Title:
Libertarian Elected to Troy City Council
Author:
Tim O’Brien
Date:
4/4/2000
Year:
2000
Article:

4/4/2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tim O’Brien
(313) 562-5778

DEARBORN. Libertarian Party of Michigan member, Martin Howrylak, was elected to one of two Troy city council seats up for election yesterday. Garnering over two-thirds of the vote in the non-partisan race, Howrylak won by a nearly two to one margin over the next highest vote-getter, 28-year incumbent, Anthony Pallotta.

“The voters have put the council on notice,” said the 25-year-old small business owner and lifetime Troy resident whose upstart campaign rocked Michigan’s 11th largest city.

Howrylak initially campaigned on his opposition to both the special tax treatment given the Delphi Automotive Systems world headquarters and the new municipal complex that had originally been bonded for $18 million but ballooned to a potentially quarter of a billion dollar “Metroplex,” as he dubbed it.

But then the incumbents handed their Libertarian challenger a gold gilded issue on a silver platter. A mere six weeks before the election the part-time city council voted unanimously (without even debate, much less dissent) to give themselves a lifetime pension — to be generously provided by taxpayers.

In his mailing to absentee voters Howrylak made a point of this pocketlining, observing that the pension formula would provide a more than $14,000 annual benefit to Pallotta — should he be reelected.

Meanwhile, a coalition of unhappy Troy taxpayer/residents and Libertarians outside of the Howrylak campaign created and distributed a piece of literature done in the style of an old west “Wanted” poster that featured drawings of the two incumbents, described the pension scheme, and labeled the pair as “Troy’s most UNWANTED.”

Howrylak buried the field in a landslide victory, garnering 3,871 votes. His archrival, Anthony Pallotta finished a way distant second in the race with 2,288, edging out the other challenger (who had no organized campaign) by barely 100 votes. The other incumbent in the race finished last.

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Title:
Libertarian City Councilman Rescinds Pension Plan
Author:
Tim O’Brien
Date:
4/11/2000
Year:
2000
Article:

4/11/2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tim O’Brien
(313) 562-5778

DEARBORN. The Libertarian Party of Michigan’s newest elected official, Troy city councilman, Martin Howrylak, wasted no time in getting to work.

Sworn in Monday, April 10, the “kid councilman” as the 25-year-old has been affectionately dubbed by local media, immediately followed through on his campaign promise to rescind the recently passed pension plan for elected officials.

Councilman Anthony Pallotta, barely reelected a week ago in the same election that saw Howrylak win in a landslide, introduced a motion to repeal the pension that would have paid him more than $14,000 a year for the rest of his life following his retirement from the council (due to term limits) in 2003. Howrylak seconded the motion. It then passed by a 7-0 vote.

Howrylak made opposition to the pension plan one of three main issues in his third run for city council in Michigan’s 11th largest city. The Libertarian also opposed special tax treatment for the Delphi Automotive Systems world headquarters and plans for an incredibly expanded new municipal complex.

But it was the pension plan perk — also attacked by a coalition of unhappy taxpayer/residents and Libertarians not connected to the Howrylak campaign called “Friends of Troy” — that quickly came to dominate the election.

The Friends of Troy distributed a piece of literature done in the style of an old west “Wanted” poster that featured unflattering drawings of incumbents, Pallotta and Eldon Thompson, accused the pair of “Greed, Arrogance, and Contempt of Taxpayers,” and labeled them “Troy’s most UNWANTED.”

A piece of literature identified as coming from “Troy Citizens for Honesty and Integrity in Government” (but bearing no address) fired back at Howrylak, calling him “a pawn of the Libertarian Party” and claiming, among other things, that he wanted to disband the Troy Police Department — a charge which Howrylak called “absurd.”

In what local newspapers described as “the most contentious election in memory” Howrylak swept to a stunning victory — garnering nearly four thousand votes and leaving all three of the other candidates, including both incumbents, fighting it out in the low two thousands for the other council seat.

