Sunday, May 19, 2013

Northampton County Libertarian Party Endorses Roy Minet For LPPA State Chair

The Libertarian Party of Northampton County has voted unanimously to endorse Roy Minet of Lancaster County for State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. The election of state officers will take place at the business meeting of the LPPA Annual Convention scheduled for the morning of Saturday, June 8, 2013 at the Harrisburg Hilton.

Dr. Tom Stevens, County Chair of the Northampton County LP and Immediate Past Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, said the following in response to the endorsement:

I worked closely with Roy Minet in 2012 as we successfully defended our Libertarian Party petitions against an aggressive GOP challenge. As a result, Gary Johnson and our statewide candidates were on the ballot in Pennsylvania and because of the vote totals obtained by our statewide candidates, we regained Minor Party status. Roy scheduled and coordinated the 20+ volunteers we needed each day to defend our petitions and was named a Libertarian Ballot Access Hero by LP News. During this 9-week challenge and during my term in office, Roy also served as Media Relations and Marketing Committee Chair for the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. He is a tireless, committed activist for liberty whose only goal is to build the LP.

The Northampton County LP had no problem deciding to endorse Roy Minet for State Chair. His announced opponent, Steve Scheetz of Montgomery County, refused to endorse Gary Johnson for President and his chapter was the epicenter of Jim Babb's.Vote for Nobody campaign, In addition, Mr. Scheetz did not obtain a single petition signature for Gary Johnson or the LPPA's statewide candidates and didn't commit a single hour to help defend our petitions against the GOP challenge. The endorsement of Roy Minet for State Chair was a no-brainer for our membership. Roy is clearly the more qualified candidate and would do a superb job if elected..

The Northampton County LP General Membership Meeting was held in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 18, 2013.

Northampton County Libertarian Party Endorses Jeremy Clark For Pennsylvania House Of Representatives District 136

On May 18, 2013, the Libertarian Party of Northampton County voted unanimously to endorse Jeremy Clark as the Libertarian Party's candidate for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 136, a district located entirely in Northampton County.

In accepting the nomination, Jeremy Clark wrote:

I am thrilled and honored by the endorsement of the Northampton County Libertarian Party to be the next Representative for the 136th District. The members of the Northampton County Libertarian Party work tirelessly for liberty in the county and across the state. Their members played a crucial role in fighting the cowardly GOP attempt to limit voters' options and remove Gary Johnson from the ballot last year.

Similarly, it is in the name of a real choice that I am running. Every election cycle voters are limited to two - increasingly similar - parties. All the while, the obvious issues are never addressed. The sad truth is that the two parties care more about elections, power, and money than solving problems.

I am a libertarian because I believe that a freer society is a better society. I believe that we get better results as individuals and communities than from the dictates of Harrisburg and Washington. I believe the corruption of the Turnpike Commission, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, the IRS, and countless other agencies are merely examples of the inevitable consequences of party over principle. I believe our system needs a serious reform movement that focuses on transparency and local solutions.

I am running for office in the 136th because I love this community. I was born in Pennsylvania but I married into the Lehigh Valley. I met my wife Liz, and Easton native, at the University of Delaware. After graduating and serving 4 years as an infantry officer in the Army including three combat tours, I was finally able to return to Pennsylvania. I attended law school at Villanova and now have a private practice in Easton where I live with Liz and our two daughters. It would be an honor to serve as the Representative for this community that I have come to love so much.

Dr. Tom Stevens, County Chair of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County, said:

In nominating Jeremy Clark, we have endorsed an American Hero, a devoted family man and an American Patriot dedicated to preserving our freedoms and protecting us from intrusive government that continues to undermine our civil liberties and fails to respect our individual rights. Once the people of the 136th District get to know Jeremy Clark, I have no doubt they will want him to serve as their State Representative. The Northampton LP is honored to have found such a qualified and charismatic candidate to run for this office. 

The election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 136 takes place in 2014. The district is currently represented by Robert L. Freeman, a Democrat, who has served since 1999.



Thursday, May 16, 2013

Jordan Stella Re-Appointed President Of The Objectivist Party Of Indiana

Effective May 5, 2013, Jordan Stella was re-appointed President of the Objectivist Party of Indiana (OPIN) by the Governing Board of the Objectivist Party.

