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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kristin Davis Declines LP Nomination For NYC Mayor To Run For Comptroller

In a surprise move, Kristin Davis, who was almost guaranteed the Libertarian Party's Mayoral Nomination after receiving the endorsement of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, the largest and most active of the Libertarian Party County Organizations in New York City, declined the nomination she received from the floor of the New York City Nominating Convention held on April 9, 2013 at the New York Irish Center in Long Island City, announcing instead her desire to run for Comptroller against Scott Stringer, the probable Democratic Nominee.

Ex-Madam Kristin Davis went on to win the nomination and will be the Libertarian Party Candidate for New York City Comptroller. Ms. Davis, a former Vice-President for Compliance of a major Wall Street Hedge Fund, said of her probable opponent:

Stringer has no financial management or business experience whatsoever. He has never held a job in the private sector and has spent his adult life on the public payroll. I have run a successful multi-million dollar business. Scott Stringer's entire financial background consists of voting in the New York State Assembly for higher taxes, more spending, more debt and more borrowing. Mr. Stringer is a career politician completely lacking in the qualifications for this job. I am anxious to match my qualifications with his.

Dr. Tom Stevens, Political Director of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, reacted to Kristin's April Surprise, as follows:

I respect Kristin's decision to seek the nomination of the Libertarian Party for whatever office she believes best suits her background and experience. The Libertarian Party of Queens County was excited about Kristin Davis' proposed run for Mayor and she was unanimously endorsed by the LPQC Executive Committee. I believe the delegates in attendance at the New York City Nominating Convention would have overwhelmingly given her the Libertarian Party's Mayoral Nomination so it was certainly not out of fear of losing the nomination that caused her to bow out and run for Comptroller. 

It did surprise me, however, that the delegates in attendance at the New York City Nominating Convention gave the Libertarian Party Mayoral Nomination to possible Republican Party Mayoral Nominee Joe Lhota, the former Chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority who served former Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the City's Budget Director and later as Deputy Mayor for Operations. This decision by the delegates is especially puzzling since Mr. Lhota did not attend the New York City Nominating Convention to seek the nomination nor did he publicly announce his willingness to accept the Libertarian Party's Mayoral Nomination. Time will tell whether he will decline the nomination after petitions are filed on his behalf. If he bows out at that time, the Committee on Vacancies will select a suitable substitute candidate. 

I can confidently say the Libertarian Party of Queens County will proudly support Kristin Davis in her race to become New York City's next Comptroller.

Kristin Davis, formerly known as the Manhattan Madam, ran a high-end prostitution ring in New York City and served 4 months at Riker's Island. She now heads a non-profit organization, Hope House, to combat sex trafficking and writes for her blog Libertarian Lady. Davis successfully petitioned to get on the ballot as the gubernatorial candidate of the Anti-Prohibition Party in 2010. She supports gay marriage equality, marijuana legalization and expanded casino gambling.

Stevens Resigns As LPPA State Chair; Fryman Elected

On Thursday, April 4, 2013, Dr. Tom Stevens, State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, issued the following statement:

For personal reasons involving the health of one of my close family members, I, Dr. Tom Stevens, hereby resign my position as State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania effective upon the appointment by the Board of Directors of a successor State Chair to serve for the reminder of my term of office. (It has been posted elsewhere that Tom's mother has cancer and is undergoing an additional surgical procedure on April 15, 2013)

The following motion was made by Matthew Kelly (Membership Committee Chair) and seconded by Jay Burkos (Legislative Action Committee Chair):

MOTION: to accept the resignation of Dr. Tom Stevens as State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania appointing Lawrence James Fryman as State Chair to serve for the remainder of his term in office. This vote will remain open for 15 days for Board Members to cast a vote of Yes, No or Abstain. However, the vote will be considered closed and a new State Chair elected upon 13 Yes votes being cast, which constitutes a majority of the Board Members currently serving.

