Local Candidates Make A Difference by Bill Gelineau
As candidates of the third largest party in the USA,
this is the time of year where we sometimes lament our
showing and consider the weighty effects of eggnog -- since
few of our local candidates won their respective races.
However, doing so might miss the larger successes that we
are developing.
In the West Michigan area, election results comparing
2004 with 2002 suggest considerable new voters willing to
cast their ballot for Libertarian Candidates.
Over the last 3 election cycles, our target race has
been State Representative. This has been the most visible
opportunity for us to discuss issues which have local
implications and also receive strong media coverage on our
positions. This year, our vote total for these offices
increased by 39.92%. Clearly, we would have done even
better except that we did not offer candidates in the 75th
or 76th districts. Also, a well known and financed
candidate with Libertarian connections who ran as an
independent cut our vote in the 77th district.
Comparing numbers in just those districts in which we
had a candidate shows we did even better. Total votes
increased 79.37%, more than 33% greater than the increase in
turnout in those races. Our percentage of the vote
increased by 22.67%. Junior Diaz of Holland received 1233
votes, the second highest total of any Libertarian for State
House in Michigan.
Of course, we had other candidates running in other
races. Warren Adams received an increase of more than 1000
votes for the 3rd Congressional district than that received
in 2002. Rebecca Brockmeier and Celeste Van Til both
received over 10,000 votes for their Ottawa County seats.
The combined total for our local candidates reached
40,110. This represents an increase of 147.81% over the
last cycle (Clerk and ROD races were compared to 2000).
While total votes cast did also jump some 35.78%, the totals
for Libertarians in West Michigan were still more than
double.
Most encouraging is this: In our Ottawa and Kent
Counties alone, we have over 17,884 voters that voted for at
least one Libertarian. Many clearly voted for as many as 3
local candidates. Since Michael Badnarik received 877 votes
in these two counties, over 17,000 people ACTIVELY chose to
vote for our candidates.
Our goal should be to find and get these people
involved. They clearly are hearing our message.
Also of importance is how local candidates effect the
National ticket. In both 2000 and 2004, Kent and Ottawa
Counties combined for an almost indentical 8.6% of the total
Michigan voters for President. However, the percentage of
votes for Mr. Badnarik jumped from 6.14% of the statewide
total to 8.31%, an over 35% increase!
The time is now to begin planning for 2006. Be part of
the growing success of the Libertarian Party and the message
of freedom by being a candidate.
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