In accepting the re-appointment, Jordan Stella said:

I'm an Objectivist because I believe in freedom, first and foremost. Rational thinking should be the basis for our society, not greed. I want to thank Dr. Stevens for his continued support and for giving me the opportunity to promote reason, liberty, and Objectivism to the world.

The Objectivist Party of Indiana was chartered on October 10, 2008. Its first President was Marc Oestreich, who served from October 10, 2008 through November 12, 2009. Its second President was Sam Varriano, who served from November 12, 2009 to May 5, 2011. Jordan Stella was appointed OPIN President on May 5, 2011.

The Objectivist Party was founded by Thomas Robert Stevens on February 2, 2008, Ayn Rand's birthday. It seeks to promote Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism in the political realm.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Libertarian Party New York City Nominating Convention Minutes (April 9, 2013)


Libertarian Party New York City Nominating Convention

Minutes of the April 9, 2013 Business Meeting

 New York Irish Center, Long Island City, Queens
 
The meeting was called to order by John Clifton, LPQC Chair, at 7:30 p.m.

As LP Chair of the hosting county for the event, John Clifton acknowledged his appointment as NYC Convention Chair Pro Tem and Matthew Kelly as NYC Convention Secretary Pro Tem. Both were accepted without objection. 

Chair announced the meeting agenda would follow the outline submitted on the correspondence sent to properly notice the convention:  1) Nomination of Citywide Candidates. 2) Discussion and Motion to authorize developing citywide ballot initiatives. 3) Adjournment.

The Agenda was adopted without objection.

Chair ruled the format of the meeting would be relaxed with regards to Robert’s Rules and parliamentary procedure. There was no objection.

Chair also ruled the LPNY Bylaw provision describing the credentialing status of the attendees of the city convention was not sufficiently clear (concerning whether or not LP borough chapter members who were not LPNY members could vote), and as a result of the ambiguity, Chair would side with the precedent set by previous city conventions, and include all LP borough chapter members present as eligible to vote.

Blay Tarnoff (LPNY Secretary) objected, and made a motion to overrule the Chair. Motion was seconded, followed by discussion, but the motion FAILED. Tarnoff continued to interrupt proceedings to reprove the credentialing ruling through the remainder of the meeting.

Nominations were opened for Mayor. Candidates nominated included Sam Sloan, Carl Person, Kristin Davis (who declined), Joe Lhota, and NOTA (None of the Above). Nominations were then closed. Davis’s announcement that she was running for Comptroller, and endorsing Lhota for Mayor, led to an extensive interruption of proceedings with heated discussion.

Randy Credico made a motion to re-open the nominations for Mayor, so he could be nominated.  Motion was seconded, followed by discussion, but the motion FAILED. Out of order interjections and interruptions continued over the Lhota nomination and the credentialing issue.  Janet Hopf made a motion to adjourn due to this, which was seconded, but the motion FAILED.

Tarnoff continued to interject, to advocate that individual credentialing be conducted to see if the attendees were qualified to vote as per the Chair’s ruling (namely, to check whether attendees were listed on the Membership Lists brought to the Convention by the 4 County Libertarian Party organizations active within New York City, or otherwise known to county LP officers present). A short recess was called to determine the manner in which said individual credentialing verification could be performed and whether conducting said verification was feasible given the lists available.

The Chair ruled that Matthew Kelly, as Secretary Pro Tem, would conduct the individual credentialing verifications by checking the names of those in attendance against each County’s membership list. Blay Tarnoff started to act out, without being recognized, demanding that the Secretary Pro Tem first check the state membership status of all attendees despite the earlier upheld ruling of the Chair that state membership was not a prerequisite to vote at this NYC Nominating Convention. Interjections and interruptions by both the Lhota supporters and Tarnoff (who prevented Kelly from proceeding by insisting he verify the LPNY membership status of all attendees first) continued until the Chair recognized Kristin Davis, who moved to overrule the Chair on conducting an individual credentialing verification and to allow all in attendance at the convention to vote. The motion to overrule the Chair was seconded and the motion PASSED.

