Chair nomination thread

[John Phillips]

Lets get this started.

I nominate Tony D'Orazio

I spoke to him today and he is interested in serving (noting he had previously withdrawn with the intent of supporting Ms Shade who has since withdrawn).

I will let Mr D'Orazio speak to his own qualifications, which are extensive.

John Phillips
Region 6 Representative
217-412-5973

[Susan Hogarth]

I nominate Chuck Moulton. I will let his words speak for him:

I have LNC experience. I served a term as vice-chair 2006-2008 and another term as regional alternate for region 5 (the mid-Atlantic region) 2004-2006. After my service on the LNC I monitored the LNC email list for over a decade and attended any LNC meeting within reasonable driving distance. I tabulated mail ballots and roll call votes from meetings to help convention delegates make informed voting decisions. I have chair experience. While LNC vice-chair, I chaired a LNC meeting (while chair Bill Redpath was on his honeymoon), 1/2 a LNC meeting (Bill had to catch a flight post-convention), and portions of the 2008 national convention. I chaired the national bylaws committee and judicial committee. I chaired two state affiliates: Pennsylvania and Virginia. My meetings run smoothly (and quicker than my predecessors). I have LP experience. I joined the Libertarian Party in 1999, became a life member in 2006, and have pledged $100/month since 2006. I registered to vote as a Libertarian while an undergraduate and have voted for Libertarians in every election. I’ve attended every national convention since 2004, except in 2020 (which I attended remotely out of concern for COVID). I have served on the boards of the LPPA, LPVA, and LPCA. I have parliamentary experience. I earned the Professional Registered Parliamentarian credential in 2009. I've served repeatedly on the national bylaws and judicial committees, amended the bylaws from the floor, helped rewrite the LNC policy manual years ago, and navigated numerous committees through difficult procedural questions. I have legal experience. I'm a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania, New Jersey (inactive), and California. Legal expertise can be helpful parsing ballot access issues, staff HR issues, and other matters in the purview of the chair. I have policy experience. I have a Ph.D. in economics. I've worked at Cato, networked with many DC think tanks and journalists, and kept abreast of policy analyses and academic papers across a range of liberty issues, which I leverage for informed freedom advocacy. I have social media experience. I created the national Libertarian Party Facebook page and managed it for its first year before turning it over to staff. I helped grow Virginia's Facebook from nothing to the #1 affiliate page in likes and engagement during my LPVA chair term. I created the LP LinkedIn group. I have LPHQ experience. For 10 years I lived in suburban DC and frequently visited headquarters, helping with projects and getting to know staff. My home in Philadelphia is only a 3-hour drive from LPHQ if I am needed on site. It's important for the chair to understand how LPHQ and staff work – not just when all eyes are on them, but also when they are at ease. I have technology experience. I created and chaired the LNC's IT Committee. Undergraduate I minored in computer science and programmed in many languages. I've developed, written, and deployed tools to append useful information to our member database. I've ran websites for state affiliates and county parties. It's important that our chair understand the tech and make expanding the CRM a priority. I have election experience. I ran for U.S. Congress in 2004, appearing in 5 televised debates. I was elected to partisan local office as a precinct worker. Virginia ran 5x as many candidates when I chaired the state than any year in the previous decade. In Pennsylvania we used the Moulton Maneuver (I didn't name it) to target local offices with no Republicans or Democrats on the ballot, electing 39 Libertarians 2 years ago. This year we are on track to elect over 100. I get along with caucuses. I have common ground with the various factions and caucuses. Radicals respect me because I'm an anarcho-capitalist who advocates for shrinking the state on every issue, not afraid to advocate for complete abolition. Pragmatists respect me because I focus on elections, have a history of success electing libertarians and running credible candidates, and seek to professionalize the party. Mises folks respect me because Austrian economics was my Ph.D. field, my dissertation was on blockchain economics, I spent a summer living next to the Mises Institute attending every seminar, and I was neck deep in the Ron Paul REVOLution. When marriage equality was before the U.S. Supreme Court, Outright Libertarians sent out my LPVA press release rather than writing their own. I get along with individuals. I'm on good terms with various strong personalities in the Libertarian Party who don't like each other very much, and can help mediate disputes so we can disagree without being disagreeable. Ultimately many people respect me because I'm a straight shooter who embraces a fair process and doesn't believe "the ends justify the means". I don't subscribe to a "strong chair" model. In my opinion the chair should be a facilitator who helps the LNC craft policies, resolutions, and directives to guide the party where they want. Staff should then implement those policies, resolutions, and directives. Therefore, I would defer to the LNC rather than pushing the LNC and staff in a particular direction.