Libertarians were, of course, jubilant. “One Libertarian in one election turned around all the other councilmen,” said Oakland County LP vice chair, Greg Dirasian. “We can and do make a difference — even when we don’t have a [council] majority.”

Asked about the unanimous reversal of the pension plan scheme that had passed unanimously only seven weeks earlier, Howrylak smiled and shrugged, then in a masterpiece of understatement observed: “I guess they got the message.”

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Title:
Libertarian Party to Convene in Ann Arbor
Author:
Emily Salvette
Date:
5/4/2000
Year:
2000
Article:

5/4/2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Emily Hopp Salvette
734-668-2607
Salvette@aol.com

The Libertarian Party of Michigan will hold its 2000 nominating convention in Ann Arbor on the weekend of May 19 – 21 at the Best Western Executive Plaza. All events and business sessions are open to the general public.

The convention opens Friday night, May 19, with a welcome party and trivia contest sponsored by the convention host Libertarian Party of Washtenaw County. Saturday will feature business sessions and nationally renowned guest speakers. New this year will be introductory classes outlining the philosophy and positions of the Libertarian Party on such issues as gun control, affirmative action, education reform, and environmental protection. These hour-long classes, which begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, are free and do not require advance registration.

The major business of the convention will be the nomination of candidates for the November 7, 2000 general election. The Libertarian Party, a minor party according to Michigan election law, selects its candidates at a party caucus such as this convention. Party officials plan that by noon on Saturday, May 20, over 100 candidates will be selected for public offices ranging from Township Supervisor to U.S. Senator.

On Saturday afternoon, the convention will also choose 72 delegates to attend the national Libertarian Party presidential nominating convention to be held June 29 – July 3 in Anaheim, California. Of the fifty states, Michigan will send the third-largest delegation to Anaheim, where the LP’s candidate for President of the United States will be chosen. All three presidential front runners will attend the event in Ann Arbor to solicit support for their campaigns — including the Libertarian Party’s 1996 nominee, Harry Browne. A presidential candidate debate, moderated by Comerica Bank Chief Economist, David Littmann, is scheduled for the Saturday evening banquet.

A special Sunday brunch will feature Hillsdale College professor, Richard Ebeling, who will speak about private-sector solutions to social problems.

For more details visit the Libertarian Party of Michigan Convention 2000 web site at www.LpMich.org/Convention/2000/ or contact the convention chairman, Emily Hopp Salvette at 734-668-2607 or by e-mail at Salvette@aol.com.

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Title:
Libertarian Presidential Candidates to Debate in Ann Arbor
Author:
Emily Salvette
Date:
5/15/2000
Year:
2000
Article:
5/15/2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Emily Hopp Salvette
734-668-2607
Salvette@aol.com

The three main contenders for the Libertarian Party nomination for President of the United States will be debating at the Michigan LP convention in Ann Arbor this weekend.
The contenders are:

Harry Browne — a successful investment advisor for 30 years who has written 11 books that have sold more than 2 million copies including: How You Can Profit from the Coming Devaluation, How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World and Why Government Doesn’t Work. The party’s ’96 candidate for president, Browne was born in New York City in 1933, grew up in Los Angeles and currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee.

Don Gorman — a former State Representative in the New Hampshire House, Gorman was leader of the four man Libertarian caucus and served on both the Criminal Justice Committee and the Rules Committee. The 62 year old dean of elected American Libertarians lives in Deerfield, NH, where he was elected Trustee of the Trust Funds for the town in 1999.

Barry Hess — a true “Renaissance Man” who has lived in five different states (not including his time in Europe) in his brief 43 years. He is an attorney, entrepreneur, and small business owner whose educational background includes extensive involvement in sports and theater as well as politics. The self-described “moderate Libertarian” now makes his home in Maricopa, Arizona.