Members then voted to nominate Joe Lhota as the LP candidate for Mayor by two thirds vote.

Members voted to nominate Kristin Davis as the LP candidate for Comptroller by two thirds vote.

Members voted to nominate Vivia Morgan as the LP candidate for Public Advocate by two thirds vote.

Members voted to authorize Gary Popkin to head an effort to properly develop citywide ballot initiatives or referendums to end surveillance measures in NYC (repeal Stop and Frisk, remove Airport and Police scanners and cameras) and to reform city government (end the large soda ban or similar policies, abolish the offices of Public Advocate and Borough President).

Members moved to adjourn.  The motion PASSED.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:25 pm.

Other matters (such as the Committee on Vacancies) were discussed informally afterward. Chair acknowledged a motion to create the Committee was not suggested by either the Chair or raised by the body, but he believed it was not mandatory for the body to do so, and the committee could be created by the candidates themselves under the election law. Chair expressed the belief that the candidates voted for were duly nominated, since the body doing so had twice voted to accept the manner of the proceedings, including credentialing.

Dated: April 27, 2013

Respectfully,

Matthew Kelly
Secretary Pro Tem
Libertarian Party NYC Nominating Convention

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Luis Rivas Appointed President Of Objectivist Party Of California

On May 14, 2013, Luis Rivas was appointed to serve as President of the Objectivist Party of California.

In accepting the appointment, Luis Rivas said:

Objectivism came to me as a curiosity. I heard people mention the name Ayn Rand and the more I asked, the more negative answers I got. As a result, I decided to read about her and read what she wrote so I could draw my own conclusions. Her perspectives and philosophy resonated with me. It was something I had been searching for. I came out of the punk-scene where "individual attitude" and "individualism" was a primary value but at the same time, it was largely a collectivist ideal where you don't fit in well if you say you want to be successful. America to me is supposed to be a place where individuals go out and reach their highest potential, where the government stays out of the way and is only there to protect each person's individual rights. 

I always wanted to get more involved in politics. It was always something that interested me. One day, I asked myself, "what if there was a party that promoted Objectivism" and like any curious person, I searched the web and there it was: http://www.objectivistparty.us. I looked at the site, read about the party and loved it! I joined the Objectivist Party and all the relevant Facebook Groups and when the call went out for new officers, I expressed my enthusiasm and availability. 

I consider my new role as President of the Objectivist Party of California to be an exciting new adventure and a great opportunity. I thank Dr. Tom Stevens for his confidence in me and for his willingness to help me achieve great things for the Objectivist Party in California. I will do everything I can to make it influential and to work with the members to make a difference in our effort to promote liberty and reason.

The Objectivist Party of California was chartered on August 9, 2008. Its first President was Nicholas Huber, who served from August 9, 2008 to August 12, 2010. Its second President was Maxfield Bern, who served from August 12, 2010 to May 14, 2013.

The Objectivist Party was founded by Thomas Robert Stevens on February 2, 2008, Ayn Rand's birthday. It seeks to promote Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism in the political realm.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Personal Freedom Party Holds New York City Convention; Sam Sloan Nominated For Mayor, Kristin Davis Nominated For Comptroller & Thomas Robert Stevens Nominated For Public Advocate

The Personal Freedom Party held its New York City Nominating Convention on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Boulder Creek Steakhouse located at 134-15 20th Avenue, College Point, Queens, New York. Sam Sloan, a resident of the Bronx, was nominated for Mayor, Kristin M. Davis, a resident of Manhattan, was nominated for Comptroller and Thomas Robert Stevens, a resident of Queens, was nominated for Public Advocate.

Sam Sloan ran for the Libertarian Party's gubernatorial nomination in 2010 and for the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination in 2012. He previously served as Director of Media Relations for the Manhattan Libertarian Party as well as serving as its Representative to the State Committee of the New York Libertarian Party. Sam Sloan is an American Chess Player & Publisher. He has served on the Executive Board of the U.S. Chess Federation and successfully argued a case pro se before the United States Supreme Court. Sam Sloan is a Muslim and is known in Islamic circles as Haji Mohammed Ismail Sloan.

