Florida Libertarians run no statewide candidates

A new strategy for Libertarian Party of Florida: no statewide candidates - WMNF 88.5 -  Seán Kinane:

July 19, 2018 - "Four years ago the Libertarian Party of Florida ran candidates for statewide office, placing third in races for governor and attorney general; but something changed this year: there are no Libertarian candidates running for governor or any cabinet office in Florida....

"Ryan Ramsey, the Bradford County chair of the Libertarian Party of Florida ... says it’s a new strategy by the party to focus on winnable local elections and building a team of experienced campaigners....

"'A governor’s campaign or an attorney general campaign, if you have a great candidate — even if you know you’re going to get a low percentage of the vote — is a good way to get your message out there.... Adrian Wyllie was an excellent candidate for governor (in 2014). He ... got me interested in the LPF by seeing him out there. So, it can be beneficial, but for the most time it’s not. If your candidate is not really charismatic and good it could almost hurt you.

"'[T]he goal of the Operation First Step is to run large amounts of candidates for smaller offices: counties, localities. And also to put an eye on unopposed seats, or even vacant seats. I’ve actually got some guys I installed on the Bradford County Soil and Water Conservation District because it was vacant seats... They ... met with the body ... and ended up getting appointed [laughs] by the current Soil and Water Conservation District. So, on June 22nd [closing of qualifying for candidates in the 2018 election] ... basically they’re going to be elected....

"'I’ve got a mayor of Newberry, Florida, over in my Alachua affiliate. I’ve got all sorts of county-level candidates. That’s basically the reason that you’re not seeing a lot of these statewide races. We’ve got a few guys running for [State] House.

"'The idea: we want to build a cadre of qualified candidates for statewide offices and House and Senate races in the state.... The idea is to get more people involved, let the cream rise to the top, empower people in their local communities where 70% of the laws that affect your business and your life really happen.

"'The big difference you’re going to see is: you’re probably going to have a local campaign that you can support and go meet the people and get yourself involved in.... And that’s another thing ... if we have dozens and dozens of campaigns for smaller offices, all those people are going to gain experience in being a campaign treasurer or doing the social media outreach for the campaigns or all these various things that campaigns need to succeed. So, it’s basically  training a cadre of both candidates and staffers to really build the party and take it to the next level....

"'So basically we have a plan to focus locally over the next couple of cycles. And then we’re going to break into the State House and then a couple of cycles later start trying to break in to the Federal government.'"

Read more & listen: https://www.wmnf.org/new-strategy-libertarian-party-florida-no-statewide-candidates/
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Libertarian Party wants "racists and bigots" out

Libertarian Party to White nationalists: Get out - Christie Zizo, Central Florida News 13:

August 15, 2017 - The National Libertarian Party says it stands for freedom for all, but it won't stand for white nationalists.

"The party, considered the fastest growing third party in the country, issued a statement Tuesday asking any white nationalists who belong to the party to leave.

"'There is no room for racists and bigots in the Libertarian Party,' said Libertarian National Committee executive director Wes Benedict. 'If there are white nationalists who — inappropriately — are members of the Libertarian Party, I ask them to submit their resignations today. We don’t want them to associate with the Libertarian Party, and we don’t want their money. I’m not expecting many resignations, because our membership already knows this well.'

"Benedict says the Libertarian Party supports civil liberties, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. The party also believes in open borders, racial diversity and free trade -- things he says white nationalists abhor.

"The statement comes in the wake of a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville that turned violent as protesters engaged with some counterprotesters and one suspected white nationalist drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing one and injuring 19.

"Among the headliners of that 'Unite the Right' Rally was Augustus Invictus, who ran for U.S. Senate as a Libertarian in 2016. At the time his candidacy caused a stir. Florida Libertarian Party Chairman Adrian Wyllie resigned his post because he believed Invictus was a white nationalist who believed in eugenics [and] wanted to start a civil war. Invictus denied the charge....

"Invictus announced he was leaving the Libertarians in July for the Republican Party. He announced Tuesday he is running as a Republican candidate for Senate in Florida in 2018."

