Where Recognition is Due Thu, 12 August 2010

The Libertarian Party of North Carolina has fought hard over the last five years to bring respect to the party name. In 2008, thanks to the effort of many LPNC members and the tireless campaigning of gubernatorial candidate Mike Munger, enough voters cast their votes our way to break the LPNC's perpetual cycle of petitioning for ballot access. This year, the LPNC's had two other milestones in earning recognition as a political party in North Carolina.

Ballot Access Lawsuit Milestone:
On September 9, 2010, the LPNC's ballot access case against the State of North Carolina will be heard by the N.C. Supreme Court. This marks almost 5 years after the lawsuit was originally filed (September 21, 2005). The LPNC has spent a lot of time and money in this fight, and the state is still unmoved in its efforts to use the unfounded "ballot crowding" argument as a defense for its unconstitutional ballot access law. (Read more about the ballot access lawsuit.)

Qualified Party Recognition Milestone:
In July 2010, Governor Perdue signed S.B. 1177 into law. On the surface, S.B. 1177 looks like a rather mundane tax law reform bill. However, buried inside was another big win for the LPNC! Here's why: the LPNC represented the first time a political party qualified as a political party in accordance with N.C. Election Law (specifically G.S. 163-96) but was not eligible for the N.C. Political Parties Financing Fund established under G.S. 105-159. The State Board of Elections was confused by the arbitrary qualifications outlined in G.S. 105-159 and asked the General Assembly to revisit that legislation to clear things up. The result was an addition in S.B. 1177 that changed G.S. 105-159 to refer to the definition of a qualified political party already established in G.S. 163-96.

The LPNC fought hard for ballot access under G.S. 163-96, and Libertarians are now grateful that they get equal treatment under the N.C. Political Parties Financing Fund, too. Yeah, we might not agree with the existance of the fund, but as long as it exists, the taxpayers who are donating to it have a right to direct their money to any of the parties that qualified to be on their ballots.

Peace, Love, and Liberty,
Stephanie E. Watson, Webmaster

An Open Letter and an Open Invitation Sat, 17 July 2010

North Carolina Libertarians,

I would first like to show my gratitude for the recent appointment to the Libertarian Party of North Carolina's Political Director position. It is an honor to serve with such great people and I look forward to our future growth. I enter with a long list of experience including the founding of the Liberty Club at Campbell University, Co-editor for the "Peace, Freedom, Prosperity Movement", Campaign Manager for US Senate candidate Dr Mike Beitler, Radio Host of "The Liberty Solution" Radio and "Peace, Freedom, Prosperity" Radio, not to mention my position on the Libertarian Party of North Carolina's Executive Committee Board, recently serving as a delegate to the Libertarian National Convention. I'm currently on pace to graduate from Campbell University with my Master's in Business Administration, already receiving my Bachelor in Business Administration.

As the campaign season begins to heat up, now more than ever is the time to take the message to the citizens and I look forward to working with each and everyone of you to advance the cause of Freedom and Liberty. I see this as an opportunity for the party to grow, but more importantly a chance to stick to the principles that have helped us obtain our current position. With ballot access and great candidates stepping up to represent the message, the opportunity has never been better for the Libertarian Party to advance the ideals of personal freedom, self-ownership, and individual rights to a broader audience.

The main focus and benchmark for the Political Director position consists in recruiting volunteers, electoral results, donations/fundraising, voter registration and training. As a Liberty activist with multiple years of experience, I will strive to increase all of these categories during the current election season, and more importantly, I will strive to increase these numbers even after the election in November. 2012 is right around the corner and the more momentum we can gain now, the stronger the party will be going into the general election.

It is important that we try to improve the brand image of Libertarianism. One of the stepping stones to this is to increase the synergy between board members, county affiliates, volunteers, and candidates state-wide. The key to this is communication. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact me at anytime. I am here to help you help the Libertarian message.

Michael Shanklin
(919) 824-6829
Political Director
The Libertarian Party of North Carolina

Dr. Michael Beitler Participates in First Statewide US Senate Debate Wed, 30 Jun 2010

With the Democrat primary run-off complete, the 2010 general election season for US Senate is finally underway. Dr. Michael Beitler, Libertarian US Senate candidate, participated in the first televised debate of the general election campaign where he went head to head on the issues with current US Senator Richard Burr and Democrat challenger Elaine Marshall. The forum was held Saturday, June 26, in Wilmington at the North Carolina Bar Association Annual meeting and was broadcast line on the cable network, News Channel 14. This participation in an early debate is a first for a statewide Libertarian candidate.

