Alaska LP submits 5,000 sigs for ballot access

Alaska Libertarians turn in over 5,000 signatures to get Presidential ticket on ballot } KINY 800/94.9:

July 20, 2020 - "The Alaska Libertarian Party has turned over signatures in order get the party's presidential ticket on the ballot. The ALP has submitted 5,024 ballot access petition signatures, well exceeding the 3,212 signatures required for state permission to allow Libertarian Presidential candidate Dr. Jo Jorgensen and Vice Presidential candidate Spike Cohen as a choice on Alaskan ballots in November.

"The ALP had sought pandemic-related relief from the statutory provisions requiring that the party obtain voter signatures on petitions to qualify for placement on Alaska’s November 3, 2020, general election ballot, from both the State of Alaska and the courts.

"'We have been met with opposition at every level of the State government, to include a response from the court that we, in essence, petition harder,' said Jon Briggs Watts, Chair of the Alaska Libertarian Party. 'In the face of additional health risk for all concerned, the state’s callous disregard for constituent safety gave us no choice but to do just that, even amidst a steep rise in cases around Alaska.'

"Watts said that. rather than take an opportunity to be supportive and offer an open hand during this crisis, the 'party system doubled-down on the preservation of their monopoly of control. But their actions continue to expose this as the harder they grasp, the more each individual sees this collectivist control for what it is.'"

https://www.kinyradio.com/news/news-of-the-north/alaska-libertarians-turn-in-over-5000-signatures-to-get-presidential-ticket-on-ballot/

Alaska Libertarians file ballot access suit

Alaska Libertarian Party files lawsuit to get on presidential ballot - Andrew Kitchenman, Alaska Public Media & KTOO Juneau:

June 11, 2020 - "The Alaska Libertarian Party has filed a federal lawsuit against state elections officials....  The party wants its presidential candidate to appear on the general election ballot. The party and its chair, Jon Watts of North Pole, sued state Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai and Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer in the U.S. District Court for Alaska....

"Watts said it is unconstitutional to require the party to meet the state’s legal requirements for gathering signatures, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'When you’re out sitting in front of a grocery store and everybody’s wearing masks — I mean, having a smile to greet people and they’ll sit there and talk with you for a minute, was really strictly prohibited with the social distancing initially,' he said.

"State law allows parties ballot access if they get 3% of the vote in the most recent statewide general election, if 3% of the state’s voters are in their party or if they gather signatures equal to 1% of the votes cast in the most recent presidential election. Since the party didn’t clear the first two bars, they ... need 3,212 signatures. And they’ve hired a signature gatherer, Scott Kohlhaas. The lawsuit said the party would usually get 1,000 signatures per week, but recently gathered only 149 in roughly two weeks....

"Watts said the ballot access should be a constitutional right. He said the state’s response is an example in favor of his party’s limited-government approach. 'It’s interesting that government at all levels can suspend actual constitutional rights — the freedom to assemble and do various other things relative to our Bill of Rights,' he said. 'However, when it comes to some slack allowance for ballot presence relative to this COVID: "Oh, we can’t change the rules for that"'

"The state did allow the party to gather signatures online, but Watts said the courts should allow the Libertarians and other third parties to have their candidates go directly onto the ballot....

"Libertarians have a history of receiving more votes in Alaska than in most other states. Four years ago, Libertarian Gary Johnson received nearly 6% of the vote in Alaska, his third-highest share in the country, after New Mexico and North Dakota. The same year, Joe Miller received 29% of the vote in the U.S. Senate election. But the party’s candidate for governor, Billy Toien, received less than 2% of the vote in 2018.

"Green Party of Alaska secretary Robert Shields said his party also is concerned it won’t be able to get enough signatures for its candidate to be on the ballot. The party hasn’t picked a candidate."

