Patty Ritchie, the Republican, Conservative and Taxpayer Party candidate for state Senate District 48, has been endorsed by an organization called New Yorkers for Growth.

But it’s pretty hard to figure out who belongs to the group.

New Yorkers for Growth identifies itself as a group of people who are “dedicated to the proposition that the prosperity of the Empire State requires a fundamental change in state and local economic policies.”

While many political groups that endorse candidates list officers and prominent members on their letterhead, and their web sites have a “Who We Are” page, a thorough look at newyorkersforgrowth.com reveals no such information.

It does make reference to itself as a PAC, or a political action committee. PACs generally represent a specific interest group or position, raising and spending funds in behalf of issues and candidates.

When asked who the people behind New Yorkers for Growth are, a Ritchie campaign spokesman e-mailed back:

“New Yorkers for Growth is a group of concerned citizens, including some prominent and well known former officials, like John Faso, who advocate lower taxes, reduced spending and pro-growth jobs policies. They are supporting candidates who share their view that Albany is seriously off track, and that change is needed to get the state moving in the right direction.

“You can learn more at their website, http://www.newyorkersforgrowth.com/about-n.y.f.g.asp.”

The site lists position papers on “Health Care Courts for New York,” “Reforming Regulation to Reduce New York's Exorbitant Cost of Living,” “Corporate Tax Reform,” “School Property Taxes,” “Reforming Workforce Development,” but no authors of the papers.

Also not listed are those responsible for the site or the endorsements, not even Mr. Faso, the unsuccessful 2006 Republican candidate for governor. The exceptions are someone who will answer questions about campaign contributions, and a former Senate candidate identified as a spokeswoman, Liz Feld.

“Endorsements will be non-partisan and the PAC will support candidates, regardless of party, who express support for policies of fiscal responsibility at the state and local level,” it says under the heading Criteria for Endorsement. All of the candidates it has endorsed for the November election so far are listed as Republicans, many also with third-party backing as well.

On the Web site’s “Mission Statement” page, it says in part:

“Special-interest groups often wield a disproportionate share of political power in Albany because of their ability to finance political campaigns. NYFG seeks to level the playing field by providing financial assistance to those candidates who will stand up to special interests and favor the principle of fiscal responsibility towards all State taxpayers.”

In contrast, NYUprising.org is the Web site of the group NY Uprising started by former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, which has been labeling candidates as “heroes” and “enemies,” Republicans and Democrats, depending on whether or not they have signed on to the group’s pledge calling for non-partisan independent redistricting, responsible budgeting, and ethics reform.

NYUprising.org lists several prominent Republicans and Democrats among its trustees, including Koch and another former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, former governor Mario Cuomo.

Ritchie’s announcement of the endorsement said New Yorkers for Growth “said it was ‘confident’ that Ritchie, who is running on a platform of cutting wasteful spending and rolling back Albany’s recent tax hikes, has what it takes to turn New York around.”

Ritchie’s announcement said she welcomed the endorsement.

"New York families and small businesses can no longer afford to pay the price for irresponsible fiscal policy in Albany," said the group’s Feld. “New York State can turn itself around, but we need to begin electing candidates with the guts and foresight to do what's necessary to achieve that."

“Albany’s taxes and overspending are ruining our economy and costing us jobs. We need to stand up to the tax-and-spend special interests who have driven our state off the rails, and start putting New York back on the right track,” Ritchie said.

For a March 2009 profile of New Yorkers for Growth, view story from The Capitol