Florida's roster of organized political parties grew by one yesterday as a representative of the Boston Tea Party filed recognition paperwork with the Secretary of State's office.
Advertising itself as America's new libertarian alternative, the Boston Tea Party was founded in 2006 and today boasts nine state affiliates, two sitting public officials, and a presidential ticket topped by Hollywood, Florida's Charles Jay. That ticket has secured a ballot line in Colorado, is pursuing access in other states, and expects to turn in a list of 27 electors to appear on Florida's November ballot before the August 29th deadline.
The Florida BTP intends to tap its chair, John Wayne Smith of Leesburg, for the vice-presidential nomination. Smith, 63, of Leesburg polled 16,000 votes in the state's 2006 gubernatorial election and was a long-time activist in the state's Libertarian Party prior to helping organize the new party's state affiliate. Party founder Thomas L. Knapp of Missouri is the party's national vice-presidential nominee, but says that he expects most state affiliates will replace him with "favorite sons and daughters" on their ballot lines.
The party's national umbrella organization conducts its operations entirely online and requires of its members only that they endorse the party's one-sentence platform: "The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose."
BOSTON TEA PARTY WEB SITE
http://www.bostontea.us
