New York’s dysfunctional system never fails to disappoint. Just when you think it can’t get any more deceptive and corrupt, it’s proven once again why New York has the most dysfunctional government two years running, and is by all accounts headed for a third.

Recent comments by Rochester Tea Party leader Chris Edes make the connection between New York’s entrenched political machine, and so-called “reform” candidates Carl Paladino and Kristen Davis, all too clear.

Last year, Free & Equal reported on the efforts by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s chief petition coordinator and operative, John Haggerty, to knock legitimate candidates off the ballot, ensuring Mayor Bloomberg’s control of New York City politics. Haggerty is finally facing justice, as he was recently indicted for grand larceny related to misuse of campaign funds.

While Mayor Bloomberg’s loyalty has taken flight, gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino recently came to Haggerty’s defense. Why not? Haggerty is also Paladino’s petition coordinator and advisor.

Paladino, who is running as a Republican, and Taxpayer or “Tea Party” candidate, was discovered to have funneled tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns through numerous shell organizations, including the campaign committee of Assembly Democratic leader Sheldon Silver. For reasons unknown these articles, which highlight publicly available information from the Board of Elections, have been pulled but are still available from Google’s cache.

“When I heard about this, I was livid,” said Edes. “Silver is as far from the Tea Party as you can get. The man stands for everything that’s wrong with New York politics.”

“Paladino has now declared his intent to levy taxes on Native Americans and steal private property using eminent domain,” Edes continued. “The Rochester Tea Party supports the Seneca Nation and that wont change. I guess Paladino is fine with using the government jackboot as long as it’s on his foot. I can no longer remain silent while the man perpetrates his fraud.”

“It’s sad that some Tea Party leaders have been misled, outright lied to, or in a few cases, sold out to, the Paladino campaign’s false promises of reform and fiscal accountability.”

Free & Equal has confirmed with the New York State Board of Elections that Paladino paid $20,000 in “consulting fees” to Rus Thompson, a Tea Party leader from Grand Island, NY.

Not to be left out, Republican political operative Roger Stone’s leaked emails indicate his intention to also hire Haggerty as petition coordinator. Stone recently came to Haggerty’s defense as well.

Stone is publicly known as the GOP power player behind the “independent” campaign of Kristen Davis. In his leaked correspondence, Stone threatened to file lawsuits and falsely represent Davis as the Libertarian Party nominee. Last month, after issuing a press release indicating her intention to petition on the Reform Party line, Davis herself was threatened with a lawsuit from the National Reform Party.

New York’s “choices” appear less diverse every day. Whether it’s a Tea Party candidate who doesn’t represent Tea Party values, or a “reform” candidate run by a longtime GOP political operative, and facing a lawsuit from the real Reform Party, New York voters are getting more of the same corruption disguised as reform.

“Isn’t it odd how these people all work together?” asked Free & Equal Founder and President Christina Tobin. “The connections from Davis and Paladino, to Haggerty and Stone, betray their true allegiance to New York’s political machine.”

Free & Equal condemns the deception being perpetrated against New York voters. New York has never needed reform more desperately, and it is beyond shameful that the state’s power players are now packaging more of their corruption as “reform”.