Kristin M. Davis, who received the nomination of the Libertarian Party for Comptroller on April 9, 2013, was the gubernatorial candidate of the Anti-Prohibition Party in 2010. Ms. Davis is formerly known as the Manhattan Madam, a former madam famous for having run a high-end prostitution ring in New York City. Davis served four months in prison on Riker's Island. Prior to running an escort agency, she was Vice-President of the back office of a hedge fund operation with assets over 2 billion dollars. Ms. Davis now runs Hope House, a non-profit organization designed to assist women affected by sex trafficking.

Thomas Robert Stevens is an attorney, educator and political activist. He has appeared as an expert or to discuss current events on over 200 national talk shows. Dr. Stevens is the Political Director of the Libertarian Party of Queens County and former State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. He is the Founder & Chair of the Objectivist Party and was nominated as its Presidential candidate in 2008 and 2012 (appearing on the ballot in Colorado & Florida). He served two terms as President of the Hofstra University School of Law Alumni Association. Dr. Stevens also started Free Trade Day (May 8th), Space Exploration Day (July 20th) Skyscraper Appreciation Day (August 10th) and Individual Rights Day (August 29th). He currently serves as Chairman of the Board & Vice-President of Concerned Citizens Speak, a New York City-based non-profit civic, educational and social organization founded in March, 1981.

Alden Link, who was the Libertarian Party candidate for Lt. Governor of New York State in 2010 and the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Objectivist Party in 2008 and 2012, was a delegate to the New York City Nominating Convention of the Personal Freedom Party. He said:

The Personal Freedom Party has a simple and attractive platform. It supports the Legalization of Marijuana, Decriminalization of Prostitution, Legalization of Gambling, Lowering the Voting Age, Legalization of Gay Marriage (achieved in New York State), Elimination of Excessive Taxation and Elimination of Excessive Regulation. These are admirable goals many New York City residents can get behind. Sam Sloan and Tom Stevens accepted their nominations in person and made powerful speeches outlining what they hope to achieve if elected. Kristin Davis was not present although I saw a number of prominent political leaders in attendance as delegates including Scott Morgan, an activist in the Independence Party; Dallwyn Merck, President of Stonewall Libertarians New York who also serves as Executive Director of 14 Now!; and Matthew Kelly, Membership Committee Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, Vice-Chair of the Pennsylvania Libertarian Alliance, Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Queens County and Vice-Chair of Long Island Libertarians, a chartered chapter of Empire State Libertarians.

The Personal Freedom Party was founded on June 6, 2010.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

NYLP Board Tries To Void Results Of NYC Nominating Convention; Queens LP Objects

A properly noticed New York City Libertarian Party Nominating Convention was held on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at the New York Irish Center located at 10-40 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, New York. At that convention, 50+ delegates from the four city-wide chapters nominated Joe Lhota for Mayor, Kristin Davis for Comptroller, and Vivia Morgan for Public Advocate.

The delegates disposed of a number of credentialing issues including whether all of the members of the Queens, Manhattan, Kings and Staten Island LP Chapters should be permitted to vote in addition to state party members living within the 5 boroughs. All members of county LP organizations voted at the last two New York City Nominating Conventions and on November 29, 2012, Mark Axinn, current Chair of the New York Libertarian Party, wrote to Kristin Davis and told her, "To vote at a City Convention, one has to join one of the four city chapters. That can happen any time before the Nominating Convention." This was also the ruling of John Clifton, the Queens LP Chair who was Chairman Pro Tem at the New York City Nominating Convention (said ruling that was sustained) and of Janet Hopf, the Manhattan LP Chair.

Blay Tarnoff, a resident of Nassau County and the NYLP Secretary, argued that all City Chapter members must also be state party members to vote but his argument was not accepted by the duly credentialed delegates in attendance at the New York City Nominating Convention. Mr. Tarnoff then lobbied primarily Nassau and Suffolk County LP members serving on the Board and persuaded the NYLP Board of Directors to vote on Sunday, May 5, 2013 to declare the decisions and nominations made at the New York City Nominating Convention null and void and to appoint himself as the facilitator of a new New York City Nominating Convention to be held on June 11, 2013. Janet Hopf, Manhattan LP Chair, voted against the motion.

