The Erie County Independence Party is being given back the power of endorsements From IP State Chairman Frank McKay.
This deal was worked out over a long and arduous negotiation lasting many months. The ECIP is now holding a fundraiser on Thursday May 20th at Alton’s Restaurant on the corner of Seneca Street and Transit Road in Elma. Frank McKay is expected to call via phone and address the crowd to announce that the ECIP will be making endorsements this year.
The way it is supposed to work is simple. The ECIP will interview candidates and tell the State IP leadership who we pick. Then Frank McKay will ensure those candidates get the State IP endorsement. This effectively gives the County IP endorsement powers back without another court battle. A court battle is exactly what Frank McKay is trying to avoid while he is under investigation for hundreds of thousands of missing dollars from party funds and possibly a Federal money laundering scheme.
So if there are any potential candidates for public office this year who think they can bypass the local IP they should think again. I hope to see you all there.
When are your endorsement meetings?
They should start soon. I don’t expect decisions to be made prior to August. I’m recommending to the executive Board for us to hold a $500 a plate fundraiser at the end of June or early July. It would be foolish to endorse before then when we can put so much more money into the party coffers this season.
By the way, all this money is in the IP account for us to maintain an office and the necessary supplies to operate our party properly. It doesn’t go into a private chairman’s account like our former leader used to do.