Former New York state Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk says she is leading an effort to take control of the Women’s Equality Party because she wants to make “sure women are running it.”
Governor Andrew Cuomo created the party during his re-election campaign last year. W.E.P. gained official party status when Cuomo received over 50,000 votes on that line. He signed organizational rules for the W.E.P. in July. Capital New York reports that on Friday, Tkaczyk — a Democrat from Duanesburg defeated for reelection last year — submitted competing rules that made her the party’s chair.
Rachel Gold, treasurer of the existing WEP, tells the website Tkaczyk's "backroom maneuver is the antithesis of a grassroots movement."
There is speculation Tkaczyk may use her leadership of the party to launch a third campaign against her Republican foe Senator George Amedore next year.