On Saturday, May 11, 2013, the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of Queens County (along with all LPQC members in attendance at the meeting) voted unanimously to issue the following statement regarding the attempt by the state Board of Directors to undo the decisions and nominations made by duly credentialed delegates at the New York City Nominating Convention:

It is the position of the Libertarian Party of Queens County that the Board of Directors of the New York Libertarian Party has no authority to overturn the decisions and nominations made by the delegates at a properly noticed New York City Nominating Convention. Delegates at a properly called convention have the power to decide credentialing issues and to rule on points of order raised and the New York Libertarian Party Board of Directors cannot declare the decisions and nominations made by the delegates null and void just because they don't like the results. Whatever one thinks should have happened at the New York City Nominating Convention held on April 9, 2013, what did happen was that Joe Lhota obtained the Libertarian Party nomination for Mayor, Kristin Davis obtained the Libertarian Party nomination for Comptroller, and Vivia Morgan obtained the Libertarian Party nomination for Public Advocate. Those nominations stand. Any nominations for citywide office made at the upcoming rump New York City Nominating Convention scheduled for June 11, 2013 will be, in our opinion, void ab initio.

Dr. Tom Stevens, Political Director of the Libertarian Party of Queens County and the elected LPQC State Representative, said:

The power of duly credentialed delegates in convention to make decisions and nominations is supreme. If that convention was properly noticed, as this one was, no Board of Directors can declare the actions of the delegates null and void. Any dispute or ambiguity in the interpretation of the state party bylaws were addressed, debated and decided by the delegates in attendance. 

The Libertarian Party of Queens County was founded on October 6, 1994. It is currently the largest and most active chapter in the New York Libertarian Party with over 70 paid members.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Voting Fraud Committed By Joshua Chaires; LPPA Judicial Committee Declares All Board Votes Null & Void

Joshua Chaires, a member of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania residing in Chester County, attended the statewide Board of Directors Meeting held at the Harrisburg Hilton on April 13, 2013 participating in debate and voting on motions as the State Representative of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County. Mr. Chaires had no authority to act in that capacity, was never appointed to represent the Northampton County LP as State Representative, and ignored calls and texts received from Dr. Tom Stevens, Northampton County LP Chair, who observed him voting online while watching the video feed of the Board Meeting.

Despite immediate notification to the Board of Directors that Paul Rizzo was the current voting State Representative of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County, Joshua Chaires continued to be listed by Ken Krawchuk, the LPPA Secretary, as the voting State Representative of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County and was permitted to vote again on behalf of the Northampton County LP on subsequent online motions.

Dr. Tom Stevens, County Chair of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County, filed the following complaint with the Judicial Committee of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, which read, in part, as follows:

Joshua Chaires of Chester County was never authorized to vote as the Northampton LP State Board Representative. Paul Rizzo was and is currently authorized to vote in that capacity. It is my understanding that Joshua Chaires was encouraged by some Montgomery County LP members to claim the right to vote as Northampton LP Representative at the last Board of Directors Meeting, when he was never authorized, ever, to vote in that capacity...Ken Krawchuk continues to list him as our Rep and is allowing him to cast votes in currently pending motions. Finally, since Josh Chaires was never authorized to vote and yet attended the Board Meeting on April 13, 2013, participating in debate and voting on motions, I believe whatever decisions were made there were tainted by the illegal participation of Josh Chaires and should be declared null and void.

After conducting an investigation into the charges brought against Joshua Chaires for engaging in Voting Fraud, the Judicial Committee of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania issued the following Decision by unanimous vote:

For the past month the only authorized Board representative from the Northampton County LP has been Paul Rizzo. Any votes cast on or after 13 April 2013 on behalf of Northampton County by Josh Chaires or any person other than Paul Rizzo is null and void and may not be included in the vote total. If Mr. Chaires' vote was decisive on any issue, then that question must be re-voted.

