Members of Rochester, NY, area tea party organizations are expanding from their roles as political protesters, to proactively vetting and supporting candidates. This growing grassroots interest in regional, state, and national politics has not escaped the attention of many upstart conservative candidates.

Candidates who in the recent past might have found the established political machinery of the Republican and Democratic Parties difficult to harness, are now finding a base of passionate and motivated campaign volunteers among tea party organizations. A prime example of one such candidate is Ann Marie Buerkle, who is the congressional candidate for the Republican and Conservative parties running against Democrat incumbent Daniel Maffei in New York’s 25th Congressional District.

Ann Marie Buerkle, Congressional Candidate for NY-25, is receiving a groundswell of grassroots support in the form of campaign voluteers from area tea party organizations (Photo courtesy of http://BuerkleforCongress.com )

Ann Marie Buerkle, Congressional Candidate for NY-25, is receiving a groundswell of grassroots support in the form of campaign voluteers from Rochester area tea party organizations (Photo courtesy of http://BuerkleforCongress.com )

Buerkle’s straightforward platform, which calls for a return to constitutionally limited governance and fiscal conservatism that includes the complete repeal of the recently enacted Health Care Reform Act, has struck a positive chord among many tea party members. She has already been formally vetted by several groups including the Genesee Valley Patriots, Victor Tea Party, and the We Surround Rochester 912 Project (WSR), which currently boasts well over 1000 members. In addition, all of these groups have members who have mobilized to volunteer for the campaigns of Buerkle and other candidates.

Recently, a WSR sponsored organizational meeting in Rochester for one candidate had over 50 volunteers in attendanc.  At the beginning of the meeting, Paul Simpson, a lead coordinator for WSR, was quick to point out that the event was a meeting of individuals coming together in support of the candidate, and in no way an official endorsement of the candidate by the WSR organization. This distinction is also prevalent among tea party participants who have recently attended election strategy workshops and political action training events such as those offered by instructors from the American Majority, sponsored by the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, which have been held in cities around Western New York.

Other potential congressional candidates who are receiving attention from area tea party organizations include Tom Reed, who is running for former Congressman Eric Massa’s vacated seat in the 29th District, Michael Giuliano, who is exploring running against Congresswoman Louise Slaughter in the the 28th district, Fred Smerlas, a Rochester radio personality, also interested in the congressional seat in the 28th, and Leonard Roberto, who is running for congress in the 27th District. This phenomenon may prove to be a major equalizer for more conservative New York candidates who are running against well-entrenched incumbents with better access to resources and money from their respective national party committees.

Tea party organizations have already had a major influences during the primary season for the Republican Party, and tea party-backed candidates are threatening several seats held by incumbent Democrats.  Two notable examples are the loss for the nomination for Republican Senator Bob Bennett from Utah, and Florida Governor Charlie Crist who abandoned a Republican bid for the Senate in the face of overwhelming tea party support of Republican Marco Rubio.  Crist has since began a campaign as an independent and polls now show him with a slight edge in a three-way race.