRPI.
The Times Union will have a piece in the Sunday edition about Eric by Leigh Hornbeck. We'll post the link the minute it comes available online.
Channel 6 WRGB did a sit down interview with Eric that will air sometime on Sunday also.
Watch New York Now again with Eric on it at 11:30 PM
Monday
10 AM - Warren Redlich will be representing the campaign at the Board of Elections for a review of the specific objections.
Eric will be in Glens Falls for an editorial review board meeting the The Glens Falls Post Star. This is kind of cool. They usually don't do this for third party candidates.
1PM - Eric will be in studio at WAMC and will be taping a segment with Dr. Alan Chartock.
2:30 - Eric will be sitting down with the editorial review board of the Times Union. Again, this is a big deal for the little campaign from nowhere.
Eric's getting significant media and will also be dragged to court on Wed. Please go to our donate page and help if you can.
Tedisco decided to slam Rush Limbuagh today. Called him "meaningless."
Way to go Jimmy!
Also, the Tedisco campaign denies any involvement in the lawsuit to knock Sundwall off the ballot.
Does anyone believe that?
Thanks to Jeff Russell again.
Here's the debate from last night.
Eric was featured in this coverage by the Time Warner affiliate in Albany.
Eric was in the WMHT studios on Wednesday with Warren Redlich discussing third party issues.
Watch it tonight at 7:30 on WMHT.
Jeff Russell did some over the shoulder video of Eric being interviewed after the debate.
If you would like to see Eric in the WMHT/TU 'debate' this Thursday, March 19th email both Rex Smith& Robert Altman.
As it stands now, only Scott Murphy will be appearing. Mr. Tedisco has declined an invitation to participate.
It is heartening to see the release of debate criteria for the WMHT March 19th debate. Here is the Sundwall campaign response to what seems a reasonable outline.
Objective Criteria:
1. We agree that all candidates should meet the legal requirements as specified by NY Election Law and the provisions of the State Board of Elections.
a. To date, we meet that requirement - In a letter dated on March 9, 2009 we received notice from the Board of Elections that the name Eric Sundwall currently appears on the ballot. Until a ruling from a court or the BOE itself is rendered otherwise, all general and specific objections bear the burden of proving that the campaign has not complied with the law in this regard.
Subjective Criteria:
We respect the right of private, non-publicly funded entities to reserve the right to proceed with debates and forums of their choosing and with participants of their choice. We do feel that a separate standard for publicly funded organizations ought to include all candidates for office that will legally appear on the ballot.
The US Supreme Court said in 1997 (Arkansas Educational TV v Forbes, 523 US 666) that even public TV can host a debate and invite only the Democrats and Republicans. But, they did say it would be unconstitutional for a public TV station to exclude someone with a genuine campaign.
Eric and I both attended SUNY Albany in the late eighties and were a part of the political science department at the time. During a trip to a model European Community forum at SUNY Brockport we coined the term Occidental Hedonism in between the seminar format and the mandatory pub crawls.
When I went over to represent Eric for the WROW-League of Women Voters debate to be held on March 26th, the Murphy folks thought it was quaint that we had such a long time connection. Of course they were bringing in hired guns from all over the country for their boy.
Check out these interviews Eric did about two weeks ago at our HQ for the Albany Student Press. Thanks again for Chad Polenz for going into the un-chartered waters of Eric's brain. The big time MSM has so much trouble just engaging normally with us like Chad so aptly demonstrates here.
With all the recent hubbub about the WNYT debate next week, let's not forget that WMHT and the Times Union have one this Thursday night, March 19th. Now we haven't been given a 'no' for sure on this one, so keep that in mind. That being said here's their standard (it should be noted that the document we were sent was created by Barry Stoner at WMHT on March 11th);
A candidate must be legally qualified and must be certified by the New York Department of State to appear on the ballot for the office being contested in the debate. The other criteria are designed to subjectively determine who constitutes a newsworthy candidate for the office being sought. The overriding selection is based on the judgment of the professional journalists on staff.
All legally qualified campaigns will be given the opportunity prior to a planned debate to provide evidence of their status as a newsworthy candidate. Among the questions that may be asked of the candidate:
Dear Mr. Lewis,
Thank you for a response to our inquiry regarding the debate your television station is hosting on March 24th for two of three candidates on the ballot this special election.
As a libertarian I fully recognize your right to invite and include anybody whom you see fit to these events based on your in alienable right to private property. I do feel your station is doing a disservice to the public and your customers by excluding our campaign.
Please note that the Commission on Presidential Debates has a threshold of 15% in order to be included in their debates, not five percent. It should also be noted that your standard renders any candidate on the current ballot unable to attend your debate based on the previous election results. By this logic, it is possible to have an independent candidate who is polling 100% currently, not to be included in your debates based on this criteria.
