LPM Online

December 28, 2004

Contents

  1. Upcoming Events
  2. Local Candidates Make A Difference

  1. Upcoming Events

    December 30, 2004 - 7:30 PM
    LP - Washtenaw social meeting.
    Location: Cubs' AC Restaurant (located in the Colonial Lanes Bowling Center) at 1950 S Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor.
    Contact: Jeff Weber Phone: (734) 434-6486 E-mail: humanism@comcast.net

    January 6, 2005 - 7:30 PM
    Libertarian Party of Washtenaw County Monthly Business Meeting. Dinner at 7pm, meeting 7:30pm.
    Location: Cubs' AC Restaurant (located in the back room of the Colonial Lanes Bowling Center) at 1950 S Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor.
    Contact: Jeff Weber Phone: (734) 434-6486 E-mail: humanism@comcast.net

    January 13, 2005 - 7:30 PM
    Forum: former LPM Chairs James Hudler, Stacey Van Oast, Emily Salvette, Brian Wright, Keith Edwards, and Tim O'Brien.
    Location: Cubs' AC Restaurant (located in the back room of the Colonial Lanes Bowling Center) at 1950 S Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor.
    Contact: Jeff Weber Phone: (734) 434-6486 E-mail: humanism@comcast.net

    January 20, 2005 - 7:30 PM
    Speaker: Local Proposal C (medical marijuana) activist TBD. U-M college Libertarian group expected to visit LPWC.
    Location: Cubs' AC Restaurant (located in the Colonial Lanes Bowling Center) at 1950 S Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor.
    Contact: Jeff Weber Phone: (734) 434-6486 E-mail: humanism@comcast.net

    February 3, 2005 - 7:30 PM
    Libertarian Party of Washtenaw County Monthly Business Meeting and yearly election of officers. Dinner at 7pm, meeting 7:30pm.
    Location: Cubs' AC Restaurant (located in the back room of the Colonial Lanes Bowling Center) at 1950 S Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor.
    Contact: Jeff Weber Phone: (734) 434-6486 E-mail: humanism@comcast.net

    February 13, 2005 - 12:00 PM
    Regular Executive Committee Meeting of the LPM. All dues paying members are welcome to attend.
    Location: LPM State Office 913 W. Holmes Road; Southwind Office Park - Conference Room Lansing, MI 48910
    Contact: Mike Donahue, Chairman, LPM Phone: (313) 837-9082 E-mail: forumshopper@comcast.net

    February 26, 2005 - 6:00 PM
    Freedom Dinner 2005 hosted by the Tri-City Libertarian Party
    Location: The Grand Banquet & Conference Center, Essexville, MI
    Contact: Rae Jozwiak Phone: (989) 922-5226 E-mail: jozie@mail.com

    More
    For more events, see the online calendar at:
    http://www.michiganlp.org/lpmonline/events.php

  2. 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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