MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR – April 7, 2016
The recent LPC state convention was an outstanding event, with good attendance and an exciting program. The presidential candidate forum drew a large audience to hear 10 Libertarian hopefuls vie for the top spot, to be decided at the LP national convention. This will be May 28 to 31 in Orlando, FL. The California delegation has some open spots, so let me know if you’d like to go to Orlando and be a delegate. The 2016 election is an important one for the LP, given the unpopularity of the Democratic and Republican candidates.
The media seems interested, too. Susan Shelley, a columnist for the L. A. Daily News, attended the candidate forum and wrote this positive online column, which will also appear in print Sunday, reaching possibly 1.2 million subscribers in several papers. Go to:
http://www.dailynews.com/opinion/20160407/its-high-time-to-let-the-libertarian-presidential-candidate-debate-susan-shelley
Convention speaker Lily Tang Williams held the rapt attention of attendees with her daunting tale of growing up in Communist China and finally finding freedom in the U.S., where she is now the LP’s Colorado Senate candidate. LP of Canada’s Tim Moen let us know what’s going on north of the border in the quest for liberty. And Assemblyman John Moore (L-Nevada) regaled us with stories of political intrigue he’s been privy to in the Nevada statehouse as the only elected Libertarian Assemblyman.
We heard from several California candidates as well. Nine Libertarians will be on the ballot in the June 7 primary, including two U. S. Senate candidates, Gail Lightfoot and Mark Matthew Herd. We’re also fielding two Congressional candidates, a State Senate candidate, and four State Assembly candidates. However, due to the restrictive Top Two law, it will be tough to stay on the ballot in November. Interestingly, In 14 districts, only one incumbent candidate filed. These smug politicians need to be opposed – by Libertarians. We can run some write-in candidates, which doesn’t cost anything, in the hopes that said candidate gets the most write-in votes, in which case he is one of the Top Two and goes on to the November ballot. You may be hearing from me to ask you to run, if you live in one of those districts.
Convention delegates made a few changes to the party platform, coming out in favor of ridesharing services and e-cigarettes and against “Common Core” educational requirements and raising the smoking age to 21. Delegates elected two new Executive Committee members, Susan Marie Weber (Palm Desert City Councilwoman) and Alex Appleby (congressional candidate from Stockton), to replace Jarrett Tilford and Emily Tilford, who didn’t seek re-election. New alternates are Wendy Hewitt and Starchild. Jeff Hewitt (Mayor of Calimesa) is California’s new representative to the Libertarian National Committee.
An exciting event is coming up in July: The California State Fair. The LPC will have a booth at this Sacramento fair, where 750,000 attendees are expected to pass by. This will be a great opportunity to promote the Libertarian cause. Volunteers are needed. Stay tuned for more details.
The LPC needs you. If your membership has expired, please re-join. We have a new $1,000 life membership category now, so if you want to avoid those pesky renewal notices every year, now is the time to sign up. You are also welcome to make a contribution to our party activities. Just go to our newly re-done website to do so:
For liberty,
Ted Brown
Chair, Libertarian Party of California
tbrown@ca.lp.org