Duane Whitmer

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Duane Whitmer

Libertarian Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 7, 2023

Education

Bachelor's

State University of New York, Fredonia

Personal

Birthplace

Olean, N.Y.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Accountant

Duane Whitmer (Libertarian Party) ran for election for Erie County Executive in New York. He lost in the general election on November 7, 2023.

Biography

Duane Whitmer was born in Olean, New York. He received a bachelor's degree from SUNY Fredonia in 2009. He began working as an accountant in 2009.

Elections

2023

See also: Municipal elections in Erie County, New York (2023)

General election

General election for Erie County Executive

Incumbent Mark Poloncarz defeated Chrissy Casilio and Duane Whitmer in the general election for Erie County Executive on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Poloncarz (D / Working Families Party)	58.5	118,308
	Submit photo	Chrissy Casilio (R / Conservative Party)	40.1	81,072
		Duane Whitmer (L)	1.1	2,323
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	463

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 202,166
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Mark Poloncarz advanced from the Democratic primary for Erie County Executive.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Chrissy Casilio advanced from the Republican primary for Erie County Executive.

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Chrissy Casilio advanced from the Conservative Party primary for Erie County Executive.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Harold Schroeder (Conservative Party)

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Mark Poloncarz advanced from the Working Families Party primary for Erie County Executive.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Poloncarz in this election.

2021

See also: Municipal elections in Erie County, New York (2021)

General election

General election for Erie County Comptroller

Kevin Hardwick defeated Lynne Dixon and Duane Whitmer in the general election for Erie County Comptroller on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Kevin Hardwick (D / Working Families Party / Integrity Party)	53.3	119,284
		Lynne Dixon (R / Conservative Party)	45.8	102,528
		Duane Whitmer (L)	0.8	1,758
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	136

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 223,706
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Kevin Hardwick advanced from the Democratic primary for Erie County Comptroller.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Hormoz Mansouri (D)

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Lynne Dixon advanced from the Republican primary for Erie County Comptroller.

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Lynne Dixon advanced from the Conservative Party primary for Erie County Comptroller.

Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Duane Whitmer advanced from the Libertarian primary for Erie County Comptroller.

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Kevin Hardwick advanced from the Working Families Party primary for Erie County Comptroller.

2020

Regular election

See also: New York's 27th Congressional District election, 2020

New York's 27th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 23 Republican primary)

New York's 27th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 23 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House New York District 27

Incumbent Christopher Jacobs defeated Nate McMurray and Duane Whitmer in the general election for U.S. House New York District 27 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christopher Jacobs (R / Conservative Party / Independence Party)	59.7	228,885
		Nate McMurray (D / Working Families Party)	39.0	149,449
		Duane Whitmer (L)	1.3	4,877
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	120

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 383,331
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Michael Gammariello (G)
• Beth Parlato (Conservative Party)

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Nate McMurray advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New York District 27.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Melodie Baker (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 27

Incumbent Christopher Jacobs defeated Beth Parlato and Stefan Mychajliw Jr. in the Republican primary for U.S. House New York District 27 on June 23, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christopher Jacobs	59.1	40,459
		Beth Parlato	21.6	14,805
	Submit photo	Stefan Mychajliw Jr.	18.5	12,650
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8	573

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 68,487
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Frank Smierciak (R)
• Robert Ortt (R)

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Beth Parlato advanced from the Conservative Party primary for U.S. House New York District 27.

Green primary election

The Green primary election was canceled. Michael Gammariello advanced from the Green primary for U.S. House New York District 27.

Independence Party primary election

The Independence Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Christopher Jacobs advanced from the Independence Party primary for U.S. House New York District 27.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for U.S. House New York District 27

Duane Whitmer defeated Nicholas Phelps in the Libertarian primary for U.S. House New York District 27 on June 23, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Duane Whitmer	74.6	188
	Submit photo	Nicholas Phelps	24.6	62
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8	2

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 252
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Scott Flynn (L)

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Nate McMurray advanced from the Working Families Party primary for U.S. House New York District 27.

Special election

See also: New York's 27th Congressional District special election, 2020

General election

Special general election for U.S. House New York District 27

Christopher Jacobs defeated Nate McMurray, Duane Whitmer, and Michael Gammariello in the special general election for U.S. House New York District 27 on June 23, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christopher Jacobs (R / Independence Party)	51.8	81,085
		Nate McMurray (D / Working Families Party)	46.6	72,998
		Duane Whitmer (L)	1.0	1,500
		Michael Gammariello (G)	0.7	1,045

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 156,628
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mark Poloncarz did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.

2021

Duane Whitmer did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Duane Whitmer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Whitmer's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Duane Whitmer is an accountant and small business owner from Franklinville, NY who currently resides in Hamburg, NY. A SUNY Fredonia graduate in 2009 with a bachelors of science in accounting, Duane spent 7 years in public and private accounting before opening his own firm in 2014. Duane enjoys playing soccer and volleyball after working. Duane is the current chairman of the Erie County (NY) Libertarian Committee, starting in August 2019. As an accountant, Duane works specifically with small businesses and not for profits. He has seen the devastating effects the tax code has had on the growth of small businesses. He has also seen corporations get tax payer subsidies while smaller locally owned businesses get hung out to dry.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• End the war
• Repeal tax on social security income
• Revitalize the Small Business Administration

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As an accountant, Duane specializes in working with the tax code. He would love to see it restructured to help the middle class and small business owners more. He also would like to see the small business association revamped to where it actually loans to small businesses to allow them to grow. He would like to see the wars in the Middle East come to an end, and no more wars started in other countries. He would like to see government stop sending money to foreign countries and instead be spent on rebuilding the infrastructure of the USA.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

As a libertarian I look up to Larry Sharpe, he was able to get us ballot access in New York State which allowed candidates like me to run and have an easier time. In non politics I look up to both my father and step father. Two of the hardest working men I have ever met. I was lucky to have them raise me.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Dignity, honesty, and the ability to be humble. As an accountant, I don't know everything. You have to be able to adapt as you listen to specific professionals.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to show the country a third party candidate can win, and make an impact. I would like to set a precedent for other people interested in getting involved. If I win, I can give a blue print to others to show how it is possible for a third party to win elections on a federal level.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

2000 election Bush v Gore. The 'hanging chad' election. I was 13.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

SUNY Fredonia library. All four years of college.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme Back My Bullets. Favorite song of all time - describes my life so well.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Absolutely not - if you are to represent your district, most of your constituents don't have any political experience either. A true representative would have experience working with people in the district. Also, real life experience is important in its own way. Dealing with a bureaucracy that is know to be inefficient and corrupt doesn't make a great representative.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Division and lack of unity. As people become more divided, they are easy to manipulate and convince to hate the other side. If the US population came together and realized they are being fooled by politicians, we can start to remove the lame duck politicians and vote in people who truly care and want to see positive change.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

No, this means that they have to constantly fundraise for re election as soon as their election is over. I would say 4 or even 6 year terms would be more acceptable.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Yes, spending 40 years in Congress while not passing many bills doesn't make a good representative. If you had a real job, and didn't do much you'd be fired, but since most elections are a popularity contest based on who has the most money. It's harder to fire these politicians.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2023 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

Search Google News for this topic