The three contenders will be making a bid for the support of Michigan’s 72 delegates to the national convention in Anaheim, CA, over the July 4th weekend.

The debate, moderated by Comerica Bank Chief Economist, David Littmann, will be held Saturday evening, May 20, at the Best Western Executive Plaza in Ann Arbor.

Members of the press are welcome. Contact convention chair Emily Hopp Salvette at 734-668-2607 or by e-mail at Salvette@aol.com to arrange for credentials and/or to get more details.

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Title:
Libertarian Party of Michigan Nominates over 100 Candidates for November Ballot
Author:
Tim O’Brien
Date:
5/22/2000
Year:
2000
Article:
5/22/2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tim O’Brien
313-562-5778
tobrien321@aol.com

The Libertarian Party of Michigan held its annual convention in Ann Arbor last weekend nominating 107 candidates across the state for the November election ballot.

Among those chosen to carry the party’s banner this fall is Michael Corliss of Westland who will square off against Republican incumbent, Spencer Abraham and Democrat challenger, Debbie Stabenow, for U. S. Senate.

Also nominated was Jon Coon of Carsonville, the LPM’s ’94 candidate for this office, who considered the possibility of a rematch against Abraham but finally decided to instead make a second run for a position on the State Board of Education along with Diane Barnes, the party’s other ’98 candidate for that office.

The Libertarian Party of Michigan will field a full slate of candidates for all state-wide offices, as well as contesting all 16 congressional races.

State Chair, Stacy Van Oast, was elected to a second one-year term without opposition.

The party also made some changes to both its bylaws and platform, as well as choosing its delegation to the national LP’s presidential nominating convention in Anaheim, CA, over the Independence Day weekend.

“We were very pleased with the entire convention,” said organizer, Emily Salvette — herself a previous two-term LPM chair. “I haven’t seen the final credentials report, but I’d estimate that there were right around 150 delegates.”

The Saturday night banquet which featured a debate by presidential hopefuls Harry Browne, Don Gorman and Barry Hess, drew attendance of over 200.

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Title:
Libertarian Presidential Hopefuls to “Slash the Pork”
Author:
Date:
5/30/2000
Year:
2000
Article:
5/30/2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bill Shotey
313-268-5425

DEARBORN. On Sunday, June 11, the three leading contenders for the Libertarian Party nomination for President of the United States will be taking the opportunity to slash the pork — literally.

The Libertarian Party of Michigan is sponsoring a special Pig Roast fund raising event in Southfield to benefit the party’s Campaign Fund.

“Most voters don’t realize that our very existence as a ballot-qualified party depends entirely on how well our ‘top-of-ticket’ candidate does,” observed event hostess and Ballot Access Retention Committee chair, Barb Goushaw. “This year that will, of course, be our presidential candidate. And since we won’t even know who that will be until after the national nominating convention in July, let alone what his or her campaign strategy or funding will be,” she continued, “we are raising our own campaign money right here in Michigan to buy advertising to support our candidate in this ‘ballot-status’ race.”

Harry Browne, the LP’s ’96 nominee for president and the leading contender to be the party’s first ever, second time candidate, has already committed to attend, as have longer shot contenders former New Hampshire state rep, Don Gorman, and Arizona entrepreneur, Barry Hess. Each of the three in turn will take machete in hand and have a whack at the giant, roast pig.

Tickets to Slash the Pork are $40 for the afternoon event and include all food, drink and games, as well as other uniquely Libertarian entertainment.

Complimentary press passes are available with advance request.

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Title:
Libertarian Candidate Denied Ballot Slot, Vows Lawsuit
Author:
Tim O’Brien
Date:
7/25/2000
Year:
2000
Article:
7/25/2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tim O’Brien
313-562-5778

HAZEL PARK, MI – One of the two Libertarian Party of Michigan nominees for State Board of Education, Jon Coon, has been denied his spot on the November ballot by the Elections Division of the Office of the Michigan Secretary of State.