Read more: https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/06/11/alaska-libertarian-party-files-lawsuit-to-get-on-presidential-ballot/

Libertarians have shifted the Overton Window

How David Koch’s 1980 Fantasy Became America’s Current Reality | The New Republic - Adam Eichen:

August 27, 2019 - "Billionaire fossil fuel mogul David Koch ... will rightfully be remembered for his role in the destruction of the earth [by whom? - ed.].... Ronald Reagan may have uttered the famous words 'Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem' back in 1981 — but it was David Koch, along with his elder brother Charles and a cabal of other ultrarich individuals, who truly reframed the popular view of government. Once [seen  as] a democratic tool used to shape the country’s future, government became seen as something intrusive and inefficient — indeed, something to be feared.

"David Koch was particularly instrumental in legitimizing anti-government ideology — one the GOP now holds as gospel. In 1980, the younger Koch ran as the vice-presidential nominee for the nascent Libertarian Party. And ... Koch personally donated more than $2 million to the party — an astounding amount for the time — to promote the Ed Clark–David Koch ticket.... In fact, according to [Lisa] Graves, 'The Koch-funded Libertarian Party helped spur on Ronald Reagan’s anti-government, free-market-solves-all agenda as president.'

"Even by contemporary standards, the 1980 Libertarian Party platform was extreme. It called for the abolition of a wide swath of federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the Federal Election Commission, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Federal Trade Commission, and 'all government agencies concerned with transportation.' It railed against campaign finance and consumer protection laws, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, any regulations of the firearm industry (including tear gas), and government intervention in labor negotiations. And the platform demanded the repeal of all taxation, and sought amnesty for those convicted of tax 'resistance.'

"Koch and his libertarian allies moreover advocated for the repeal of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other social programs. They wanted to abolish federally mandated speed limits. They opposed occupational licensure, antitrust laws, labor laws protecting women and children, and 'all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates.' And in true libertarian fashion, the platform urged the privatization of all schools (with an end to compulsory education laws), the railroad system, public roads and the national highway system, inland waterways, water distribution systems, public lands, and dam sites.

"The Libertarian Party never made much of a splash in the election — though it did garner almost 12 percent of the vote in Alaska — but doing so was never the point. Rather, the Kochs were engaged in a long-term effort to normalize the aforementioned ideas and mainstream them into American politics. Building off the Libertarian campaign, Graves explained, 'David and Charles then used their front groups to pull the Reagan Administration further to the right with their push to privatize across the board.' With their army of think tanks, front groups, lobbyists, and media ties, this multimillion dollar effort to shift the Overton Window grew for nearly four decades, culminating in the takeover of many core political institutions, federally and in key states. The duo additionally capitalized on the anti-government Tea Party movement, which they greatly helped along by bankrolling the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity.

"The Koch’s Ayn Rand–inspired hellscape has yet to completely come to fruition, but the ideas the duo promoted are now part of the regular discourse — and have been for a while."

Read more: https://newrepublic.com/article/154849/david-koch-1980-fantasy
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See also: Understanding the Overton Window

Nevada LP keeps ballot access via registrations

Nevada becomes fourth Libertarian state affiliate to exceed 1% of voter registration | Libertarian Party - Bob Johnston:

September 9, 2018 - "For the first time in party history, the number of Nevadans registered to vote as Libertarians exceeds 1 percent of the state’s total voter registration. [*]

"Therefore, the Libertarian Party (LP) of Nevada will retain ballot access as long as it maintains its share of at least 1 percent of the registered voters, in which case it will not have to rely on any specific election results in order to retain its party status.

"Thanks to Richard Winger for bringing this news to our attention. (See his Sept. 5 coverage at the Ballot Access News website.)

"Nevada is the fourth LP state affiliate to have garnered at least 1 percent of a state’s registered voters. Alaska, Colorado, and Nebraska can also claim a share of over one percent.

"This November, ten Nevada Libertarians are seeking the votes of those registered Libertarians and their fellow voters in races for federal, state, and local office.... Learn about the 2018 Nevada Libertarian candidates at the LP Nevada website: LPNevada.org/candidates.