Read more: http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2017/8/15/libertarian_party_wh.html
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Inaugural Florida Freedom Festival in Bradenton

Freedom Festival brings libertarian leaders to Bradenton - Sarasota News | Mysuncoast.com and ABC 7: Community - Robert Sutton:

June 13, 2015 - "Here on the Suncoast the libertarian party was out in full force for the inaugural Florida Freedom Festival on Saturday.

"The festival, held along Bradenton's Riverwalk, is all about informing the public on knowing their constitutional rights and promoting freedom and liberty.

"Along with lots of food and live music, the festival featured several public speakers including libertarian Adrian Wyllie, who ran for Florida governor in last year's election.

"'It's important that we understand our constitutional rights and that we properly execute them in a peaceful and civil way,' said Wyllie. 'We uphold our Constitution and make sure our children enjoy the same rights that we currently have.'"

http://www.mysuncoast.com/community/freedom-festival-brings-libertarian-leaders-to-bradenton/article_784e57a6-1210-11e5-ada1-2b458482b86a.html
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Wylie up to 13% in FL poll, locked out of debate

Fla. Gov Race: Libertarian Candidate Improves, Scott & Crist in Virtual Dead Heat - JP Updates | JP Updates - Boruch Schubert:

October 7, 2014 - "The new Republican-oriented analytics firm Optimus has released a poll tracking the race for governor of Florida, and it appears to sound a positive note for little-known candidate Adrian Wyllie.

"The latest numbers show the Libertarian attracting 13 percent support from likely voters, an improvement of two percentage points since the firm’s previous poll. The increase is even more notable compared to Wyllie’s standing when 0ptimus first dropped his name into the mix back in mid-August, when he registered 9 percent of voter support.

"Unfortunately for Wyllie, he is being locked out of the gubernatorial debates due to his poor standing; in fact, the Florida Press Association has just ruled that he cannot participate in its Oct. 15 debate between Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist because Wyllie would have had to register 15 percent in a poll that was taken before Sept. 30 by an independent pollster.

"Crist and Scott continue to be virtually deadlocked at 40-39 percent.

"'This week, the two candidates stayed neck and neck, and the only "mover" in the race was Wyllie, who showed gains just outside the margin of error,' noted 0ptimus’ founder and analyst Brian Stobie, according to the Miami Herald.  'We view this is a backlash to the two highly negative campaigns saturating Florida airwaves, particularly from those in our modeled undecided voter universes, who seem to be leading this trend toward Wyllie.'"

Read more: http://jpupdates.com/2014/10/07/fla-gov-race-libertarian-candidate-improves-scott-crist-virtual-dead-heat/
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Wyllie on track to get record LP vote in Florida

Libertarian an alternative in governor's race - SaintPetersBlog - Associated Press:

September 22, 2014 - "Beer containers aren’t usually a topic in Florida gubernatorial races, but for Libertarian candidate Adrian Wyllie the state’s ban on small brewers filling half-gallon jugs illustrates how regulations reward campaign contributors and stifle competitors....

"'Tallahassee shouldn’t be setting up road blocks for small businesses, they should be clearing them out of the way,' said Wyllie, ... during a month-long tour of Florida craft breweries to promote his campaign.

"Wyllie, 44, of Palm Harbor, is a longshot, but he is gaining support as voters are turned off by their choices in what’s become one of the most negative campaigns waged in Florida. Republican Gov. Rick Scott still struggles with his approval rating and polls show many voters also don’t trust Republican-turned-Democrat former Gov. Charlie Crist.

"Recent polls show Wyllie getting about 5 percent of the vote, which would be a Florida record for a statewide Libertarian candidate. Wyllie is the first Libertarian to run for governor in Florida, but the party’s presidential and Senate candidates have never topped a half-percent....

"'Voters are so frustrated by both parties that I wouldn’t be surprised if the third-party candidate did better than they usually do,' said Matthew Corrigan, a University of North Florida political science professor. 'If Wyllie gets 5 to 10 percent, that could have a major impact on our governor’s race depending on which way voters go.'

"As a Libertarian, Wyllie believes government should stay out of most personal and business affairs as long as no one is harmed. He wants to cut state spending, taxes and regulations but he also supports gay marriage, the legalization of marijuana and abortion rights. It’s a philosophy that appeals to some Democrats and some Republicans."