On Friday, April 5, 2013, Dr. Stevens wrote the following e-mail to LPPA Members:

Effective immediately, Jim Fryman has been elected State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. I am now Immediate Past Chair. The motion to accept my resignation and appoint Jim Fryman State Chair  has obtained sixteen (16) votes, which constitutes a majority of the Board Members currently serving. Quorum was achieved. Additional votes not yet cast may be posted for posterity. I wish Jim Fryman a most enjoyable term in office.

Dr. Stevens urged a YES vote on the motion to grant his request to be excused from his duty. The sixteen (16) Yes votes were cast by the following members of the Board of Directors of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania:

Betsy Summers (Eastern Vice-Chair)
Jim Fryman (Western Vice-Chair)
Patrick R. Killy (Secretary)
Patti Fryman (Treasurer)
Lou Jasikoff (Immediate Past Chair)
John Karr (Election Committee Chair)
Greg Teufel (Legal Action Committee Chair)
Jay Burkos (Legislative Action Committee Chair)
Roy Minet (Media Relations Committee Chair)
Matthew Kelly (Membership Committee Chair)
Harold Kyriazi (Allegheny County LP Representative)
Tyler Kobel (Blair County LP Representative)
Nicholas Hillman (Bucks County LP Representative)
Alex Humanick (Lehigh Valley LP Representative)
Marc Connuck (Northampton County LP Representative)
Dr. Tom Stevens (Philadelphia County LP Representative)

When casting votes, the following comments were made:

Dr. Stevens has been my mentor and close friend for nearly two years. I admire his hard work and integrity. In addition to his inspiring and leading the defense that beat back the GOP challenge to our petitions last year, he doubled the membership and more than doubled the number of County and Regional Committees chartered by the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. Because of his efforts and the commitment of 84 volunteers, Gary Johnson and our statewide candidates were on the ballot and the Libertarian Party regained Minor Party status in Pennsylvania. These and other successes are routinely referred to nationally as the "Pennsylvania Miracle" and other State Chairs have inquired as to how they can achieve the same growth in their own states. For steadfastly leading the charge in defense of our petitions, many have referred to Dr. Stevens as the "Iron Man", who GOP operatives, violent anarchists and the "Vote for Nobody" crowd has targeted in recent months. While Dr. Stevens may no longer be State Chair, I know my personal relationship with him will endure and together we will continue to be pro-liberty activists in the Libertarian Party of Northampton County and in all the other groups in which we serve. Dr. Stevens is an amazing man who has never let me down. (Patrick R. Killy - Secretary)

I would like to say thank you to Tom for his hard work to grow the party and to defend our ballot presence last November. (Patti Fryman - Treasurer)

I thank Tom Stevens very much for the many hours of effort he expended recruiting new members and defending our nomination petition signatures. (Roy Minet - Media Relations & Marketing Committee Chair)

I thank Dr. Stevens for his leadership and guidance. I wish him the best in all his future endeavors. (Alex Humanick - Lehigh Valley LP State Representative)

A year ago, the LPPA reached a height never expected by the major parties nor by the LP national leadership.  That was not by accident.  It was the direct result of the hard work of a group of dedicated liberty minded people, and Tom's strong leadership. (Jay Burkos - Legislative Action Committee Chair)

Dr. Stevens, I applaud your accomplishments as State Chair. Membership in the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania was up 87.8 % from the April, 2012 Annual Convention through the end of 2012 and you established a new Life Membership for the party. LP News designated you a "Libertarian Ballot Access Hero" for obtaining 18,000 additional signatures after problems were identified with the quality of the signatures obtained during the petition drive, which was considered over when you took office. You spearheaded a 9-week successful defense of our petitions with the help of 84 volunteers and not only got Gary Johnson and our statewide candidates on the ballot but also re-gained Minor Party status for our party. You more than doubled the number of counties with County and/or Regional Committees and, as a result, the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania now has an active presence in Adams County, Berks County, Blair County, Bucks County, Carbon County, Chester County, Columbia County, Franklin County, Lehigh County, Monroe County, Montour County, Northampton County & Schuylkill County. In my opinion, you have been the most active and successful State Chair in the history of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. I am sorry to see you go. (Matthew Kelly - Membership Committee Chair) 

Richard Winger of Ballot Access News wrote this about Dr. Tom Stevens, State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania:

Tom Stevens led the Pennsylvania Libertarian Party to the greatest ballot access victory in the state party's history. The Pennsylvania Libertarian Party's 2012 ballot access victory was the first time any statewide minor party or independent candidate for statewide office has ever defeated a challenge backed by one of the two major parties.