Sincerely,
Eric Sundwall
Paul Lewis from WNYT has responded to our inquiries about their debate. Here's what he sent to Richard Cooper our campaign manager;
Dear Mr. Cooper:
Thank you for your email and telephone message regarding the debate WNYT will host in the campaign for New York's 20th Congressional District.
We have invited Scott Murphy, the Democratic candidate and Jim Tedisco, the Republican candidate to participate. Similar to the procedure followed in national debates, we have invited only candidates from political parties that have achieved or surpassed the threshhold of five percent in the previous election.
Thank you for your interest.
Paul Lewis
News Director
WNYT-TV/NewsChannel 13
715 North Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12204
Eric was on the Tully Rinckey Legal Power Hour last night.
Special thanks to Jeff Russell once again for recording it. Here's the clip.
Eric discusses various education issues with Chad Polenz of The Albany Student Press.
Ever since Eric ran in 2006, I've always razzed him about the Libertarian Party being the Guns and Dope Party. All kidding aside, these are serious issues that Eric readily discusses with Chad Polenz of the Albany Student Press;
Eric talks with Chad Polenz of the Albany Student Press about immigration and free trade. It's interesting to note at this point that not a single main stream media outlet has asked Eric about either issue;
Chad Polenz of the Albany Student Press came down to HQ to interview SUNY Albany alumni and Congressional candidate Eric Sundwall. This was during the very busy petitioning period (thus some of the background noise at times) and Eric had no advance notice about the questions. Kudos to Chad for asking very pertinent and insightful questions. Here's the first segment, which covers foreign policy;
We think Eric did all right despite being in the middle of his own ground war of sorts.
The other day I popped into our local deli in Niverville for a soda and one of my neighbors on the lake congratulated me for the effort we've put forth in this battle. He asked about the debates and said he was voting for me. It's heartening to know that people care and will get involved knowing they have a real choice. So rest assured, I'll keep fighting as long as there is a battle to be fought.
Many of you who follow this blog have seen the name John Norris pop up. He gives out pertinent information about the campaign and does a lot of stuff in the background that you don't see. John's dad Bill actually fought in the Korean War and founded the Korean Veterans Association back in the eighties. One of the objectors to our petition actually claimed to fight in Korea and was ousted as a fraud when he was out trumping up support for the Iraq invasion in 2003. This is the type of stuff we're up against.
As libertarians we'd like to think our contribution to debate is the idea of eliminating fraud and coercion in our normal human activity. It's the principle we rally around and defend more than any other. I like to think that we set out to make a credible case for getting on the ballot and we delivered seven thousand signatures to the Board of Elections to that affect.
Update: Jeff Russell recorded Eric with Al this morning.
Tune into Al Roney's show at 9 to hear him discuss the challenge to his petitions.
Special thanks to Al for letting us on during Free Speech Friday !
Jeff Russell recorded Eric yesterday on WROW.
Eric discusses the petition process.
WNYT is sponsoring a debate this Friday. Call them or email them about Eric.
While they have every right to deny Eric based on the principles of private property and pursuit.
Let's give them reason to think twice and enrich democracy with another viewpoint.
Be polite, but demand a better service. Staff emails here.
Same story for WNYT and the Times Union debate next week.
Eric and Jeff Russell delivered the petitions to the NYS BOE today. Here's Jeff's clip.
The purpose of a safety valve is to relieve pressure in a system undergoing threatening conditions that could destroy or cripple that very system. This campaign has been blessed by dedicated volunteers and quality contractors who have made it possible for the voters of the 20th District to have a safety valve from a system on the brink of collapse. We've also had some pressure taken off us with the ability to submit our petitions on Monday. We were not sure about that on Monday February 23rd. Getting a straight or quality answer from the Board of Elections is next to impossible. 
The bottom line is that volunteers can send and bring us petitions through the weekend. We expect to submit over twice the amount required and if challenged, we're prepared to go to court immediately. Petition drives aren't cheap, our treasury has been drained in order to achieve this feat in twelve days. Please be our safety valve and donate today. Our contractors have been very generous about terms, but we still owe them balances which will be due soon. Thank you to the dozens and dozens of people who made this petition drive possible with their generous donations and time. We will be on the ballot and the voters of the 20th District will finally have a real choice.
It would have been nice to have been included in the AARP forum in Saratoga yesterday. Having collected over 4700 signatures for an independent nominating petition as of this writing, I think a credible case can be made that we'll be on the ballot. Unfortunately the threshold for the AARP rules require ballot access and a five percent showing in a public poll. Thanks Siena Research Institute, public debate is thriving ! We called you right away Mr. Greenberg. How will you account for the real results in your polling ? Yep, you're right, we still gotta make it.