Read more: http://www.saintpetersblog.com/archives/160323
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Libertarian rises to 9% in tight Florida governor's race

Poll: Libertarian Adrian Wyllie helps Gov. Rick Scott catch Charlie Crist - Political Currents - MiamiHerald.com - Marc Caputo:

July 23, 2014 - "Gov. Rick Scott and Charlie Crist are essentially tied 37-39 percent in Florida’s hotly contested governor’s race, partly because a little-known Libertarian candidate is sapping support from the Democratic challenger, a new poll indicates.

"Libertarian Adrian Wyllie pulls 9 percent support, according to Quinnipiac University’s survey, which shows Crist’s 2 percentage-point lead would grow to 5 points without Wyllie on the ballot....

"Little-polled until now, Wyllie’s name appears to be an emerging and significant factor in the race.

"'Wyllie is not, at this point, a serious contender to win the governorship. But he may have a great deal to say about who does win,' Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a written statement.

"With Wyllie on the ticket, Crist loses more support among self-identified independents (9 percentage points) than Scott (4 points). Independents comprise about a quarter of Florida’s vote.

"From supporting medical marijuana to opposing most abortion restrictions, Wyllie’s stand on social issues is closer to Crist’s than Scott’s. Wyllie has been more vocal than Crist about supporting a popular prescription-marijuana measure on the ballot — even though the push for the measure is largely funded by Crist’s employer, Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan."

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/23/4250644/q-poll-libertarian-adrian-wyllie.html
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Libertarians shaking up 3 southern U.S. races

Southern-Fried Freedom Lovers Propel Libertarian Candidates - The Daily Beast - Patricia Murphy:

June 5, 2014 - "Drawing surprisingly high support, a trio of Libertarian candidates has the potential to disrupt already tight races in the Deep South, where Democrats and Republicans are waging epic battles for Florida governor, Georgia governor, and one of North Carolina’s seats in the U.S. Senate.

"In Georgia, nanotechnologist Andrew Hunt is polling at 9 percent in the governor’s race, which is otherwise a dead heat between incumbent Republican Nathan Deal and Democratic state Sen. Jason Carter. In North Carolina, the headlines have focused on the Thom Tillis-Sen. Kay Hagan face-off in November, but quietly amassing 11 percent in the contest is Sean Haugh, the Libertarian candidate running on an anti-war agenda. And in Florida, Adrian Wyllie will be on the November ballot with Gov. Rick Scott and former governor Charlie Crist. Although Wyllie is polling at 4 percent, he’s at 10 percent with Florida’s all-important independent voters and will be on the same November ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana....

"'I think it’s more of a positive identification with Libertarian ideas more than just a willingness to try something different,' Haugh said of his race this time around. 'The word is not new anymore. They know it’s out there and they know what it means.'

"All three Libertarian campaigns said they see the rest of the country coming around to longtime Libertarian positions on federal spending, gay marriage, the war on drugs, privacy, and ending wars overseas. But it is the disgust with both major parties that seems to be animating many of their new voters."

Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/05/southern-fried-freedom-lovers-propel-libertarian-candidates.html
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Libertarian candidate for governor arrested in Florida

Libertarian gov. candidate Adrian Wyllie arrested in 'unconstitutional' Real ID standoff | Tampa Bay Times:

May 9, 2014 - "Safety Harbor - In a nearly three year long battle against Real ID, Adrian Wyllie, Libertarian candidate for governor of Florida, has been arrested in Safety Harbor giving him legal standing to fight the constitutionality of the legislation in court.

"Wyllie, began his battle in May of 2011 by publicly surrendering his driver's license in protest of the Real ID Act of 2005.... He was finally cited for driving without a license in July of 2011 and was seen in court for the $116 traffic violation. At that time, the most senior judge on the 6th district, 3 prosecutors and a courtroom full of media were witness to Mr. Wyllie's arguments of the unconstitutionality of the Real ID Act as well as Supreme Court precedent on citizens right to travel as well as surrendering a right for a privilege. In the end, Mr. Wyllie was unsuccessful in that small battle but has continued to maintain his civil disobedience to gain legal standing by way of jury....