Daulton Florindi, First Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County, issued the following statement:

Because our County Chair votes on the LPPA Board of Directors in his capacity as Immediate Past Chair, Dr. Stevens designated Paul Rizzo to be our State Representative in accordance with the provisions of Article 3, Section 2 of our Bylaws. On April 11, 2013, two days before the Board of Directors Meeting, Mr. Rizzo voted in favor of Henry Haller as Western Vice-Chair indicating on the Board Business Yahoo Group that he was the "Rep from Northampton County". Despite this public knowledge and Dr. Stevens reaffirming this fact to the Board, Joshua Chaires of Chester County presented himself as the voting State Representative from the Northampton County LP and was permitted to participate in debate and vote on motions at the Board Meeting. Even after Dr. Stevens notified the Board that Mr. Chaires had no authority to represent Northampton County, Ken Krawchuk, LPPA Secretary, continued to list Joshua Chaires of Chester County as the voting Rep from Northampton County and permitted him to vote on subsequent motions that took place via the internet, including one dealing with an effective transfer of monies from the State Treasury to the Montgomery County LP Treasury.

The actions of Joshua Chaires denied the Northampton County Libertarian Party the representation it was entitled to both at the Board Meeting and in subsequent motions. Mr. Chaires of Chester County was the deciding vote in at least one of those motions and his vote was used to pass a motion to effectively transfer $350.00 from the State Treasury to the Treasury of the Montgomery County Libertarian Party, that is the host of the upcoming Annual Convention and gets to keep all profit generated at that convention. Paul Rizzo, the Northampton County LP State Representative, was opposed to granting this gift to the Montgomery County LP but was not permitted to vote. Roy Minet, Marketing and Media Relations Committee Chair, confirmed this money grab when he posted the following to the Board Business Yahoo Group:

"Jim Babb already posted that the vote was taking too long and that the convention fees were, therefore, going to be set on the basis that the room cost would NOT be covered by the LPPA. That pricing for the convention has already been done and posted online. The motion should be withdrawn or simply dispatched by more NO votes or abstentions. Since the outcome of this vote can in no way save the delegates to our convention any money, it has simply become a vote on whether or not to transfer $350.00 out of the LPPA treasury and into the Montgomery County treasury."

It is, therefore, for political reasons that Montgomery County LP members allegedly encouraged Joshua Chaires of Chester County to claim the right to vote as the Northampton County LP Rep and why Ken Krawchuk, LPPA Secretary (who also serves as Secretary of the Montgomery County LP) continued to list Joshua Chaires as Northampton LP Rep and noted a YES vote on his behalf to effectively transfer $350.00 from the State Treasury to the Montgomery County LP Treasury.

It is exactly this type of behavior that many fear will become the norm if Steve Scheetz, Chair of the Montgomery County LP is elected State Chair; if Ed Reagan, Treasurer of the Montgomery County LP is elected Eastern Vice-Chair; if Richard Schwarz, an active member of the Montgomery County LP is elected State Treasurer; and if Ivan Glinski, an Alternate Rep for the Montgomery County LP is elected State Secretary. Mr. Scheetz refused to support Gary Johnson for President and didn't devote a single hour to help the LPPA defend its petitions from an aggressive GOP challenge, one which I am proud to say that thanks to Dr. Tom Stevens, Roy Minet and 84 volunteers, we defeated.

When actions such as these take place, democracy is subverted and people lose confidence in the Libertarian Party to be an effective pro-liberty activist organization.

Daulton Florindi was elected First Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County (LPNC) at the Annual Meeting of the Membership held on January 7, 2013. Mr. Florindi previously served as the organization's Treasurer.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Ken Krawchuk, LPPA Secretary, Indicted By Judicial Committee For Refusing To List Immediate Past Chair Dr. Tom Stevens As A Voting Board Member Or To Count His Votes

Ken Krawchuk, the current Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, published a list of Board Members after the Board of Directors Meeting held on April 13, 2013 specifically excluding Dr. Tom Stevens, Immediate Past Chair, a voting member of the Board of Directors. First, Mr. Krawchuk resisted listing Dr. Stevens as a voting Board Member and when he finally did add his name to the list, he refused to count his votes saying the votes would only be counted if Dr. Stevens called him personally or sent it to him by first class mail. This burden was not placed on any other voting Board Member.

Lawrence James Fryman, LPPA State Chair, posted the following to the LpBoard-Business Yahoo Group:

I believe Tom Stevens should be allowed to vote as immediate past chair.