"The Nevada slate is part of the approximately 800 Libertarians running for office at all levels of government this November. Learn about them at LP.org/2018-candidates.

"As of Sept. 5, the LP has ballot access in 48 states plus the District of Columbia."

Read more: https://www.lp.org/nevada-lp-becomes-fourth-affiliate-exceed-1-voter-registration/
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According to the Nevada Secretary of State's report for August 2018, there were 14,955 registered Libertarians in the state.  https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/home/showdocument?id=5752

Joe Miller gets highest Libertarian Senate %age

Former Tea Party Republican Gets Libertarians Their Highest Ever Federal Senate Percentage [UPDATED] - Hit & Run : Reason.com - Brian Doherty:

November 11, 2016 - "Joe Miller earned the Libertarian Party (L.P.) its highest-ever vote percentage in a federal Senate race this week, with his 30 percent in Alaska.

"Generally when an L.P. candidate gets into double digits it is because one of the major party's isn't contesting the race at all. But Miller impressively got this 30 percent L.P. total coming in second place against a Republican (winning incumbent Lisa Murkowski, 44 percent), with a Democrat (Ray Metcalfe, 11 percent), and an independent (Margaret Stock, 14 percent) far behind him. Miller beat the combined total of the Democrat and the 3rd place independent.

"Miller pulled this off possibly despite the Libertarian label more than because of it; he was well-known to Alaskan voters, having been the official GOP Senate candidate in 2010. In that race he famously was beaten by the incumbent Murkowski, who Miller exceeded in the primary.... Yet in the general election she triumphed via write-in....

"Miller did not start off this election season necessarily intending to contend with his old foe Murkowski again, but in September the L.P.'s original candidate for the Senate seat, Cean Stevens, dropped out and the Party substituted Miller, after what Associated Press reported as failed past attempts on the L.P.'s part to recruit him.

"Miller's ability to win what must have been normally Republican votes is a vivid sign of major party disenchantment that the L.P. should try to further capitalize on, said Jon Watts, the Alaska state L.P.'s chair, in a phone interview this week.

"It's an example of how 'moving forward there's a huge opportunity to enlarge our tent,' Watts says. 'As much as we talk about open borders,' Watts says (Miller's Tea-Partyish belief in border walls was a sticking point with many Libertarians), 'we want folks to come in to our Party, to assimilate and actually become libertarians and understand the non-aggression principle and self-ownership and negative individual rights and the whole platform'....

"Despite Miller's early high polling, the Libertarian National Committee (LNC) declined to help Miller's campaign with money; LNC member Daniel Hayes noted in an LNC business email list post that he's 'not looking to enable a Republican retread just looking for ballot access that plans to caucus with the Republicans' though admitting he hadn't done a deep dive into Miller's specific beliefs....

 "Miller for his part said in a phone interview this week that he's been, even when he was a Republican, 'talking about the corruption of the two-party system since the '90's' and is mostly happy with his new Libertarian Party home. Miller's web page, though, mostly refers to him as the 'liberty candidate' without explicit L.P. branding."

Read more: http://reason.com/blog/2016/11/11/former-tea-party-republican-gets-liberta
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Weld in Alaska, where ticket last polled 18%

Libertarian vice presidential candidate makes pitch for Alaskans’ votes - Alaska Dispatch News - Nathaniel Herz:

October 28, 2016 - "The Libertarian Party on Thursday began a last-minute blitz on Alaska, sending vice presidential candidate Bill Weld to make his ticket's small-government case in a state where it's drawing double digits in polls.

"Weld, in an interview and later speaking at an Anchorage rally that brought 150 people to the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, pitched a pragmatic libertarian philosophy. His program made room for climate change regulation, status quo military spending, and a near-endorsement of Lisa Murkowski, the incumbent Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, whom Weld described as 'dynamite' — and who's running against an official Libertarian candidate, Joe Miller.

"Weld is spending two days in Anchorage less than two weeks before the election, with Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson, a former Republican governor of New Mexico, expected to visit Wednesday.

