Larry Sharpe (political activist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Larry Sharpe
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Sharpe in 2018
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| Born | July 12, 1968 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Education | University of Maryland University College (BA) |
| Occupation | Business consultant |
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| Political party | Libertarian |
| Children | 2 |
| Military career | |
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United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1986–1993 |
| Rank | Staff sergeant |
Larry David Sharpe (born July 12, 1968) is an American business expert and political activist. He helps businesses grow and shares his ideas about government. Larry Sharpe has run for important political roles. He was a candidate for Vice President of the United States in 2016. He also ran for Governor of New York in both 2018 and 2022. He is a member of the Libertarian Party.
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Larry Sharpe's Early Life and Work
Larry Sharpe was born in Manhattan, New York, on July 12, 1968. He was adopted when he was a baby. At age 17, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He served in the Marines from 1986 to 1993.
After his military service, he earned a college degree in anthropology. Anthropology is the study of human societies and cultures. He then worked as an English teacher. In 2001, he started his own trucking company, Prime Distribution Inc. He later sold this company. In 2004, Larry Sharpe created an online company called Neo-Sage Group, Inc. This company teaches people about business. He is still the managing director of Neo-Sage Group.
Larry Sharpe's Political Journey
Larry Sharpe is an active member of the Libertarian Party. This party believes in less government control and more individual freedom. He wants to help the party grow by supporting local campaigns. He used to be on the Libertarian National Committee. This is a group that helps lead the party.
Running for Vice President in 2016
In 2016, Larry Sharpe wanted to become the Libertarian Party's candidate for Vice President. He ran during the 2016 Libertarian National Convention. He came in second place in the voting. Another candidate, Bill Weld, won the nomination.
Running for New York Governor in 2018
On July 12, 2017, Larry Sharpe announced he would run for Governor of New York. He was the first person to challenge the current governor, Andrew Cuomo, in that election. He officially became the Libertarian candidate on April 21, 2018. Andrew Hollister joined him as the candidate for Lieutenant Governor.
Sharpe's campaign raised a lot of money. It was the most money ever raised by a Libertarian candidate for governor in New York. He also visited all 62 counties in New York State during his campaign.
On Election Day, Larry Sharpe received 95,033 votes. This was about 1.6% of all votes. He came in fourth place. His strong performance helped the Libertarian Party of New York gain automatic access to the ballot for future elections. This means they don't have to collect as many signatures to get their candidates listed.
After the 2018 Campaign
After the 2018 election, Larry Sharpe continued to travel and speak across New York State. Since 2019, he has hosted a podcast called The Sharpe Way.
Running for Vice President in 2020
In 2020, Larry Sharpe again sought the Libertarian Party's nomination for Vice President. He was the running mate for Judge Jim Gray. However, after Jim Gray was no longer a candidate, Larry Sharpe also withdrew from the race.
Running for New York Governor in 2022
On October 5, 2021, Larry Sharpe announced he was thinking about running for Governor of New York again. He officially started his campaign on February 16, 2022. He hoped to be on the ballot for the Libertarian Party, the Forward Party, and the Unite Party. The Forward Party supported his campaign.
He received the Libertarian nomination for governor on February 19, 2022. Andrew Hollister was again chosen as his running mate. In July 2022, the New York State Board of Elections said Sharpe did not meet the rules to be on the official ballot. So, he continued his campaign as a write-in candidate. This means people had to write his name on the ballot themselves.
Running for Vice President in 2024
In 2024, Larry Sharpe was the running mate for Lars Mapstead. Mapstead was seeking the Libertarian Party's nomination for president. At the 2024 Libertarian National Convention, Mapstead did not win enough votes and was dropped. Larry Sharpe then withdrew from the Vice Presidential nomination.
Larry Sharpe's Political Ideas
Larry Sharpe has clear ideas about how government should work. He supports reducing rules and laws that he thinks make it hard for people to start businesses. ..... He has suggested selling the naming rights to bridges and highways in New York to raise money.
Views on the Economy
Sharpe believes that reducing government rules helps the economy grow. He wants to stop funding the enforcement of rules that he sees as unnecessary. He thinks that rules requiring licenses for jobs like barbers or dog walkers make it hard for people to start small businesses. He calls these rules "barriers to entry." To reduce the state's debt, he wants to get rid of rules that force local governments to spend money without getting state funds. He also wants to lower property taxes and eventually get rid of the New York state income tax.
Ideas on Education
Larry Sharpe wants to give more control over education to local communities. He has suggested a "K-10" model for schools. This would mean high school ends earlier to help students get ready for jobs or college sooner. He also does not support standardized testing until high school. He believes these tests can hurt students with special needs or those who don't test well.
He has also said he would not accept money from the federal government for education. He would also get rid of the Board of Regents. This board oversees education in New York.
Views on Gun Laws
During his 2018 campaign, Larry Sharpe promised to get rid of the NY SAFE Act by 2020 if he became governor. This act has rules about firearms. He also said he would pardon people convicted under this law. Sharpe supports allowing teachers and school staff to carry firearms in schools if they choose to.
Larry Sharpe's Family Life
Larry Sharpe lives in Queens, New York. He lives with his wife, Georgia, and their two children.
Books by Larry Sharpe
- Consorte, D., Sharpe, L., Goulston, M., Hall, T., & Hogan, K. (2023). Back After Burnout: Master your BURNOUT RECOVERY with the MASHPLAY framework.
- ter Maat, M., Borders, M., Consorte, D., Mavrakakis, I., Sharpe, L., Sammeroff, A., Paige, R., Jiminez, A. (2023). A Gold New Deal: The Government We Will Tolerate.
