Rich Purtell

Rich Purtell
Legislative Affairs Director Libertarian Party of New York
2022—present
Predecessor:	Position Established
Successor:	Incumbent
2nd Vice-Chair Libertarian Party of New York
September 18, 2022—September 21, 2024
Predecessor:	Duane Whitmer
Successor:	Daniel Castello
Political Director Libertarian Party of New York
January 7, 2018—June 2, 2019
Predecessor:	Brian Waddell
Successor:	Paul Grindle
Secretary Tioga County Libertarian Party
April 25, 2017—June 8, 2019
Predecessor:	Position Established
Successor:	Sara Price
Personal Details
Party:	Libertarian Party

Richard "Rich" Purtell is a mechanical engineer and Libertarian Party activist. He has serves as an officer on the local and state levels and has run for office as a candidate numerous times. He is the current 2nd Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of New York and the founder and current Vice-Chair of the Tioga County Libertarian Party. Purtell has run several political campigns, including State Senate (2015), State Assembly (2016), and twice for Owego Town Council (2017 and 2019). He has written several editorials on libertarian polices and ideas for local publications.

Biography

Purtell was first involved in the Libertarian Party in 2015 when he ran for New York State Senate in District 52. The same year, he was appointed Temporary County Chair of the Tioga County Libertarian Party in order to form a new county chapter. In 2016, he was a candidate for New York State Assembly in District 124 and also served as a Field Director for several counties in the eastern Southern Tier for hte Gary Johnson campaign.

The Tioga chapter was formed in 2017 and he was elected its first Secretary and served as the chapter's representative to the State Committee. He also ran for Owego Town Council that year. When the LPNY reorganized its committees into divisions, Purtell was appointed Political Director in January 2018. In 2019, he completed his term as Secretary of the Tioga affiliate and when the LPNY was restructuring, he focused on his second run for Owego Town Council.

In 2020, Purtell was elected to the new State Committee, which was now officially recognized by the New York State Board of Elections. He took his seat in September 2020 and was elected as a Member-At-Large of the Executive Committee. In 2021, he ran for Tioga County Legislature. In 2022, he was elected 2nd Vice-Chair of the LPNY. In 2023, he was elected Vice-Chair of the Tioga affiliate.

Political Campaigns

2015 State Senate Campaign

In 2015, Purtell ran for New York State Senate's District 52.

2016 State Assembly Campaign

In 2016, Purtell ran for New York State Assembly's District 124.

He was also the Eastern Southern Tier Area Field Director for the Johnson/Weld campaign.

2017 Owego Town Council Campaign

In 2017, Purtell ran for Town Council in Owego, New York.

2019 Owego Town Council Campaign

In 2019, Purtell ran for Town Council in Owego, New York.

2021 Tioga County Legislature

In 2021, Purtell annoucned his candidacy for Tioga County Legislature.

Organizational Positions

Libertarian Party of New York

• 2nd Vice-Chair (September 18, 2022—present)
• Legislative Affairs Director (2022—present)
• Member-At-Large (September 27, 2020—September 18, 2022)
• Political Director (January 7, 2018—June 2, 2019)
• Chair, Legislative Affairs Committee. (2021—present)

Tioga County Libertarian Party

• Vice-Chair (March 15, 2023—present)
• Secretary (May 7, 2017—June 8, 2019)
• State Representative (May 7, 2017—June 8, 2019)
• Temporary County Chair (August 2, 2015—May 7, 2017)

External links

• Campaign Facebook Page