"Weld is a former Republican governor of Massachusetts and an avid outdoorsman who initially tried to fit a trout fishing trip into his Alaska schedule. He said the two running mates see their Libertarian ideology and love for 'wide open spaces' aligning with Alaskans who want to keep government at arm's length....

"An Alaska Dispatch News poll conducted at the end of September and early October had Johnson drawing 18 percent. Murkowski's own polling put the Libertarian candidate at 10 percent....

"The Libertarian presidential campaign sees Alaska as fertile ground, given widespread dissatisfaction with the two major [parties'] nominees and the 53 percent of voters who don't register with a political party. But they haven't been working with the Alaska Libertarian Party, which chose a social conservative and former tea party Republican, Joe Miller, as its U.S. Senate candidate....

"Weld referred to socially conservative policies as 'mean-spirited' at the rally and said Miller effectively 'took over' the Alaska Libertarian Party.

"'He doesn't speak for us or the national party,' Weld said in the interview. Instead, he praised Murkowski, who condemned Donald Trump's candidacy earlier this month. Weld said Murkowski was 'absolutely terrific' and said he agreed with her support for oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"A spokesman for Miller, Randy DeSoto, didn't respond to a request for comment."

Read more: https://www.adn.com/politics/2016/10/27/libertarian-vice-presidential-candidate-makes-pitch-for-alaskans-votes/
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Alaska Libertarian in 2nd in U.S. Senate race

Libertarian Running a Close 2nd Place in Alaska Senate Race - Kody Fairfield, Libertarian Republic:

September 30, 2016 - "In a poll run by The People’s Pundit Daily (PPD) of 317 likely Alaskan voters who are going to vote in the Senate race in November, the results are quite promising for Libertarian candidate Joe Miller.

"In the poll, which was conducted according to level 1 AAPOR standards of disclosure and WAPOR/ESOMAR code of conduct, Republican incumbent Senator Lisa Murkowski is at 38% to Libertarian Miller’s 30%. It shows Democratic candidate Ray Metcalf at 13% and an undecided vote above him at 19%.

"As a result of the polling and subsequent data, the Alaska Senate race is rated a 'BATTLEGROUND' on the PPD 2016 Senate Election Projection Model. PPD will revisit the race with more polling surveys in the near future.

"Miller is definitely benefiting from being the Tea Party GOP choice for Senate in 2010, though he lost to Murkowski’s write-in campaign under shady circumstances, prior to his run as a Libertarian this year. He is the only pro-life candidate in the race and has recently received the endorsement of conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin.

"Keep an eye on Alaska, as public opinion, and projections show a contested contest is likely. The nation may elect its first U.S. Senator under the Libertarian banner."

Read more: http://gdspoliticalanimal.blogspot.ca/2016/09/alaska-libertarian-in-2nd-place-in.html
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Joe Miller is Alaska Libertarian Senate candidate

Alaska Libertarians select Joe Miller as Senate candidate | McClatchy DC - Becky Bohrer, Associated Press:

September 6, 2016 - "Joe Miller wants to again attempt to unseat U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, but this time he's planning to try it as a Libertarian.

"Miller announced Tuesday that he will become the Libertarian's replacement candidate in Alaska's U.S. Senate race in another face-off with the incumbent Republican.

"Six years ago, Miller upset Murkowski in the GOP primary only to see her retain her seat in a general election write-in campaign marked by a lengthy hand-count of ballots.

"In a statement, Murkowski said she has been preparing for her re-election bid for several years and looks forward to 'a spirited campaign on the issues that matter to Alaskans most."

"Alaska Libertarian Party Chairman Terrence Shanigan confirmed in an interview with The Associated Press that Miller is the party's choice to replace Cean Stevens on the ballot after she withdrew from the race. He said Miller has registered as a Libertarian and is a good fit for a party that believes in such things as limited government.

"The party had unsuccessfully courted Miller to be a candidate in 2010 and 2014, he said. 'I think this race is less about party, but it's so much about ideology and philosophy,' Shanigan said.

