LIBERAL PARTY: Press Release: Olchin Becomes Chairman

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	Contact: Martin I. Hassner
July 2008	Contact Us

Olchin Becomes State Chairman of the Liberal Party

First Vice-Chairman JACK OLCHIN has become Chairman of the Liberal Party of New York State succeeding Henry J. Stern who has resigned.

The party's Executive Director, Martin I. Hassner said that party leaders have been working to restore the party to permanent ballot status, a position lost in 2002 when the Liberal Party did not get 50,000 votes on its line during the gubernatorial election that year. The party had nominated Andrew Cuomo for Governor. Mr. Cuomo dropped out of the race to support Democratic candidate Carl McCall but his name remained on the Liberal Party ballot line. The Liberal Party had 56 years of permanent ballot status in New York State prior to that election.

Mr. Hassner said that the party would soon begin a very public campaign based on program and policy recommendations and would engage in a search for candidates for Mayor of New York City in 2009 and for the Governorship in 2010.

Mr. Olchin, longtime leader of the Liberal Party on Long Island is admired by leaders on both sides of the political aisle because of his ability to be an astute political leader without comprising his principles. As an Attorney, Mr. Olchin served the people of Nassau County as a Deputy County Attorney for 23 years. He represented all County departments in hearings involving NY State Civil Service Law, in addition, the Sheriff's Department, NY State Public Employment Relations Board and was Counsel to the Human Rights Commission, during that time fighting discrimination of every kind.

"The future of the party and of liberalism in our state and country resides in the hands of the young. We're still carrying the torch, bearing the weight of reminding America that our rise as a world power in the mid-20th Century came as the result of the nation's liberalism. Now the young people coming of age must be helped to recognize what made us great and how they can participate in making us great again.

Our country prospered as no other in history because liberal principles of justice, open opportunities and a level playing field in all areas brought freedom and growth in unparalleled ways. Only America offered this freedom and opportunity and we were proud of it and succeeded because of it.

The America which was guided to greatness by these principles and beliefs needs to exist again and the Liberal Party of New York State will work as it did sixty two years ago to make us strong, confident and open again."

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