--

Susan Hogarth
919-906-2106
Region 5 Representative

[David Valente]

I nominate Dan Fishman to speak to NOTA. 

v/r 

David Valente

Region 5 Alternate

[David Valente]

Bump

[Ken Moellman]

Thanks for the bump, David.

I would encourage the members of the committee to nominate candidates sooner, rather than later, so that there is ample time for nominated candidates to campaign and to be interviewed by various LNC members.  While I do not plan to nominate anyone, I do have some questions that I would like to ask every candidate. I'm sure other members of the LNC have questions as well.  I've already personally spoken with Mr. Moulton and I hope to speak with Mr. D'Orazio in the near future.

Ken Moellman

Libertarian National Committee

Vice Chair

[Caryn Ann Harlos]

Same.  I doubt I will nominate anyone and I actually wish I had asked that the nominations be given in secret to the acting chair because there has been so much friction lately that I think human nature will come into play and a very good candidate could be prejudiced against simply by who nominated them.  This isn't a slam on us, it is very much just basic human nature.  

   In Liberty, 

LNC Secretary | secr...@lp.org | 561.523.2250

[Ken Moellman]

As one who has friends across the various faction lines, it is my genuine hope that we nominate the best candidate based on their credentials and ability to execute, and nothing else.

Ken Moellman

Libertarian National Committee

Vice Chair

[Caryn Ann Harlos]

That was you Mr. Moellman.  You declined.

   In Liberty, 

LNC Secretary | secr...@lp.org | 561.523.2250

[Caryn Ann Harlos]

If you are willing to be nominated, I would nominate you.

   In Liberty, 

LNC Secretary | secr...@lp.org | 561.523.2250

[Ken Moellman]

I appreciate the sentiment. I decline any nomination.   

I look forward to assisting our next chair in keeping our party moving on the great forward trajectory it has been on. 

Ken Moellman

Libertarian National Committee

Vice Chair

[Chris Luchini]

I nominate Whitney Bilyeu

She needs no introduction, and will let her speak to her qualifications.

Chris Luchini

Region 1 Representative LNC

[Steven Nekhaila]

I nominate Joshua Smith,

He was second choice of the delegates by only 100 votes, is dedicated to fairness and justice, and has run meetings and conventions before. He has the prerequisite experience and has served previously on the board. He has the willingness to route out corruption and has his heart in the cause.

Sincerely,

Steven Nekhaila 

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From: Chris Luchini <chris....@lp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2021 1:04:05 PM
To: lnc-business <lnc-bu...@lp.org>
Subject: Re: [lnc-business] Chair nomination thread

 

[John Phillips]

Does Mr Smith accept?

My understanding from him was that he is currently exceedingly busy with his family, children, and job. So he may not have the time for this commitment?

Not making a judgement one way or the other, just asking for confirmation from him that he wishes to be considered.

John Phillips
Region 6 Representative
217-412-5973

[Joshua Smith]

I do indeed. My work schedule has gone back to normal, and things are transitioned to much a smoother pace now. 

Thanks,

Joshua Smith 

[John Phillips]

Thank you for the update Mr Smith. Glad things are going well for you.

John Phillips
Region 6 Representative
217-412-5973

[Laura Ebke]

I nominate Steve Dasbach.

As a former LNC Chair, and Campaign Manager for JoJo's 2020 campaign, Steve has the experience within the party, and the experience with donors, to be successful.

As one who has not been on the LNC for a while, he is untainted by the current internal battles. 

He is "retired," and in my conversation with him a few minutes ago, said that he would have the time to commit to making the calls. He also said that he would not stand for re-election in Reno, and would seek to preside over an even-handed convention without interfering in any sort of factional battles for power in the party. 

He will be reaching out to most of you in the coming days to answer questions you might have. Or, I'm sure, he'd be happy to take your call at your convenience. If you need his phone number, message me privately.

Laura Ebke

Laura Ebke, PhD
LNC At-Large

Former NE State Senator
laura...@lp.org
Cell: 402-540-6510

[Chris Luchini]

Remind me, when do these nominations close?

Chris Luchini

Region 1 Representative LNC

[Caryn Ann Harlos]

10 days from last Sunday

--

[John Phillips]

Weds night

John Phillips
Region 6 Representative
217-412-5973

[Whitney Bilyeu]

I accept the nomination.

I will also take this opportunity to nominate Christopher Thrasher for LNC Chair. It is my understanding that Mr. Thrasher is accepting of this nomination and will speak to his own qualifications.

Whitney Bilyeu

LP | Region 7 Representative

281.433.4966

LP.org

[Ken Moellman]

Reminder:  Last call for nominations.  The nomination period closes tomorrow night.

Ken Moellman

Libertarian National Committee

Vice Chair