Independence Party Reshuffles Leadership

NY 1/February 5, 2006
By Rita Nissan

New York's Independence Party is taking another step to reshuffle its leadership, after one current leader was labeled an anti-Semite and the other a cult leader. NY1 Political reporter Rita Nissan filed the following report on the future of Lenora Fulani and Fred Newman.

Fred Newman, Lenora Fulani and their followers were dealt a huge political blow in Albany on Saturday.

The state committee of the Independence Party stripped them of their control over the Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens chapters, severely weakening their power.

Most significantly, state party Chair Frank MacKay says this means candidates running for office in those boroughs no longer need Fulani and Newman's blessing.

"We're very comfortable with what we did today," said MacKay. "It was very ugly, and it's something that you don't want to have to do."

The vote came following an NY1 investigation into Newman last year. His former supporters say he leads a cult which preys on vulnerable people. Also, in April on Inside City Hall, Fulani refused to denounce inflammatory comments she had made a decade ago about Jews.

Fulani ally and Manhattan Independence Party Chair Cathy Stewart also refused to denounce the remarks that many consider anti-Semitic.

"There is freedom of speech, the comments clearly are not what was debated here today. What was debated here today was the character of the Independence Party," said Stewart. "This violates the very fundamental principals of the Independence party for local control and grassroots democracy."

Fulani and Newman were not at the meeting, but about 20 of their supporters were. They say the vote took place without proper advance notice, and they dispute the merits of it.

"I think we are on very shaky ground here– morally, democratically, legally, and otherwise," says Harry Kresky. "I would urge that the resolution be voted down."

Fulani and Newman still retain control of the Manhattan and Staten Island chapters. MacKay says that too could change.

Ousting them would clear the way for politicians like Senator Hillary Clinton and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to accept the Party's endorsement this year. Both have said they wouldn't run on the Independence line if Fulani remained in power.