As it was, I was left standing outside the room when all the angry and discontent spillovers were trotted down to the viewing rooms. As the sole individual left waiting, the overcoat guy told me I could go in towards the back. So much for fire codes if you're just one quiet, polite person.
Hey folks, even though the number 4600 may look good to the average supporter, we still need more. While Scott Murphy conceded the right for Eric to be on the ballot on WROW yesterday, expect no such pledge from the Tedisco camp.
Send your petitions in TODAY, so we can file on Friday.
'Candidate Sundwall' sits for the 'baloney' show, Capital Outsider. John Mounteer put together a condensed version of the full show for YouTube.
Curtis Schick of Capital News 9 talks with Eric at the end of this piece.
Eric was not invited to the AARP debate this afternoon in Saratoga.
Eric wasn't allowed to participate in the AARP debate, but he put his Capital Outsider hat on (literally) and took the opportunity to grill Democrats about the stimulus package and chastise them a bit about the war.
Third party political guerrilla tactics at their best.
Eric sits with Bill McMillen and discusses multiple issues about his run for Congress.
LPNY member, Charlie Shaw came down from Liverpool to help Eric petition. Watch his message of support.
In his book, The Adirondacks - A History of America's First Wilderness, Paul Schneider chides the local sense of rugged individualism versus the overriding power of the state to regulate everything under the great pines as a sort of quaint 'libertarian' knee jerk. I got the same sense of intellectual hubris from listening to Brian Mann's recent 'interview' of me on North Country NPR last week.
Mann opens the piece with outraged locals being prime targets of a libertarian sensibility in that neck of the woods. While Mann does immediately segway to the core issues of voluntary interaction amongst humans from me, it really was just a snippet of what I was relating as an attempt to portray the libertarian mindset. While he kept promising me that he'd return to the problematic of ballot access, we never did. Instead it was sort of a liberal/progressive hit job and what he feels is the core problem of libertarianism. So much for just 'covering' the candidate. I'll be curious if a similar piece about ideas and philosophy will even be approached for the two heavies.
This weekend will be the only one of the drive. Volunteers will have to push harder than any other time. Send your current counts in and feel free just to drop them off. Call Chris at HQ (595-4098) to make arrangements. Stop by the "Pub" and give us your signature if you are local.
As always, democracy depends on the input of those involved. Good Luck out there !
Some folks have expressed concern about Eric's plan to stick with the four over riding issues of our time. That's fine. Rest assured Eric does issues. Aside from the fact that you can review his blogging over the years for hours and likewise watch and review literally days of video footage from Capital Outsider to YouTube and Google video clips about Eric dealing with 'issues', he's also on the campaign trail talking about anything voters want to.
Check out Eric's appearance for two hours on WGY yesterday (Feb. 23, hour 2&3).
Brian from Musings from a Young Contarian has a great piece about Eric's trip to the Rockhill Bakehouse in Glens Falls a bit back. He reports a big difference about issues and appearances than the other two.
In so many ways the two heavies never deal with issues or ideas. Eric does. The evidence is crystal clear. These four points are what should unite different outlooks who want a change, but have no where to go. Progressive independents, constitutional adherents and general freedom and liberty lovers have a campaign to coalesce around, let's make this happen ! Time is short. Eric is not on issues.
Reminder: Get the petitions in today.
Many questions about the petitions are coming in. Listed are some helpful items about collection. Open them up and take a look or print them out. The professional pictures are in soon, we'll have new literature soon.
Campaign Literature ! One of our great volunteers made these up to pass out while petitioning. ericsundwall.pdf
Instructions; How do you do it and who can do it. Answers all here in a word doc and .pdf. petitioninstructions.pdf
Instructions to Circulate Petitions-1.doc
Got Authoritarians ? Here's a helpful doc about federal law and your right to petition. Anyone gives you trouble, show them this or call HQ. We're on it.
Election-crimes&torts.doc
There will be more updates as the week progresses.
UPDATE: Eric will be on WGY with Al Roney this morning at 10:05.
We're in a holding pattern until the Governor emerges and gives us his decree. People are collecting signatures as of this writing . . .
This Week:
Free & Equal arrives and starts to set the stage for petition collection.
HQ will have more open hours once our new deputy campaign manager arrives.
More on both of those later.
Eric has two interviews tomorrow. Our very own Capital Outsider and Break the Matrix at 9 PM EST with Lady Liberty, Michelle Shingal.
Wed. Eric expects to be in Sidney, NY talking with Channel 34 out of Binghamton at the library. We're setting up to meet the public at noon, hopefully in one of the downstairs rooms. There may also be stops in Walton and Delhi.
Thursday & Friday: The full ground war should be going by then, so stay tuned. It looks like Eric maybe back up in the Glens Falls area leading the charge there.
