ASSEMBLYMAN J. GARY PRETLOW SEEKS TO DISENFRANCHISE MILLIONS OF NEW YORK VOTERS

For Immediate Release    

For More Information Contact: Samuel L. Rivers 914.760.8136

CHALLENGER DEMANDS INCUMBANT TO IMMEDIATELTY WITHDRAW LEGISLATION

Mount Vernon, NY August 19^th, 2010 – Samuel L. Rivers, candidate for New York State Assembly, 87^th District is calling for his opponent J. Gary Pretlow to immediately withdraw legislation that he sponsored that will disenfranchise millions of New York Voters.  Pretlow is the sole sponsor of bill A02681.  The bill seeks to amend Section 1 Subdivision 3 of section 1-104 of the election law to increase the number of votes to an independent party to become a recognized party from fifty thousand to one hundred thousand votes.

“Pretlow is seeking to rid the New York State of the minor parties” says Rivers.  Rivers says Pretlow has sponsored this legislation for personal reasons and selfish gain.  Pretlow failed to get the endorsements of the Independence and Conservative Parties.  However, Pretlow did receive the endorsement of the Working Families Party that is currently under investigation by the United States Attorney’s office in Manhattan.  “I have been saying all along the Pretlow is corrupt and only interested in lining his pockets with money from Special Interest Groups.  Pretlow validated this theory with the acceptance of the Working Parties line” Rivers said.

In justifying the need to increase the number of votes to an independent party to become a recognized party from 50,000 to 100,000 votes, Pretlow it was necessary because “The 50,000 vote requirement has lead to eight parties with ballot status. Fifty six counties have voting machines with nine rows and the other six have voting machines with eight columns. Eight parties with ballot status place an undue hardship on boards of elections especially in view of the fact that many parties are just cross endorsing candidates”.

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