The reason given by election officials is Coon’s refusal to sign a new “Supplementary Affidavit of Identity” form, created late last year by PA 217, which states:

“I swear (or affirm) that on this date, all statements, reports, error or omission notice responses, late filing fees and fines required of me or any Candidate Committee organized to support my election to office an (sic) registered under Michigan’s Campaign Finance Act, PA 388 of 1976, have been filed or paid. I further acknowledged (sic) that making a false statement in this affidavit is perjury, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.00 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.”

Coon was nominated at the LPM convention in May and timely filed all of the other paperwork to certify his name for the ballot.

“I simply refused to sign that ‘blank check’ guarantee that everyone who has ever worked on any of my campaigns has crossed every ‘t’ and dotted every ‘i’ to the complete satisfaction of the elections bureaucrats. There isn’t even the usual line about ‘To the best of my knowledge and belief…’ to make allowance for good faith mistakes,” he noted. “And I’m supposed to sign this at the risk of committing a 5 year felony?” he asked incredulously. “I don’t think so.”

Coon claims that, the poorly written language aside, denying an otherwise legally qualified candidate access to the ballot as a means of enforcing campaign finance law violates the purity of elections provisions of the Michigan Constitution.

A complaint against the Bureau of Elections and a request for an order to put Jon Coon’s name on the fall ballot will be filed on behalf of both Coon and the Libertarian Party of Michigan tomorrow in Ingham County Circuit Court by LPM attorney, Ghazey H. Aleck, II.

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Title:
Libertarian Party to Field 111 Candidates on November Ballot
Author:
Tim O’Brien
Date:
8/7/2000
Year:
2000
Article:

8/7/2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tim O’Brien
313-562-5778
248-591-3733

DEARBORN. “America’s real ‘third party’ will be fielding a hundred and eleven candidates in Michigan alone,” said LPM chair, Stacy Van Oast. “The Reformers and the Greenies may get all the attention because of Pat Buchanan and Ralph Nader,” she added, “but ask them how many other candidates will appear on their tickets this November.”

The party decided to issue a special press release on the eve of the major party primary election with a complete list of the LP’s nominees (attached) so that the news media will have the information for use in stories about the primary election, according to executive director, Tim O’Brien.

“Past stories about primary results have often named only the major party candidates,” O’Brien observed. “We assume that this is either because the idea that we have a ‘two party system’ is so wide spread that reporters and commentators forget that there are in fact other candidates,” he said, “or they just don’t have the information readily available when they do their stories. Whichever is the case,” he concluded, “we’re going to deal with it by providing a complete list of the Libertarian Party candidates even before the major parties have chosen theirs.”

The full list of 111 LP candidates who will appear on the fall ballot is attached.

NOTE: 110 have been certified by the Bureau of Elections. One, State Board of Ed candidate, Jon Coon, refused to sign a new form (guaranteeing under penalty of perjury that elections officials will be fully satisfied with every form he or anyone connected with any of his campaigns has ever filed) and has been denied certification on that basis. However, Coon and the LPM say the new law is unconstitutional and have filed suit in Circuit Court seeking a Writ of Mandamus to order the inclusion of Coon. The case will be heard by Judge Michael Harrison on August 16.

Candidates of the Libertarian Party on the November 7, 2000 General Election Ballot:

President Harry Browne
Vice President Art Olivier
US Senator Michael R Corliss

Representatives in Congress
1 John W Loosemore
2 Bruce A Smith
3 Erwin J Haas
4 Richard L Whitelock
5 Clint Foster
6 William H Bradley
7 Robert F Broda, Jr.
8 James P Eyster
9 Laurie Martin
10 Richard T Friend
11 Richard Gach
12 Andrew LeCureaux
13 Karin R Corliss
14 Constance Catalfio
15 Raymond H Warner
16 Edward Hlavac