Media coverage of the first statewide debate:

• Lumina News
• Charlotte Observer
• WRAL
• Examiner.com

Senate Debate, Part One

Senate Debate, Part Two

Senate Debate, Part Three

Senate Debate, Part Four

Dr. Beitler is in full campaign mode. Visit his website.

Libertarian Party of North Carolina Holds Annual State Convention

RALEIGH (April 12) — The Libertarian Party of North Carolina held its annual state convention in Burlington April 10 to 11 where it adopted platform changes, elected new LPNC Executive Committee members, selected delegates to the Libertarian National Convention to be held in St. Louis and passed a resolution regarding the 2010 Census.

The two-day convention included members from across the state and guests from Tennessee and Washington DC.

The convention adopted several recommendations of the platform committee, including a refinement of the current platform on Crime, a rewording of the platform plank, End the War on Drugs, and revision to the LPNC Platform's Preamble.

The convention also heard from several of the Libertarian candidates in attendance. Candidates for federal office attending included Mike Beitler of Greensboro, U.S. Senate; Tom Rose of Benson, U.S. House District 2; Darryl Holloman of Goldsboro, U.S. House District 3; Thomas Hill of Concord, U.S. House District 8, and; Lon Cecil of High Point, U.S. House District 12.

Candidates for North Carolina General Assembly included Barbara Howe of Oxford, N.C. House 32 and Stephanie Watson of Raleigh, N.C. Senate 16. Brandon Black of Graham, a candidate for Alamance County Commissioner, and Tom Hohman of Waxhaw, a candidate for Union County Commissioner were also in attendance.

No Libertarian candidate faces any primary opposition, so these candidates will be the Libertarian candidates on the November ballot.

Dr. Michael Munger addressed the convention on Saturday morning on the topic of State and Local Government Debt in North Carolina: The Next 10 Years. Dr. Munger is an economist who serves as chair of the political Science department at Duke University and was the Libertarian Party's candidate for governor in 2008.

During the Saturday evening banquet, delegates heard from Wes Benedict, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party executive director. Mr. Benedict addressed the delegates regarding How Libertarians Make A Difference.

The LPNC presented its Most Outspoken for Liberty award to the late Fernie Williams of Fuquay Varina. Mr. Williams was the past chair of the Wake County Libertarian Party and a tireless advocate for liberty.

The convention elected four additional members to complete one-year terms on the LPNC Executive Committee. David Grimm of Burlington, Tom Hohman of Waxhaw, Michael Shanklin of Erwin, and Aaron Yeargan of Hampstead joined the committee as new At-large members.

On Sunday, the convention passed a resolution encouraging recipients of the 2010 U. S. Census to refuse to answer questions 2-10 of the census, stating that only question 1, how many persons are living at the address, is the only question required to meet the constitutionally-stated purpose of the census.

Text of resolution:

Resolution on 2010 Census

Whereas question 1 on the 2010 U.S. Census — number of persons living at the address — is the only question needed to serve the constitutionality-stated purposes of the census of apportioning federal, representation and direct taxes;

Whereas the LPNC supports limiting government having no more power than constitutionally stated, therefore;

The LPNC encourages all recipients of the 2010 U.S. Census to refuse to answer questions 2-10.

Adopted in Convention, April 11, 2010 Burlington, NC

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LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF NORTH CAROLINA
PO Box 28141 Raleigh NC 27611 * 877.843.5762 * www.LPNC.org
For more information:
Barbara Howe
Phone: 919-690-1423 (h) 919-475-2371 (c)
Email: chair@lpnc.org

Libertarians Begin to File for 2010 Elections

Several Libertarians filed to run for office on February 8, the first day of filing for the 2010 elections.

Those filing at the State Board of Election on Monday included Dr. Mike Beitler of Greensboro, filing to run for US Senate, Thomas Hill of Concord, seeking the office of US Congress, District 8, and Tom Rose of Benson, filing for US Congress, District 2. Additionally, filing at their county Boards were Richard Evey of Morganton, who filed for State Senate, District 44, and Jeff Simon of Greensboro, who filed for NC House, District 62.

Filing continues until noon on February 26.

Discover more about these and other Libertarian candidates in this year's NC election by checking 2010 Election.

Mike Munger on Libertarian Positions

Note from Mike: There is a mistake. The 70% figure is an exaggeration, for LASIK. And the numbers are wrong. Instead, it should be more like 50%, and the cost has gone down from $2,500 to $1,250.