Lawrence James (Jim) Fryman, the newly elected State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, issued the following statement:

I will serve as State Chair until replaced at the State Convention.

Roy Minet, a declared candidate for State Chair at the next Annual Convention wrote:

For those of you who don't know him, I will point out that Jim Fryman is a solid libertarian who has worked hard for the LPPA for years.  He drives many hours to attend board meetings that are way closer to Philadelphia than to his home.  He helped validate signatures in Philadelphia.  Anyone WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVE helping the LPPA has surely gotten to know and respect Jim.  I hope everybody will cooperate and help Jim as he takes on a difficult job that is only made more difficult by...(I'll stop right there because I have promised not to tear down any other libertarian). Good luck, Jim, and you can count on my help and support.

Dr. Tom Stevens was elected State Chair and Jim Fryman was elected Western Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania on April 22, 2012.

Nicholas C. Hillman Resigns As Bucks County, PA Libertarian Party Chair; Brad Cooper Takes The Helm

On March 27, 2013, Nicholas C. Hillman posted the following note to the Libertarian Party of Bucks County Facebook Group:

Due to personal issues, I, Nicholas C. Hillman, LPBC Chair, will be resigning my position, effective 3/28/2013. I will still be active in the LPBC and LPPA. I am sorry for the short notice especially after having a very effective voter registration drive.

Article 3, Section 6 of the Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Bucks County sets forth the procedure for filling the vacancy created by Nick Hillman's resignation. That provision states:

If a vacancy in an officership occurs between annual meetings of the membership, the remaining members of the Executive Committee shall, by majority vote, fill that vacancy with an LPBC member who shall serve until the election of a new officer takes place at the Annual Meeting.

The remaining members of the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of Bucks County were Brad Cooper, First Vice-Chair; Marc Connuck, Second Vice-Chair; and Josh Roth, Secretary. The Executive Committee reluctantly accepted Nicholas C. Hillman's resignation and selected Brad Cooper to serve as County Chair until the next Annual Meeting of the Membership, which will be held sometime during the first quarter of 2014.

Nicholas C. Hillman was elected County Chair of the Libertarian Party of Bucks County at its Organizational Meeting held on December 6, 2012. During his brief term in office, he held a number of successful meetings and voter registration drives, obtained a significant amount of press regarding the activities of the Bucks County Libertarian Party, made plans for the Bucks County LP to host a debate involving candidates seeking party office this year, attended LPPA Board of Directors meetings as the Bucks County LP State Representative, and led a delegation of Bucks County LP members to the LPPA Holiday Party held on December 15, 2012 at the Shady Maple Smorgasbord in East Earl, Pennsylvania.

Brad Cooper, the newly elected County Chair of the Libertarian Party of Bucks County, said:

I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Bucks County Libertarian Party. Nicholas Hillman was extremely active in promoting the organization and getting it recognized as a viable political force for liberty. I will do my best to follow in his footsteps. I look forward to working with the other officers and all LPBC members to support the candidacies of those running for elective office this year and to help Dr. Tom Stevens, our dedicated and hardworking LPPA State Chair, continue his efforts to get new County and Regional Committees organized and to increase membership in the state party. Dr. Stevens has been a good friend to the Libertarian Party of Bucks County and we appreciate his advice and support.

Brad Cooper currently attends Middle Bucks Institute of Technology and lives in Newtown Grant, Pennsylvania.

Manhattan Libertarian Party Formally Invites Dr. Tom Stevens To Re-Join

On March 8, 2013, Janet Hopf, Manhattan Libertarian Party Chair, sent Dr. Tom Stevens an e-mail, the text of which was the following:

The Manhattan LP committee has voted to officially invite you to re-join our chapter. Please share this email with any interested parties I left off the list.