Statewide Offices
Supreme Court Justice

Jerry J Kaufman
David H Raaflaub
Robert W Roddis

State Board of Education
Diane Barnes
Jon E Coon

Board of Governors, Wayne State University
Thomas W Jones
Scott A Boman

Board of Trustees, Michigan State University
Michael H Miller
Violet M Steele

University of Michigan Board of Regents
Marvin M Surowitz
Tim A Maull

State Representatives
1 Craig Hodges
3 Joann M Karpinski
9 Kenneth E Vojtech
12 Michael Donahue
15 Greg Stempfle
16 Christopher Gonzalez
18 David Nagy
19 John Tatar
22 Ken Reyes
23 Rick Secula
24 Eric B Gordon
25 John Morgan
26 Keith Edwards
27 David Wejrandt
29 Dean Sahutske
31 Jim Miller
32 Bob Van Oast
33 Joe Zemens
35 Magalene C Boleyn
38 Anne Bora
39 Ray Kozora
41 Jeffrey J Hampton
47 Trish Marie
50 James C Shollenberger
61 Sean Nunnemaker
63 Albert D McCallum
67 Yepram Dervahanian
74 Bill Gelineau
76 Paul Mastin
80 Timothy Miley
85 Trafton Jean
86 David A Brown
88 Richard J Dutkiewicz
90 Tim Campbell
96 Scott D. Carter
102 Gregory A Willis

Allegan County
Commissioner 4 Jan C Knibbe
Sheriff Dennis Survilla

Bay County County
Trustee Richard Jozwiak

Berrien County
Drain Commissioner Tom Baker
Sheriff Glenn Whitt
Oronoko Charter Twp Clerk Jay Suave
Trustee of Three Oaks Twp Ronald Freehling

Clare County
Treasurer Cassandra Meadowcroft

Hillsdale County
Allen Twp. Trustee Trena K Moss
Cambria Twp. Trustee James B Parker

Kalamazoo County
County Commissioner 1 Carole Miley

Kent County
County Commissioner 4 William W Hall, Esq.
County Clerk Jamie Lewis
Plainfield Township Trustee Derek E Hollemans

Lenawee County
County Commissioner 8 Albert B Swindle

Livingston County
Commissioner 6 George Sise
County Clerk Richard A Samul

Macomb County
Commissioner 7 Paul Soyk
Commissioner 18 Mark Heil
Commissioner 22 Rosemary Racchi
Sheriff Al Titran
Clinton Twp Trustee Scott W Allen

Midland County
County Commissioner 5 Stephen Townsend

Oakland County
Executive Paul W Champion
Prosecuting Attorney Leonard C Schwartz
Sheriff Michael A Carson
Drain Commissioner Robert W Schubring
Clerk Lisa L Kozora
County Commissioner 1 Mark Carney
County Commissioner 5 Fred Martin
County Commissioner 22 Steve Afton
County Commissioner 23 Steven G Schulte

Ottawa County
Chester Twp. Trustee Donald A McCallum

Washtenaw County
County Commissioner 12 James Montgomery
County Treasurer Kimberly Cashman
Superior Twp Parks Commission Brett Cashman
Sylvan Twp. Trustee James L Hudler
Ypsilanti Twp. Clerk Sherri Foster
Ypsilanti Twp. Trustee Dan LaFavers
Ypsilanti Twp. Trustee Geoffrey Foster
Ypsilanti Twp. Trustee Lawrence W Johnson

Wayne County
County Commissioner 2 Gregory Creswell
County Commissioner 4 Edward Karpinski
County Commissioner 13 Loel R Gnadt
County Clerk Nancy O’Brien

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Title:
Judge Rules Libertarian Candidate Off November Ballot, Appeal Planned
Author:
Tim O’Brien
Date:
8/23/2000
Year:
2000
Article:

8/23/2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tim O’Brien
313-562-5778
248-591-3733

Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Michael Harrison ruled today that Libertarian Party State Board of Education candidate Jon Coon cannot appear on the November ballot.