Should be fun . . .
The campaign to Elect Eric Sundwall is proud to officially announce the first major endorsement.
Here's Senator Gravel's statement/release;
My Sprint bill went through the roof last month. I normally stay well under the minutes allotted to our account, but I've been talking with a lot of people. As a candidate, that's a great feeling. In 2006 our little campaign got along and did a lot for what it was. I pumped about 15K of my own resources into it while the two heavies didn't spend a dime of their own money. But times are a changing. Sandy Treadwell dropped over five million in an uninspired, open empty offices, run lame commercials attempt to dislodge a popular incumbent. The new gunslinger for the Dems has cleared the street of supplicants and told the mayor(s) of Blueville he'll take on the big bad political rancher in his jogging suit. Yawn.
While I have no trouble accepting challenges to milk cows personally on a blog, these two are already engaged in the tomfoolery that this system has wrought on the American polity. John Norris went over and met Sherman Baldwin at WROW and we walked away thinking everyone was in agreement about their debate to be moderated by the League of Women Voters. Of course both camps went into meltdown and we just watched it play out. If debating doesn't seem so hard to the average voter, how are these folks going to deal with real issues and ideas ? Poorly, I imagine.
Here's a great reference for all the volunteers.
Print this one for a field reference.
Eric had a nice story about him on Capital News 9 out today.
He'll be included in the WROW and League of Women's Voters debate. Eric's also been invited on WGY with Al Roney to be debate either candidate.
He interviewed with Brian Mann of North Country NPR on Wednesday.
Petitions should be available on the website sometime this weekend.
Senator Mike Gravel will officially endorse Eric sometime next week.
He'll be traveling to Delaware County on February 25th to lead a petitioning effort and interview on Binghamton's Channel 34.
If you want to help download this campaign flyer and get the word out ! Sundwall_Flier.doc
Here's our first release of the week.
More coming . . .
Send your video in.
The Adirondack Daily Enterprise has a daily poll up.
Go vote for Eric !
If Governor Paterson says its go time at noon today, one could look at the first twelve hours of the day as lost. Even though we're prepared to start our petitioning ground war immediately, the first day may very well be gone in terms of real or effective petitioning.
If you find yourself out and about for what seems almost an idyllic Spring day and wonder what future days may have in store, consider the supplicant for your signature in this election an ally for common sense and freedom. But most of all, it's about choice.
Leaders of the two major parties want you to think in terms of their candidates, not others. The artificiality of obtaining a requisite amount of signatures in order not to inconvenience the Board of Elections with too much democracy is astounding.
People are frustrated and tired with what is happening, let's offer them a small hedge
against the poisoned waters of partisan bickering, name calling and special interest placating.
Update: Simulcast on Capital Outsider Ustream feed.
Eric will be on with Steve Van Zandt on the Steve and Jackie Weekday Mornings.
Tune in or call up and give Eric some support. You can listen online at WROW.
CBS Six is reporting some type of announcement tomorrow regarding the special election. Either it will start or we'll know when to start.
A correct and legal petition will be posted on the website the minute that we know. Stay tuned.
Eric will be on the second floor in conference room 2 for the Capital District Libertarian Party monthly meeting at 6PM. Join him and democracy in action. The local group will determine if they will support his candidacy.
Yeah, we think he'll get it too.
Campaign news as of Monday.
Dear Post Star Editorial Board,
In your haste to see a speedy play of this special election, please consider another side of democracy.
While it is certain that the two parties rule the fate of the citizenry at any given moment depending on their own stars,it is also certain that this country is in a mess. It is highly unlikely that a quick coronation of a former basketball coach turned career political boss will have any more effect on the Congress than he does as the minority leader of the NY Assembly. It is also unlikely that a freshman Democrat will have any real sway despite any amazing talents he may possess as a successful venture capitalist.
Normally a bum transformer on an oil burner would just be a royal pain in the neck on any given Saturday night. It's not your typical part that can be found at Home Depot and the one's my father and brother had kicking around weren't the same kind (Sid Harvey's T92). Unfortunately to compound the problem, this pesky special election has suddenly warped my time field and even blogging early on a Sunday morning is problematic. Unlike 2006, there will be little time for me to add homey interjections about the process or the system.
Fortunately I'm happy to announce that help's coming in the form of Jim Ostrowski. Jim has joined the team as legal counsel, political adviser and yes, blogger ! Many of you may know him as a lawyer who never sidled up to the Republican and Democratic feed bag and always kept the principles of liberty close to his heart. Jim's leading the charge against corporate welfare in New York State with a lawsuit that seeks to declare such entitlements unconstitutional.
Watch for Jim's unique and wry perspective about politics and this race. Thanks Jim !