Dear friends and fellow Libertarians,
I want to tell you what's happening in the Libertarian Party in Arizona.
Topics:
1. The national affiliation and current legal situation 2. The February 22, 2000 Presidential Preference Election 3. House Bill 2672 4. A newly discovered elected Libertarian in Arizona 5. Two Libertarian candidates seeking office in March election 6. Libertarian National Convention
1. As most of you know by now, the Libertarian National Committee voted 13-0
(with four abstentions) to name the Arizona Libertarian Party, Inc. (ALP, Inc.) as its new affiliate. This vote followed an advisory election conducted by the national Libertarian Party of national Libertarian Party members residing in Arizona. The Party members chose the ALP, Inc. over the old group by more than a two-to-one vote. In addition, the ALP, Inc. received a majority of votes in all areas of the state.
Unfortunately, a small cadre of the old group has disavowed the election of the ALP, Inc. as the new affiliate and has continued to sue us in Maricopa County Superior Court. This last week, the judge in the case ordered the Libertarian Party in Arizona to follow Arizona election law. Leaders of the old group have not been doing this. It is our belief that those individuals who were elected by law via the precinct committeeman system in January of last year are the true and correct officers of the Libertarian Party in Arizona. This means I am the state party chairman and Kat Gallant is the Maricopa party chairman -- regardless of what a few people like Ernie Hancock may claim.
I wish I could say for sure that the dispute will end soon. I hope so, but it may not. In the meantime, however, I'm going to be working diligently to build the Libertarian Party in Arizona. I'll need everyone's help to make this happen. Despite the squirmishes, I have high hopes for the Libertarian Party. I'm committed to building this Party into an effective and professional organization, I'm committed to building our membership, and I'm committed to electing Libertarians to office. Our real opponents are the Democrats and Republicans who continue to increase government at all levels.
2. Despite what some may want you to think, the Arizona Libertarian Presidential Preference Election is still on and will take place February 22. Three Libertarian Presidential candidates will appear on the ballot. I urge all registered Libertarians to support a candidate and get involved in a campaign. Personally, I want our candidates selected in an open process by our rank-and-file members and not selected by party "leaders" in a smoke filled room. I hope you agree.
If you're not going to be in town on election day, remember that you can request an absentee ballot from your county's election division. In Maricopa and Pima Counties (and perhaps others), you can even request an absentee ballot online. If you have any question about this, feel free to contact me.
3. A very important bill is now making its way through the Arizona Legislature. HB2672 will increase the minimum number of Libertarian precinct committeemen in each precinct from one to two and it will guarantee all Libertarians in every precinct in the state can run for precinct committeeman. Please contact your legislators and ask them to support the bill. You may reach them via email. See www.azleg.state.az.us
4. We've discovered that Sidney Apps, a member of the Fountain Hills City Council, is a registered Libertarian. He joins Scott Stewart, a member of the Pima Community College Board of Governors, as the only (known!) elected Libertarians in Arizona. Sid, an area chiropractor, is now running for Mayor of Fountain Hills . . .
5. Two registered Libertarians are running for local office in elections to be held March 14. In addition to Sid Apps, Vickie Owen is a candidate for Scottsdale City Council. Both of them are great candidates, solidly Libertarian on the issues and deserve your support. To contact Vickie's campaign, call (480) 941-9219. To contact Sid's campaign, call (480) 836-9798. Both need volunteers and contributions. The maximum contribution allowed by law is $320 per person to each campaign. Please contact each campaign for details.
6. The Libertarian National Convention will be held beginning June 3rd in Anaheim, California. Arizona is entitled to 36 delegates. The Arizona Libertarian Party, Inc. State Committee met on January 29th, and pursuant to its bylaws, chose a delegate selection process and picked delegates. We are now in the process of naming alternates on a first-come-first-serve priority basis. It's likely that a significant number of chosen delegate will be unable to attend and alternates will become sitting delegates. If you'd like to become an alternate, please contact me right away.
As always, feel free to contact me at any time about anything. I'm always available. You may email me or telephone me at (520) 625-7264.
Best regards,
Peter Schmerl Chairman Arizona Libertarian Party, Inc.