"Miller is a high-energy candidate with name recognition who is more measured and deliberative than he was in 2010, Shanigan said....

"Division of Elections Director Josie Bahnke said by email Tuesday that election officials were processing the paperwork submitted to put Miller on the ballot. If certified, Miller would become the Libertarian candidate instead of Stevens."

"Miller issued a release saying that low voter turnout in last month's primary shows that Alaskans want another choice. If elected, the release states, Miller said he will caucus with Republicans."

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article100276312.html
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Palin calls legalizing marijuana "no big deal"

Sarah Palin: Legalizing Weed Is 'No Big Deal' - Marina Fang, Huffington Post:

November 19, 2015 - "Supporters of marijuana legalization may have an unlikely ally: Sarah Palin.

"Breaking with many members of her party who oppose legalizing marijuana, the former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee on Thursday said it is 'no big deal' and argued that it should not be a controversial issue.

";I look on the national scene and think, wow, of all things to be fighting over and battling over, especially when it comes to medical marijuana. I think, hmm, this is just not my baby,' Palin told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

"When Hewitt expressed disbelief that Palin's home state legalized recreational marijuana last year, she said the vote 'didn't surprise me.'

"'We've got that libertarian streak in us,' she said, explaining that Alaska, the most conservative state to legalize marijuana so far, already had lax marijuana laws, so it was a less divisive issue than in other states.

"'"I grew up in Alaska when pot was legal anyway. It was absolutely no big deal'....

"Though she did not explicitly say that she supports legalizing marijuana, she has come out in support of decriminalizing it. In 2010, she told Fox News that marijuana is a 'minimal problem.'

"'If somebody's gonna smoke a joint in their house and not do anybody any harm, then perhaps there are other things our cops should be looking at to engage in and try to clean up some of the other problems we have in society,' she said."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sarah-palin-marijuana-legalization_564e4f29e4b0d4093a570fce
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Alaska is third U.S. state to legalize marijuana use

Alaska becomes third US state to legalise recreational marijuana use | The Guardian - Reuters:

February 24, 2015 - "Alaska has made smoking, growing and owning small amounts of marijuana legal, becoming the third US state to decriminalise the recreational use of the drug.

"The Republican-leaning state, which narrowly passed the measure in November, on Tuesday followed similar moves by Colorado and Washington states, reflecting a rapidly shifting legal landscape for the drug. It remains illegal under federal law.

"Anyone aged 21 or older can now possess up to an ounce of marijuana in Alaska and can grow up to six marijuana plants, three of which can be flowering.

"Smoking in public and buying and selling the drug remains illegal – though private exchanges are allowed if money is not involved.

"Barack Obama’s justice department has cautiously allowed the experiments to proceed, saying it would look to prosecute a narrower range of marijuana-related crimes, such as sales to children....

"Alaskan officials, and the state’s alcohol regulatory board, which is due to meet on Tuesday, still have to fill a number of gaps in the legislation – for example a definition of the public places where people cannot light up.

"State regulators are still drafting rules covering the taxation and sale of marijuana, which must be adopted by 24 November. Applications for the first business licences will not be accepted until February 2016."

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/24/alaska-becomes-third-us-state-to-legalise-recreational-marijuana-use
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AK Libertarians win 2 Public Offices Commission seats

Libertarians win seats on APOC following November election | Alaska Dispatch - Nathaniel Herz:

December 9, 2014 - "Alaska Libertarian Party gubernatorial candidate Carolyn Clift came in a distant third place in last month’s election -- but she still won her party a consolation prize.

"Clift’s result means the Libertarians will get a pair of seats on the Alaska Public Offices Commission, the state board charged with regulating elections and lobbying laws.

"That’s because four of the five commissioners are split up between the two political parties whose gubernatorial candidates earned the highest vote totals in the most recent election. The fifth commissioner is nominated by the other four, with final approval coming from the governor.