Henry Haller, Western Vice-Chair, posted:

Tom did vote "No" and because he is still on the board as immediate past chair, his vote must be counted.

Richard Schwarz, Philadelphia County LP State Rep wrote:

Ken, Tom has voted. If you do not wish to accept his vote via email then in my opinion you should not be the Secretary of the LPPA.

Ken Krawchuk remained unmoved and refused to count votes cast by Dr. Stevens on the official Board Business Yahoo Group. Mr. Krawchuk posted:

I await Tom's vote, aye or nay. Operators are standing by, and the USPO is undismayed by rain, snow, sleet, or hail. 215-881-9696, 117 West Ave, Elkins Park, PA 19027.

After reading this, Dr. Stevens filed a complaint with the LPPA Judicial Committee. It read, in relevant part:

I am being disenfranchised as a voting member of the Board of Directors and I would like the Judicial Committee to direct the Secretary Ken Krawchuk to do his job, to add me to the list of Board members, to record my votes and monitor all activity on the LpBoard-Business Yahoo Group where only Board Members and alternates vote on motions and participate in discussions.

When told by other Board Members that Dr. Tom Stevens voted on pending motions, Ken Krawchuk wrote the following, which the Judicial Committee found to be a fact:

I wouldn't know what Tom said. I've had him in my kill file for a while. I asked him to behave himself and he refused, and no one on the board has raised a point of personal privilege to start the process to silence his rude rants, so I took personal action myself to stop them. Nothing coming from any of his e-mail addresses can reach me. The resulting silence is quite nice, thank you, and I'd advise others to do the same (except Erik, of course, who seems to enjoy it all).

The Bylaws back me up in my actions too. Article V Section 5 says: "If any members of the Board of Directors do not wish to transact Board business over the Internet, when a vote is required the Secretary will forward to them via mail or phone sufficient information regarding the business at hand to allow them to vote knowledgeably." I refuse to transact board business over the Internet with Tom. Period. If he has anything to say to me regarding board business, he can call or write.

It was then pointed out to Ken Krawchuk that he could record who voted by simply going to the LpBoard-Business Yahoo Group Messages Section without unblocking any e-mail addresses.

Chuck Moulton, former LPPA State Chair, then posted the following message to Ken Krawchuk, LPPA Secretary, which said, in part:

Dr. Tom Stevens should be listed on the voter role as the Immediate Past Chair (because he is)...I don't see why the secretary would post an inaccurate list of voting board members.

The secretary has an obligation to monitor board member emails for votes -- if there is no vote, just stop reading the email. Blocking Tom's email would be fine if the secretary would regularly look on the Yahoo group web archive to find votes and motions, but apparently he's not doing that either. If the secretary is unable or unwilling to do his duty, then he should resign.

The LPPA Judicial Committee ruled in favor of Dr. Stevens and issued the following decision:

The Bylaws' phrase "If any members of the Board of Directors do not wish to transact business over the Internet" manifestly grants an option to board members who are called upon to vote. There is no conceivable interpretation of this provision that gives the Secretary authority to refuse to count the e-mail vote of a particular member and require him instead to vote by mail or telephone. 

Any vote count as to which Dr. Stevens or any other Board member was subjected to this discriminatory burden is null and void ab initio and is of no force and effect.

Matthew Kelly, LPPA Membership Chair who served as Acting Secretary at the Board Meeting held on January 26, 2013, commented as follows:

There is absolutely no excuse or possible explanation for Ken Krawchuk, the current LPPA Secretary, not listing Dr. Tom Stevens, Immediate Past Chair, as a voting member of the Board of Directors or for his refusal to count votes cast by him on the official Board Business Yahoo Group. It is a failure of his fiduciary duties, a betrayal of the trust Board Members placed in him, and cause for disciplinary action. 

The fact that Ken Krawchuk could believe the LPPA Bylaws permitted him to place this "extraordinary burden" on a Board Member's right to vote is unbelievable especially since no rational person could come to that conclusion. To quote the Judicial Committee Decision, "There is no conceivable interpretation of this provision that gives the Secretary authority to refuse to count the e-mail vote of a particular member and require him instead to vote by mail or telephone."