"Today, after 3 years of driving unlicensed throughout the state of Florida without incident, Adrian Wyllie has been arrested outside the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa. He was an invited guest to the 14th Anniversary Luncheon of the Intercultural Advocacy Institute, keynoted by State Senator Jack Latvala."

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/libertarian-gov-candidate-adrian-wyllie-arrested-in-unconstitutional-real/2179101
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Wyllie makes it into Florida governor's debate

Libertarian Wyllie officially invited to Florida’s biggest gubernatorial debate - Tampa Bay Libertarian | Examiner.com - Brian Cole:

April 29, 2014 - "Libertarian Gubernatorial Candidate Adrian Wyllie scored a major victory on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 29, as he secured an official invitation to the state of Florida’s biggest gubernatorial debate. The event, hosted by Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association, and broadcast by WPBF 25 in West Palm Beach, Fla., will be televised throughout Florida on a network of 11 'major commercial broadcast organizations'. This gubernatorial debate will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Broward College located in Fort Lauderdale...."

"Wyllie voiced his appreciation, not only for the invitation to the debate, but also to his team of supporters and volunteers, all of whom worked tirelessly to help ensure he received the invitation.... The Wyllie Campaign team worked hard to ensure the political and financial pressure used to keep Libertarian Robert Sarvis out of Virginia's biggest gubernatorial debate in October 2013 would not be repeated....

"In addition to television coverage, WPBF's website and beforeyouvote.org. will broadcast the debate. Since Florida’s Gubernatorial Race is the most hotly contested in the nation, C-Span will re-broadcast the event, and WPBF 25 will also provide coverage of the debate on the network’s Spanish-language entertainment network."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/libertarian-wyllie-officially-invited-to-florida-s-biggest-gubernatorial-debate
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Libertarian Wyllie hires former Ron Paul marketer

Libertarian Adrian Wyllie brings on board a Ron Paul marketer | Sunshine State News - Kevin Derby:

March 31, 2014 - "Adrian Wyllie, the favorite for the Libertarian nomination to challenge Gov. Rick Scott, announced at the end of last week that he was bringing in a member of former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul’s, R-Texas, team to help his campaign.

"'We are pleased to announce and welcome our new director of marketing Curt Schultz to Team Wyllie,' the Libertarian hopeful announced. 'Curt Schultz is part of the team that was behind RonPaulProducts.com and the Ron Paul Superbrochure. The Superbrochure was highlighted on the Ed Schultz show on MSNBC. This was the key component that got Ron Paul polling high in Iowa virtually overnight.

"'Curt has already been doing market tests on the Wyllie Superbrochure as well as polling in the race,” Wyllie added. 'He brings a level of professionalism, expertise and energy that will ensure we make history in November!"

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/blog/ron-paul-marketer-joins-adrian-wyllie-team
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Independents grow, Democrats and Republicans fall in U.S.

Independents grow, Democrats and Republicans fall - West Palm Beach Libertarian | Examiner.com - Karl Dickey:

January 9, 2014 -: "According to a new Gallup Poll out yesterday, January 8, 2014, the number of Americans identifying as independent has increased to 42% of the population while those identifying themselves as ... Democrat has decreased 13.8% since 2008 to ... 31%. Republicans have fared worse with only 25% of the population - the lowest on record according to Gallup. The poll was conducted over the course of 2013 and the result of over 18,000 interviews....

"This is a trend that has been continuing and will have a serious affect on future elections. Florida will elect a new governor this November and with a decrease of support by voters for Rick Scott or Charlie Crist, it could be a huge opportunity for lesser known Adrian Wyllie. Scott has been polarizing for Floridians and Crist has shown himself to be a man without conviction, so Floridians are seeking an alternative and Wyllie may just be that man."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/independents-grow-democrats-and-republicans-fall
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Snitker: Republican making "false claims" about LP in Florida

Republican Leadership Continues To Lie To Scare Voters Saying ‘Libertarians Want Dems To Win’ - Alex Snitker, Global Dispatch:

