Executive Committee
Adrian F Malagon is also currently an At-Large Representative on the Libertarian National Committee, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Contra Costa County, and Chair of the California Libertarian Party Mises Caucus. Malagon became a member of the Libertarian Party of California on January 1, 2021, and a Lifetime Member on February 19, 2023, after being elected as the first Hispanic Chair of the Libertarian Party of California at the 2023 Annual Convention. A lifelong “small-l” libertarian turned Anarchist, he held no political affiliation before then. He became a member of the national Libertarian Party on August 1, 2021, and a Lifetime Member on June 1, 2022. He wishes to aid the advancement of liberty in California through human action, minority outreach, professionalism, single-issue coalition building, and strong, unapologetic messaging.
Malagon is a native Spanish speaker, and lifelong Californian. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from St. Mary’s College of California where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Malagon is from the Bay Area of California, where he works remotely as a field recruiter for an international sales and marketing firm. His professional acumen includes recruitment, sales, and business development.
Alvstad became a member of the Libertarian Party of California on January 10, 1997 (although he was not active in the Party after the 2000 Election). Alvstad returned to active membership in 2019, and became a Lifetime Member of the National Libertarian Party at the 2022 Libertarian National Convention. Alvstad holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from The University of California, Berkeley where he graduated with highest honors. Alvstad lives in Orange County, and works as an ASIC Designer for SpaceX.
Chris Edgar is an entertainment and commercial litigation attorney, and musician, based in Los Angeles, California. Chris’s law practice has an extensive constitutional law component, including many cases in which he has protected the right of users of business and employer review sites to speak anonymously under the First Amendment. Chris’s articles on constitutional limits on state power have been published in the Stanford Law Review and the NYU Journal of Law & Liberty.
Trendalyn “Tren” Hallesy is a former Republican who became disillusioned after Donald Trump lost the 2020 election for President. She has been influenced by the libertarian ideas expressed by Dr. Ron Paul, Caryn Ann Harlos, and Karlyn Borysanko. She is passionate about freedom, small government, and personal responsibility.
Elizabeth “Betz” Stump is currently Chair of the Libertarian Party of Alameda County, having previously served one term as Vice Chair, and two terms as At Large for the county. Betz is also on the LPCA Communications and Marketing Committee, where she helps craft press releases, and contributes to the Party newsletter, The Beacon. Additionaly, she is on the Social Media Committee, and served on the 2021 Platform Committee. Betz was the “Authorized Person” in Alameda County for the successful 2020-2021 Recall Newsom effort, headed by Orrin Heatlie.
Betz grew up in the family business, doing catering (mostly studio catering) feeding TV show cast & crews anywhere from 35 to 2,000 people for events such as: The Grammys, The American Music Awards, The Easter Seals Telethon, as well as wholesale food manufacturing for Trader Joe’s. Betz earned a Bachelors in Communications from Cal State Northridge, and worked for five years doing high tech Public Relations on both the agency, and corporate side. Betz has been volunteering with Libertarian Party of Alameda County since 2012, and with the Libertarian Party of California since 2019.
Kyle Thom serves as the Chair Pro Tem of the Libertarian Party of Calaveras County.
Loren B. Dean grew up in Riverside and has always called it his hometown. Being naturally suspicious of established authority, he cast his very first presidential vote for Ross Perot in 1992. From 2005-2019, he lived outside California, discovering libertarianism around 2013 in Oklahoma. He returned to what he calls “the land of my people,” California’s Inland Empire, in late 2019 to remarry and resettle, only to watch in astonished disappointment as California crashed into lockdown hysteria. Primed to get active for freedom, he has done so, and plans, in his own words, “to keep going until they throw me in a camp.”
Prompted by the cultural and political response to COVID, Graham began getting involved with the Libertarian Party in the Bay Area in 2021. Currently the Treasurer for the Libertarian Party of Alameda County, he previously worked as Treasurer for Michael Lema’s Hayward City Council Campaign, and served on the LPCA Bylaws and Historical Preservation committees.
A lifelong Californian Graham has grown-up, lived, and worked across the varied geographic and cultural landscape California offers. He graduated from Sacramento State in 2014 with a B.A. in Philosophy and a B.S. in Geology. He has worked in both the private and public sectors. Growing and learning in this diverse set of circumstances Graham has come to understand that the best solutions for California are not something the existing establishment is capable of providing. Graham knows that the Libertarian Party is the best political vehicle to affect positive change for California and advance liberty.
Charles Byrd is a lifelong resident of Modesto California, a graduate of Fred C Beyer High School who attended Modesto Junior College for three years. In addition to serving as an at large member of the LP of California Executive Committee, he also serves as Chair Pro Tem of the Stanislaus County LP affiliate. He has three decades of activism experience under his belt. Stuffing envelopes, signature gathering, sign waving and canvassing precincts on foot. In his professional life, Mr. Byrd is a security guard who has previously worked in the construction, warehouse and retail industries.
Craig Strachan is currently Chair of the Libertarian Party of Ventura County. Born and raised in Scotland, he first registered to vote as a Libertarian when he naturalized as a US citizen in 2001. He is now a lifetime member of both the state and national parties. He is a businessman in the field of real estate investment and development. He holds degrees from the University of Glasgow and Boston University.
Nick Apostolopoulos was born and raised in California and was a small “l” Libertarian for many years. As a life-long entrepreneur, Nick boasts a rich background in technology and software development, where he led technical teams, architected comprehensive software solutions, and played a pivotal role in the e-commerce sector across various prestigious companies. In 2010 he pivoted to the world of craft spirits, eventually launching the San Diego’s inaugural branded vodka, 619 Vodka, in May 2012. In 2018 he opened the first distillery, bar, and restaurant in San Diego. It was after going through the State’s insane Covid policies a few years later that he decided that it was time to get off the sidelines and try to make a difference by joining the Libertarian Party.
Meredith Hays
Region Four Representative, Libertarian National Committee
Meredith Hays became a libertarian while studying political science at the University of California, Irvine. While focusing her studies on the Middle East and South Asia, with a particular focus in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, she became particularly passionate about the anti-war message. After earning her B.A. in Political Science in 2010, Hays attended the Santa Clara University School of Law, where she graduated and passed the California Bar Exam in 2013. She is currently a practicing attorney in the Bay Area.
Adrian F Malagon is also currently Chair of the Libertarian Party of California. Additionally, he served as Chair of the Investigatory Committee regarding the allegations of misconduct of Ms. Caryn Harlos. He currently serves as Interim Secretary.