We look forward to seeing you at our regular meetings and to working together toward restoring our rights and defending freedom in New York.

Dr. Tom Stevens first joined the Manhattan Libertarian Party (MLP) on January 10, 2004. At the MLP Annual Convention held that same date, Dr. Stevens was elected the Manhattan Libertarian Party's State Representative to the Libertarian Party of New York with 52.4% of the vote, beating out Craig Milem (33.3%) and Sam Sloan (14.3%). On January 8, 2005, the delegates in attendance at the MLP Annual Convention re-elected Dr. Tom Stevens as the MLP's State Representative, said action that was unanimously re-affirmed by the MLP Executive Committee immediately after the business session. On January 21, 2006, Dr. Stevens declined a nomination for a third term in office and urged the delegates to support Mark Axinn, who was elected to the position. Mark Axinn currently serves as State Chair of the New York Libertarian Party. On Monday, December 11, 2006, Mark Axinn resigned as MLP State Representative and the Executive Committee selected Dr. Tom Stevens to fill out the remainder of his term of office. On January 20, 2007, the delegates in attendance at the MLP Annual Convention again elected Dr. Tom Stevens as MLP State Representative in a contested race against Jak Karako. Dr. Stevens resigned as MLP State Representative on May 14, 2007.

Because of issues and infighting on a statewide level leading up to and after the April 24, 2010 Annual Convention of the New York Libertarian Party (unrelated to the Manhattan Libertarian Party), Dr. Stevens offered to resign his Manhattan Libertarian Party membership, which was accepted on August 16, 2010. Subsequent to that date, many members of the Libertarian Party of Queens County ceased their active involvement in the Manhattan Libertarian Party, stopped attending meetings and either resigned their own memberships in the Manhattan Libertarian Party or did not renew.

Dallwyn Merck, Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, says:

An undeclared state of war existed between the Manhattan Libertarian Party and the Queens Libertarian Party over this issue. Dr. Tom Stevens served in leadership positions in the Manhattan LP with distinction during all his years of involvement. To accept his resignation for issues completely unrelated to either of our chapters was a slap in the face to Dr. Stevens. To restore friendly and peaceful relations, the Queens LP demanded both a formal apology and an official invitation to Dr. Tom Stevens to re-join the Manhattan Libertarian Party.

After Janet Hopf, Manhattan Libertarian Party Chair, invited Sam Sloan to rejoin the Manhattan Libertarian Party and accepted an invitation to speak to the Queens Libertarian Party on February 9, 2013, Dr. Stevens told the LPQC Executive Committee that the time was right to re-establish good relations with the Manhattan Libertarian Party. In the interests of peace, Dr. Stevens indicated his willingness to forego a formal apology so long as the Executive Committee of the Manhattan Libertarian Party officially invited him to rejoin. Such a vote took place and Dr. Stevens was notified of the Executive Committee action on March 8, 2013. Many Queens LP members have now indicated they too will rejoin the Manhattan LP.    

On March 9, 2013, Dr. Tom Stevens paid $20.00 in dues to the Manhattan Libertarian Party and formally had his membership restored. His current membership expires on December 31, 2013.

Getting To Know Roy Minet, Candidate For LPPA State Chair

Roy Minet – Candidate for LPPA Chair

Announcement of Candidacy 03/09/13

I have been approached by multiple people multiple times suggesting that I should run for state chair.  Since Tom Stevens announced that he will not stand for re-election, such requests have intensified.  I assure you that being chair has just not been on my radar.  Believing that the party needs and can benefit greatly from good marketing, I have felt that area is where I can make the greatest contribution.  The pitch that I hear most often is that I am impartial, not a part of any “faction” and may be the best person to unify our members behind doing the things necessary to become a successful political party.  I have spent a lot of time working for the LPPA (as well as the LP) and I surely do want us to succeed.  So, assuming that the above pitch has some validity, I will run for chair.  I am asking for your support which would be very much appreciated.