Behavior of this sort is an example of what many fear is the face of things to come. Professionalism may soon be replaced by thuggery and blatant disregard for the bylaws of our organization. Ken Krawchuk also serves as Secretary of the Montgomery County LP. Steve Scheetz, who has announced his candidacy for State Chair, currently serves as the County Chair of the Montgomery County LP.  

Ken Krawchuk was elected Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania by internet vote on April 12, 2013 and will serve until the Annual Convention, which is currently scheduled to be held on June 8, 2013.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

LPPA Judicial Committee Blasts The New Voting Disorder In The Post-Stevens Era

The Judicial Committee of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania issued a unanimous decision on May 7, 2013 in which, in dicta, it blasted the new current voting disorder brought about through the procedures set up by the Board of Directors at a four and a half hour meeting held on April 13, 2013. During that meeting, chaired by Lawrence James Fryman, the new LPPA State Chair, the Board voted to establish two unmoderated Yahoo Groups: one for general Board Business Discussion where all LPPA members can post (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPPA_BUS) and a second for motions, debate and voting to which only Board Members and Alternates can post (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LpBoard-Business). The Judicial Committee directed its criticism to this latter group, the LpBoard-Business Yahoo Group.

Article V, Section 2 and Article V, Section 5 of the LPPA Bylaws, read together, permits the Transaction of Business Over The Internet. Section 2, reads, in part: The Board of Directors may without meeting together, transact business by mail or telephone, by voting on questions submitted to them by or with the approval of the Chair. Section 5, reads, in part: Any business of the Board of Directors can be conducted over the internet in the same manner as via mail or telephone. Prior to his resignation from the position of State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, Thomas Robert Stevens, now Immediate Past Chair, never chose to transact Board Business over the Internet and never submitted a motion to the Board of Directors by or with his approval. During his term in office, Dr. Stevens chose to have all motions debated and voted on at Board of Directors Meetings held in person or by teleconference, where minutes were always taken and proper parliamentary procedure was always followed.

The Judicial Committee of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania issued the following statement regarding current voting disorder on the LpBoard-Business Yahoo Group:

During the last several months, the LPPA Board of Directors has been conducting much of its business via "LpBoard-Business@yahoogroups.com". This is in effect a continuous, round-the-clock board meeting at which motions are made without recognition by the Chair, sometimes without seconds, and at which the Secretary acts as the de facto presiding officer. Board members are apparently expected to monitor this "group" on a regular basis - plowing through a morass of objectionable language and commentary - in order to see whether any actual business motions are pending. Votes are then cast by being posted for other members to see.

At best this is a disorderly, confusing and time-intensive procedure, probably not one contemplated by the applicable bylaw, and one that operates oblivious to the applicable provisions of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised (adherence to which is mandated by the Bylaws, Art. XIII).

Dr. Tom Stevens, Immediate Past Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, reacted as follows:

When you have anarchist influence in a private organization, you don't get 'spontaneous order', you get 'spontaneous disorder'. There is nothing un-libertarian about a private organization instituting a Communications Policy and enforcing it on the lists and social media sites it owns. There is nothing un-libertarian about warning individuals who consistently and repeatedly violate that Communications Policy and, in rare instances, to ban those individuals from party-owned lists. 

In most instances, the trouble is caused by a handful of Toxic Libertarians who personally attack others and who are unable to control their exhibitionist tendencies. If those individuals are given free reign to call others "dick-hugging bitches" and similar names, many devoted and committed volunteers will lose interest because they don't want to put up with the "childish behavior" and the "bullshit". They came to promote liberty and when they see a handful of malcontents engaging in personal attacks and destructive behavior, they will leave the group and find other avenues for their activism.

For an organization to thrive, it needs to have a vision and a strong, charismatic leader to inspire others to be an active part of the team. Those with natural leadership abilities and potential will rise to the top. This is the natural order of things. Allowing Toxic Libertarians, violent Anarchists, Vote for Nobody types and Fifth Column Infiltrators unchecked influence will only degrade the capability of a political organization to achieve its goals.    

Dr. Tom Stevens served as State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania from April 22, 2012 to April 5, 2013.