Leaders of the Waco Tea Party announced Thursday the organization will not back candidates in the 2010 election.

The nonendorsement message, made at a midday news conference in front of Waco City Hall, is in keeping with earlier statements from officials of the conservative Waco group that the local tea party would not formally align itself with political parties or candidates.

It also separates the Waco Tea Party from a number of tea party groups across the country that have endorsed candidates, notably the California-based Tea Party Express.

Waco Tea Party co-founder Michael Simon speaks at a news conference announcing the group’s decision not to formally endorse candidates in the upcoming general election.

However, the conference was a curveball for local media outlets.

The group’s board issued a news release a day earlier carrying the headline “The Waco Tea Party will announce their endorsements for the Nov. 2nd, 2010 General Elections!”

The group’s vice president, Michael Simon, said the announcement constitutes an endorsement of “the voter.”

“As a movement based on American principles and not partisan politics, the Waco Tea Party does not, and is not, supporting or endorsing candidates of any political stripe running for office,” said Michael Simon, the group’s vice president.

Still, individual tea party members and leaders have been active in recent campaigns and will continue to be during the general election.

“We realize individuals who support our organization do volunteer, work for, support or endorse candidates and political parties,” said Carol Waddell, the Waco Tea Party’s treasurer. “We applaud those individuals for being active in the political process. However, those actions are not related to the Waco Tea Party organization.”

In a recent special election, Waco Tea Party president Toby Marie Walker recorded an automated phone call on behalf of now-state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, slamming his opponent, former state Sen. David Sibley, R-Waco, for drawing support from a prominent Waco Democratic donor.

Simon also said speeches from mainly Republican candidates at Waco Tea Party events don’t signify tea party backing or approval. Such speeches, he argued, are meant to educate the tea party’s members.

mshapiro@wacotrib.com

757-5707