Background

Philosophically, I have been a strong libertarian since I was 15 or 16 years old.  I fought for liberty as an idealistic young person before there was a Libertarian Party.  Now I continue that fight primarily for my children and grandchildren.

My college major was pure physics, but my first job was applied physics (engineering) with a large multi-national corporation.  Following that was sales, then marketing management and finally management of a strategic business planning group, all for the same corporation.  Getting into small business, I bought and operated a beer distributorship for 12 years before selling it.  While distributing (or maybe drinking) beer, I founded Intelligent Computer Systems, Inc., which developed comprehensive business software and installed turnkey computer systems for distribution businesses.  After 22 years, ICS was sold to the 3M Corporation.  I am now retired and pursuing a backlog of personal projects.  I also teach economics part time in 11^th and 12^th grades with the Junior Achievement program.

Recent LPPA Activity

I chair The Marketing Committee and The Media Relations Committee and am a member of The Platform Committee under chair Henry Haller.  The Platform Committee recently posted its proposal for the planks section of our LPPA Platform.  I strongly urge that this proposal be adopted on April 27^th.  The Marketing Committee has created “Aids from the Marketing Committee” that can be accessed in the folder of that name on the LPPA_BB Yahoo group.  Several of us on the committee have been working hard to improve the LPPA.org website and convert it to the WordPress framework.  We hope to have the new and improved LPPA.og online in late April.

Three years ago, I chaired a temporary ad hoc strategic planning committee.  I presented the final report at our convention two years ago.  Looking through the PowerPoints and the narrative will convey a pretty good picture of some of my views.  Your attention is especially directed to the recommendations at the end.  (follow link, see attachments: http://www.lppa.org/smf/index.php?topic=36551.0 )

Last spring, I attended the LP national convention; collected nominating petition signatures for Governor Johnson and our LPPA statewide candidates; helped validate signatures using the VIDAS tool; and helped file the petitions with 39,000 signatures in Harrisburg.

When Republicans challenged our signatures last August, I volunteered to recruit, schedule and expedite the 84 volunteers who helped us with signature validation.  I helped our marvelous legal team train and supervise the volunteers.  I rehabilitated petitions containing thousands of signatures that the Rs had challenged on technical grounds.  For me, this turned into a full-time, 7-days, 9-week project with two weeks of it living out of Philadelphia area motels; over 4,000 emails and ‘phone calls were handled.  Ultimately, this colossal team effort handed the rotten Republicans a total defeat and serves as a terrific example of what can be accomplished when we actually do work together.

Pledge of Fairness, Impartiality and Transparancy

I pledge that, if elected chair, all LPPA proceedings and business will be scrupulously fair, impartial, businesslike, respectful and transparent.  This has always been my policy in dealings of any kind, LPPA or other.  I hope and fully expect that those who know me will confirm that to be true.  I brought this matter up at the December 1, 2012, board meeting to emphasize the importance of adhering to these obviously important principles.  As can be found in the minutes of that meeting, I introduced the following resolution which passed unanimously: “All LPPA officers and board members are committed to the open and transparent conduct of all LPPA business.  Consequently, all interested LPPA members in good standing are encouraged to join the Yahoo LPPA_BB Board Business group for the purpose of monitoring the board business discussions conducted thereon.  Similarly, interested LPPA members in good standing are welcome to attend scheduled Board of Directors meetings for the purpose of observing the functioning of the board.”

Conduct of Campaign

I deplore the personal attacks and in-fighting that occur all too often for reasons I have difficulty understanding (immaturity?).  Such behaviors waste our limited resources (time, energy, patience), serve to divide us when we need to be united and are downright self-destructive.  They also tend to repel new members when we need to attract them.  I have always tried to tamp these things down and have often pointed out that we libertarians frequently are our own worst enemies.  Win or lose, this campaign will not tear down any other libertarian and will not engage in scurrilous allegations or unsubstantiated innuendo.  It will focus on what I would do to build our party going forward.

LPPA Future Direction

It is critically important that we focus our limited resources on replacing crappy politicians with good libertarian citizens.  It’s a mistake to dissipate resources fighting a bunch of issues; if we get good people into office, they will fix the issues.

