

Hesham El-Meligy,

Libertarian Party candidate for

New York City comptroller



Michael Sanchez,

Libertarian Party candidate for

New York City mayor,

compared to his opponents

A record eight Libertarians will be on the New York City ballot on Nov. 5, including Michael Sanchez for mayor and Hesham El-Meligy running for comptroller.

Michael Sanchez will be a featured guest on the “Road to City Hall” show on NY1 TV (Time Warner channel) airing Thursday, Oct. 31, at 7:00 p.m., and will air again at 10:00 p.m.

Sanchez aims to end the city’s notorious stop-and-frisk policy.

“New York City has an out-of-control government hell-bent on running our lives,” he said. “It continues to violate the Fourth Amendment rights of our citizens with its stop-and-frisk policy. I plan on terminating this policy.”

Born in Egypt, Hesham El-Meligy is an activist in Staten Island’s interfaith community. He is a founder of the Islamic Civic Association–Staten Island, the Building Bridges Interfaith Coalition, and Muslims for Liberty. He is also a steering committee member of the New York Neighbors for American Values Coalition, and received the Peacemaker Award from Staten Island Peace Action in 2009.

As Comptroller, El-Meligy promises to bring transparency, efficiency, and accountability to New York City government; balance the city’s budget by defunding wasteful, counterproductive city initiatives; and push for lower taxes.

Because the LP does not have ballot status in New York, each Libertarian candidate had to submit independent petition signatures — ranging from 450 to 3,750 per candidate. The signatures had to be collected during a six-week period in the summer, when many voters are out of town. Signatures are frequently challenged by Democratic and Republican opponents who aim to invalidate them for a variety of technical errors.

“The New York City chapters of the Libertarian Party pulled together to get their candidates on the ballot,” said Mark Axinn, LP New York state chair. “Surmounting the many obstacles to getting our largest slate of candidates ever on the ballot in the city was a significant accomplishment.”

Libertarians Alex Merced for Public Advocate, David Casavis for Manhattan Borough President, Silas Johnson for Staten Island Borough President, Helene Jnane for NYC Council District 4, David Garland for NYC Council District 5, and Christopher Giattino for NYC Council District 8 are also on the ballot.

The New York LP released a video featuring its NYC city candidates, which can be viewed on YouTube.

Elsewhere in New York, other candidates — Libertarians Robert Brown for Genesee County Legislator, District 8; James Rosenbeck and Lisa Whitehead for Batavia City Council; and Robert Porter for Albany City Council, 9th Ward — will also be on the Nov. 5 ballot.

See the full list of Libertarians running for office in November 2013.