IN RE: DESEAN M. COOPER (2011)

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York.

IN RE: DESEAN M. COOPER, CHARLES G. MASICH, DYLAN G. QUINLAN, JASON M. PAZDA, WENDY A. BICKNELL, TIMOTHY R. HOAK, SANDRA J. ROSENSWIE, GLENN MCLAUGHLIN AND MARYRUTH MORRIS, PETITIONERS–APPELLANTS, v. DENNIS E. WARD AND RALPH M. MOHR, COMMISSIONERS OF AND CONSTITUTING ERIE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, DOUGLAS A. KELLNER, EVELYN J. AQUILA, JAMES A. WALSH AND GREGORY P. PETERSON, COMMISSIONERS OF AND CONSTITUTING NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, BARBARA MILLER WILLIAMS, KEVIN R. HARDWICK, SHELLY D. SCHRATZ, EDWARD A. RATH, MICHAEL W. COLE, LYNN D. DIXON, JOSEPH C. LORIGO, JOHN J. MILLS AND RAYMOND W. WALTER, CANDIDATES, NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENCE PARTY COMMITTEE, NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENCE PARTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, FRANK MCKAY, PRESIDING OFFICER OF, AND WILLIAM BOGARDT, SECRETARY OF, A PURPORTED MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENCE PARTY COMMITTEE, RESPONDENTS–RESPONDENTS.

CAE 11–02043

Decided: October 28, 2011

PRESENT:  CENTRA, J.P., CARNI, LINDLEY, SCONIERS, AND GREEN, JJ.

JEROME D. SCHAD, WILLIAMSVILLE, FOR PETITIONERS–APPELLANTS. EMILIO COLAIACOVO, BUFFALO, KEVIN GIBBONS, AND RONALD BENNETT, HOLLAND, FOR RESPONDENTS–RESPONDENTS BARBARA MILLER WILLIAMS, KEVIN R. HARDWICK, SHELLY D. SCHRATZ, EDWARD A. RATH, MICHAEL W. COLE, LYNN D. DIXON, JOSEPH C. LORIGO, JOHN J. MILLS AND RAYMOND W. WALTER, CANDIDATES. LAW OFFICES OF JAMES E. WALSH, SCHENECTADY (JAMES E. WALSH OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENTS–RESPONDENTS NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENCE PARTY COMMITTEE, NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENCE PARTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, FRANK MCKAY, PRESIDING OFFICER OF, AND WILLIAM BOGARDT, SECRETARY OF, A PURPORTED MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF NEW