In order to elect libertarians, we need a successful political party that is based on libertarian principle.  That has to be our goal.  We don’t need a club or a debating society!

Almost the only thing important to the success of a political party is membership.  We don’t just need a 50% or 100% increase in membership.  We need to think in terms of increasing it 10-fold, 20-fold and eventually even more.  Growing disgust with the old parties gives us the best opportunity we have ever had to accomplish that.  Let’s not blow it.

The best way to capture new libertarians is to do a good job of marketing our fundamental principles.  Many people will agree fairly quickly with our principles.  But we need to recognize that it takes some time for most to evolve into accepting the full application of libertarian principle to all issues.  The LPPA needs to be a welcoming incubator for new libertarians where we help them evolve, not deride or reject them for being “imperfect.”

A few more specific things the LPPA can do are:

·         Complete development and optimization of the new LPPA.org website.  This is a key tool.  Test the use of Google AdWords and other technologies to drive new traffic to the site.

·         Instead of just an Eastern Vice Chair and a Western Vice Chair, change our structure to have six regional vice chairs.  A primary duty of a vice chair is to develop and assist county committees.  It’s ridiculous to expect one person to cover 33 counties and half the state.  A sixth of the state and 11 counties would work much better.

·         Set up a few trained speakers dispersed around the state and make an organized effort to book them speaking engagements wherever possible to explain/promote libertarianism.  The Marketing Committee could develop a PowerPoint presentation that speakers can optionally use.

·         Collaborate with the PA Ballot Access Coalition to organize an intelligent lobbying effort to see if the Voters’ Choice Act can be passed this legislative session.

·         Move the annual LPPA convention date earlier (either the third week of March or the weekend nearest the end of November).  Have final nominating petitions ready and volunteers organized to collect signatures at polling places on primary election day.

·         Conduct a study and compile a list of the easiest-to-win local elections and make serious efforts to recruit good libertarian candidates for them.  Offer marketing support to candidates.  Concentrate resources from surrounding areas and possibly the state to help them win.

Marc Connuck Announces Candidacy For LPPA Secretary

Marc Connuck, Chair of the Grassroots Initiative (Local Action) Committee and Second Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Bucks County, announced his candidacy for Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania on March 12, 2013. The election of party officers will take place at the LPPA Annual Convention to be held on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the Days Inn Conference Center in Danville, which is located in Montour County, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Connuck's Statement of Candidacy follows:

"My name is Marc Connuck and I am announcing my candidacy for Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. I believe that I am the best suited candidate for the position. On several occasions, I have served as Acting Secretary for the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania and the Libertarian Party of Bucks County. I know what I will be responsible for doing at the Board of Directors meetings. I will devote myself to attending all Board of Directors meetings as long as I
hold the position.

Next, I have shown myself to be a capable and responsible individual in all of the positions I currently hold within and outside of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. I am the Membership Database Manager of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania responsible for keeping the membership lists up to date. I am a member of the Legislative Action Team and the chairman of the Marijuana Legalization Subcommittee through which I have created connections with the Executive Directors of several organizations who support marijuana legalization such as the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Philadelphia (NORML – Philadelphia), Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and I have made a connection with the Drug Policy Specialist at Citizens Opposing Prohibition. I have also been in talks with private concerned citizens about creating and petitioning the Pennsylvania government. Currently, I am talking with other organizations and creating connections. I also serve as Chairman of the Grassroots Initiative (Local Action) Committee.

Outside of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, I work as an activist through Pennsylvania Farmers for Industrial Hemp. Under their banner, I will be speaking at the NORML Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference on March 16, 2013. I am also working to establish the Youth Caucus of the Libertarian Party. Alongside other libertarians across the country, I am working to write the initial bylaws, platform and statement of principles for the Youth Caucus of the Libertarian Party.

Countless people can attest to my work ethic, responsibility, and dedication to promoting Libertarian values throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Country at large. I have shown myself to be capable and hard-working. As Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, I will do everything in my power to help the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania grow and I will not stop until the job I have set out to do is complete.