Nominated along with 110 other candidates at the LP’s May convention, Coon refused to sign a new Supplemental Affidavit of Identity. The form requires the candidate to swear under penalty of perjury that every statement, form and other requirement for compliance with Michigan’s increasingly complex campaign finance laws has been satisfied by everyone ever connected with any of his or her campaigns for public office.

“How could I sign such a statement under penalty of perjury?” an incredulous Coon asked. “I know for a fact that there are still open questions about the campaign committee I formed back in 1993 in my run for U.S. Senate.”

The judge ruled that the Bureau of Elections was justified in not certifying Coon for the ballot since he had not complied with the new requirement.

“The decision was made on very narrow grounds,” said attorney Ghazey Aleck who appeared on behalf of both the candidate and the party. “Judge Harrison said that candidates were only being required to swear that all statements, reports and so forth had been filed — not that the information contained on them was true and accurate. That’s an interesting hair to split,” Aleck said. “In fact the Bureau of Elections attorney didn’t even try and make that argument until the judge suggested it,” he added.

“Unfortunately, Judge Harrison never addressed our main contention,” Aleck observed. “The Michigan Constitution authorizes the legislature to regulate ‘the time place and manner’ of elections. The Supreme Court has ruled that this is so that elections are “fair and honest’ to assure that ‘order rather than chaos accompanies the democratic process.’ But the new requirement concerns candidates’ reports about how they raise, spend and account for money in running their campaigns. It has nothing to do with the actual electoral process. The legislature has simply used the threat of denying a candidate access to the ballot to enforce this essentially unrelated campaign finance disclosure requirement. Even if there is a ‘compelling government interest’ in such disclosures, that is something that could be accomplished by far less draconian means than summarily denying them a place on the ballot.”

The Libertarian Party and its candidate, Jon Coon, are already planning an appeal. “Maybe we can get the Appeals Court to address the substance of our case,” said Tim O’Brien, the party’s executive director. “Judge Harrison certainly didn’t.”

Attorney Aleck said the appeal would be filed within the required 21 days. The party still expects the new law to be thrown out by a higher court. However, that will not happen in time to get Jon Coon back his place on the ballot in the November election.

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Title:
Candidate – Teacher Rejects NEA Dues Hike, Threatens Lawsuit
Author:
Tim O’Brien
Date:
8/30/2000
Year:
2000
Article:
8/30/2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tim O’Brien
313-562-5778
248-591-3733

A recent dues hike by the National Education Association has run into a major obstacle — opposition and even a possible lawsuit from the Libertarian Party of Michigan candidate for U.S. Senate, Michael Corliss.

“The NEA claims that the increase is, in part, ‘earmarked to fight harmful ballot proposals,'” said Corliss, a teacher in the Livonia Public Schools system and NEA member. “It appears that the plan is to oppose voucher proposals,” he continued. “I happen to agree that vouchers is a bad idea. But that’s not the point. The Supreme court has already ruled in the Beck case that a union may not use dues for political action without the approval of individual members.”

The state of Michigan has passed legislation which applies this decision to all union members in the state.

“We are investigating the possibility of a lawsuit to force the NEA to comply with Beck,” Corliss said. “They need to abide by the Constitution, the same founding document that its members are charged with teaching to the students of this country.”

Corliss said he does not fear a negative reaction from his coworkers at Stephenson High School or within the school district. “I have been active in my union since I first became a teacher,” said Corliss. “The members know me, and they are very fair-minded. They will understand that this is about Constitutional principles, not a particular ballot question.”

Corliss will be on the ballot in November as the Libertarian nominee opposing Republican Spence Abraham and Democrat Debbie Stabenow. “This may be the closest Senate race in the country this year,” Corliss pointed out, “and my campaign will definitely have an impact.”

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