November 20, 2013 - "In a recent letter to the editor Bob Veit, Republican Party State Committeeman, wrote about a visit, Libertarian Adrian Wyllie, made to the St. Augustine Tea Party. In his opinion piece Mr. Veit explains perfectly why Adrian, myself and many other Libertarians do not belong to the Republican Party. He and other leaders like him have been and still are willing to say anything to try to scare people into continuing to vote for the members of the Republican Party. "In this opinion piece he wrote:

'They are at it again. The Libertarian Party, after successfully electing a Democrat governor in Virginia as opposed to a Republican supported by the tea party, is making a run here in Florida that will guarantee the same result. It’s public record that a major financial backer for the Virginia Libertarian Party candidate was also a Democrat fundraiser for Obama’s last campaign. Curious??'

"This elected official in the Republican Party wrote something that is completely false. Exit polling proved that Sarvis, the Libertarian candidate for governor in Virginia, was supported by more people that identified themselves as liberal on Election Day than those that considered themselves conservative....

"He is also claiming that there had been a conspiracy perpetrated by the Democrat Party to have Sarvis in the race. This again was absolutely false.

 "As written about in this NPR article:

'But a few things are off here. The $150,000 that they cite went to an existing Libertarian PAC, not the candidate. A co-founder of the PAC says less than $20,000 found its way to Virginia, for both Sarvis and legislative candidates. And the mystery donor is more generous to Libertarians than to Democrats.

Read more: http://www.theglobaldispatch.com/republican-leadership-continues-to-lie-to-scare-voters-saying-libertarians-want-dems-to-win-61885/

Libertarian Wylie polls near 9% in FL Governor's race

LP Candidate Wyllie stuns naysayers with performance in latest political polls - Tampa Bay Libertarian | Examiner.com - Brian C. Cole:

August 5, 2013 - "On Monday, Aug. 5, St.PetePolls.org (a division of Fextel, Inc.) released political polling data stunning media outlets and numerous other naysayers across the Sunshine State working to ignore Libertarian Party (LP) Gubernatorial Candidate Adrian Wyllie's grass-roots campaign to become Florida’s next governor.

Not only did Wyllie receive support when mentioned alongside co-contenders Charlie Crist and Rick Scott, he actually placed at a respectable 8.7 percent. Remarkably, Wyllie's building support base is the result of a much more limited campaign budget than his expected Democratic and Republican opponents in next November's election....

"When respondents are broken down by party affiliation, Wyllie received support from 6.9 percent of voters identifying themselves as Democrats, 9.4 percent as Republicans, and 11.1 percent of Independents.

"In terms of race, 8.8 percent of whites backed Wyllie, along with 9.1 percent of blacks, 8.0 percent of Hispanics, 4.9 percent of Asians/Pacific Islanders, and 9.6 percent other or unknown races.

"When segregated by age, Wyllie received 10.5 percent of the support of voters age 18 to 29, 10.7 percent of voters age 30 to 49, 7.8 percent age 50 to 69, and 5.0 percent for voters age 70 or older.
"
Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/lp-candidate-wyllie-shocks-naysayers-with-his-placement-recent-political-poll
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Libertarian enters Florida Governor’s race

Libertarian enters Governor’s race | CaptivaSanibel.com | Island Reporter, Captiva Current, Sanibel-Captiva Islander:

January 18, 2013 - "PALM HARBOR: America's third-largest political party will be fielding a challenge to Governor Rick Scott and presumptive Democrat nominee Charlie Crist in the 2014 election. Florida Libertarian Party Chairman Adrian Wyllie officially announced his candidacy for Governor last week.

"Following the trail blazed by Presidential candidates Ron Paul and Gary Johnson in 2012, Wyllie has a platform focused on economic freedom, individual liberty, and the Constitution. In one of his first campaign stops at the Lake City Tea Party last Thursday, Wyllie took a strong stand against what he sees as an overreaching federal government.

"'I promise that, if elected, I will defend all Floridians from any unconstitutional Congressional act, executive order or United Nations mandate,' said Wyllie. He also blamed Gov. Rick Scott for 'rolling over' to the Obama administration on federal health care mandates and federal gun control."

Read more: http://www.captivacurrent.com/page/content.detail/id/521021/Libertarian-enters-Governor-s-race.html?nav=5064
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