If anybody has any questions they would like to ask me, they can reach me at marcconnuck@gmail.com. If anybody would like to speak to me, whether by phone or
in person, I would be more than happy to speak with you personally."

Applause! Applause! Review of Xanadu: The Musical at Cultural Arts Playhouse by Dr. Thomas Robert Stevens

This review of Xanadu: The Musical performed at the Cultural Arts Playhouse was written by Dr. Thomas Robert Stevens and published in Volume X, Issue 3 (2013) of the online edition of Applause! Applause!

Xanadu: The Musical

Cultural Arts Playhouse (44 Lincoln Avenue, Roslyn Heights, NY)

Reviewed 3/10/13

Xanadu is a musical with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. It is based on the 1980 cult film of the same name, which was inspired by the 1947 Rita Hayworth film Down To Earth, a sequel to the 1941 movie Here Comes Mr. Jordan, which was an adaptation of the play Heaven Can Wait by Harry Segall. Xanadu is the name of the Chinese province where Kubla Khan established his pleasure garden in the poem Kubla Khan, or A Vision In A Dream, A Fragment by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The musical opened on Broadway in 2007 and ran for over 500 performances. It earned an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and a Drama Desk Award for Best Book. It was also nominated for Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book.

The musical starts with an attempted suicide after Venice Beach chalk artist Sonny Malone, played by David Bryant Johnson, is unhappy with how his sidewalk mural of  the Greek Muses (daughters of Zeus) came out. Just before jumping to his death, Clio, a young perky Muse calling herself Kira, arrives on the scene to give him a reason to live. Quickly inspired, Sonny decides he can convert an auditorium called The Xanadu into a space that can feature live performances, art galleries and "something athletic" such as a roller disco. Kira and some of her muse sisters help decorate The Xanadu while her older sister Melpomene curses her to fall in love with Sonny, which carries the penalty of death. 

Zeus's wives ask him to take pity on Clio and one retells the story of Achilles and his vulnerable heel. All the muses are similarly afflicted so Clio realizes that she, too, is invulnerable, except for her heels, which were protected when she was shot with the arrows of love because she wearing the "mighty legwarmers" making her completely invulnerable. She realized she is truly in love with Sonny, who loves her back. Zeus pardons her and explains what Xanadu is: "True love and the ability to create and share art".

Yes the book is as bad as it sounds and quite a bit worse. The Muses often speak in black Ghetto-talk and Tammy Forward's inconsistent Australian accent in the character of Kira was extremely difficult to listen to. It was never explained why the Muses considered their geographic territory of responsibility to be Los Angeles and Orange County, California or why The Xanadu is like "Children's Theater for 40-year old Gay People". It is also never explained why Clio is considered by Zeus to be more guilty if she was cursed into loving Sonny against her will than she would be if she were truly in love with him, which is strictly forbidden.

Ashley Menard as Melpomene and Jonny Nelson as Thalia were stand-out performers who got my attention every time they appeared on stage. Ms. Menard was perfect as the evil, older, jealous sister and Jonny Nelson had many eclectic roles to play and pulled them all off successfully. It was very hard to believe that Kira/Clio and Sonny Malone were in love. They both appeared to me as immature and incapable of true love. There is no reason offered as to why Clio, after thousands of years, would fall in love with this particular mortal male or why she would give up eternal life to live just one lifetime with him. This is more the fault of how Sonny Malone was portrayed than the fault of Clio. Sonny Malone needed to be played with more sex appeal by David Bryant Johnson. He certainly had the raw materials (good charisma and stage presence) and the voice (I particularly liked his rendition of "Don't Walk Away"). I would re-cast him in the role in a second but he needed to show us why Kira would fall in love with him above all others. Perhaps some roller skating on Venice Beach with his shirt off or some scenes where Kira is drawn into his loving, seductive nature would have fit the bill. Without that, their "love" came across as sterile to me and quite unbelievable.

You will recognize a number of songs in this musical including Magic, Evil Woman, Have You Never Been Mellow and Xanadu. The book for Xanadu: The Musical needs a re-write and can be updated. As it is, it leaves much left to be desired.