Rafael Méndez, b. ca1950
VP candidate for New Alliance Party (1988)
Running mate with nominee: Lenora Fulani (b. 1950)
Popular vote: 9,445 (0.01%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
In 1988 Lenora Fulani was the nominee for the New Alliance Party. She managed to achieve the nearly impossible task of gaining ballot status in all 50 states + DC. In some cases the NAP worked with already existing third parties such as the Solidarity Party and United Citizens Party. In California they tried but failed to take over the Peace and Freedom Party and in the process temporarily derailed the PFP for that election year.
Meanwhile, Dennis L. Serrette the NAP Presidential nominee for 1984, denounced the Party as a toxic cult during the 1988 election season. This point of view would be shared by several in the cultbusting community.
Fulani had eight running-mates in 1988, stating "If we got elected, we'd figure it out." Rafael Méndez, a Fred Newman disciple of Puerto Rican heritage, was on the ballot with Fulani in New Mexico and Texas. He was also running for US Congress in New York as a member of the NAP. His general pattern was to initially run for public office in the primaries as a Democrat, then as a member of the NAP in the main election.
In 1987 Fulani said the NAP was prepared to endorse Jesse Jackson in the event he won the Democratic nomination, but in case he didn't her campaign was forging ahead.
The NAP platform included national health care, support for AIDS victims, recognition of Native American treaty rights, stronger environmental regulations, a freeze on military spending, ending aid to South Africa-Contras in Central America-Israel, support of pro-choice laws, support of public transportation.
I could not find any evidence Méndez actually campaigned in either of the states where he ran as Fulani's VP. Since Fulani and Méndez were apparently both residents of New York, there would have been a Constitutional problem in the event they had won.
Nationally Fulani gained 217,221 votes (0.24%) and placed 4th, a truly impressive and historic finish on many levels-- for openers, Fulani was the first African American woman to be listed on every US ballot. The Fulani/Méndez ticket finished with 0.43% in New Mexico and 0.13% in Texas.
Election history:
1985 - New York City Comptroller (Democratic) - primary - defeated
1985 - New York City Comptroller (New Alliance Party) - defeated
1986 - Lt. Governor of New York (New Alliance Party) - defeated
1987 - Bronx Borough President (NY) (Democratic) - primary - defeated
1988 - US House of Representatives (NY) (New Alliance Party) - defeated
1989 - New York City Council President (Democratic) - primary - defeated
1989 - New York City Council President (New Alliance Party) - defeated
1991 - New York City Council (Democratic) - primary - defeated
1991 - New York City Council (New Alliance Party) - defeated
1992 - US House of Representatives (NY) (Democratic) - primary - defeated
1992 - US House of Representatives (NY) (New Alliance Party) - defeated
1993 - New York City Council (New Alliance Party) - defeated
Other occupations: assistant professor of psychology at Bronx Community College, author, air traffic controller in the Vetnam War, roofer, security guard, truck driver, actor
Notes:
One of the other Democrats defeated in the 1992 primary was Stephen Joshua Solarz.
Co-editor, with Lois Holzman of Psychological Investigations: A Clinician's Guide to Social Therapy
(2003)
Ph.D. in psychology, Boston University 1983.
Later became involved with the Independence Party of New York.