"Clift placed third, but the winning candidate, Bill Walker, ran as an independent with the endorsement of the Alaska Democratic Party, whose own gubernatorial candidate, Byron Mallott, dropped out of the race to become Walker’s running mate.

"That means that APOC members will come from the Alaska Republican Party, whose candidate, Sean Parnell, placed second, and from the Libertarian Party.

"Michael Chambers, the Libertarian Party’s chair, acknowledged that 'to have Libertarians on the APOC board is kind of an oxymoron,' given that Libertarians typically support limited government and less regulation.

"But Chambers added he’s excited for the change, which he said his party hopes to use to try to loosen APOC’s stringent fundraising and disclosure requirements.

"'If we had the effect on the APOC board that we would like to, it would be a much simpler process and much easier to understand,' Chambers said."

Read more: http://www.adn.com/article/20141209/libertarians-win-apoc-seats-following-november-election
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Oregon, Alaska, D.C. vote to legalize marijuana

Oregon and Alaska voters approve legalise recreational marijuana laws | US news | theguardian.com - Chris McGreal, The Guardian:

November 5, 2014 - "Oregon and Alaska have become the latest US states to legalise recreational marijuana in ballots hailed by supporters as evidence that a national change of policy is underway.

"Voters in both states approved laws which will permit residents over 21 to grow their own marijuana and establish a legal retail trade.

"Anthony Johnson, the chief sponsor of Oregon’s Measure 91, compared the victory for the legal sale and use of cannabis to the recent end of the state’s ban on gay marriage, saying that voters had struck a blow for freedom and equality.

"'We have ended a painful, discriminatory, harmful policy,' he said.

"In Oregon, with 87% of the ballot counted, support for Measure 91 had a decisive lead with 54.8% of votes. In Alaska, the pro-legalisation campaign had 52% of the vote with all precincts reporting but absentee ballots still to be counted.

"There were victories for more liberal marijuana laws elsewhere too. In Washington DC, voters approved possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use – although that move could be blocked by the US Congress, which holds significant legislative authority over the city."

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/05/oregon-legalises-marijuana-recreational

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Alaska Democrat running ads for Libertarian

In tight U.S. Senate race, Begich touts one opponent in hopes of defeating another | Alaska Dispatch - Nathaniel Herz:

October 28, 2014 - "Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Begich and his Republican opponent, Dan Sullivan, do not get along, and each has subjected the other to months of negative advertising.

"But the relationship between Begich and the Libertarian candidate in the Senate race, Mark Fish, is considerably warmer, with Begich fighting to make sure Fish is included in debates, then tossing him softball questions that highlight their shared views on domestic spying.

"Recently, Begich’s campaign has even run radio commercials touting Fish’s candidacy alongside his own -- meaning that since Fish hasn’t spent any money to advertise his own campaign, Begich has now spent more money promoting Fish than Fish has himself.

"'He likes my positions so well, I’m looking forward to an endorsement,' Fish said in an interview Tuesday.

"Begich’s official position is that he wants third-party candidates like Fish to be heard. 'Since many of the debate hosts won’t include Mr. Fish, Sen. Begich believes it is only fair to give Alaska voters all the information,' Max Croes, Begich’s communications director, said in an emailed statement.

"But several observers say Begich’s effort to boost Fish’s profile is actually a shrewd act of electioneering -- one likely designed to drive shaky Sullivan supporters into Fish’s column, and shaky Fish voters to Begich. The number of voters in the pool is small, but in a tight and costly election, the strategy makes sense, one local pollster said."

Read more: http://www.adn.com/article/20141028/tight-us-senate-race-enemy-begichs-enemy-his-friend
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Alaska LP selects Mark Fish for Senate race

Alaska Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate withdraws; replacement waits in wings | Alaska Dispatch - Pat Forgey:

August 27, 2014 -"Alaska Libertarians say their party's U.S. Senate nominee, Thom Walker, has pulled out of the race, and they've selected a nominee to take his place as soon as state elections officials allow.

"Walker made his decision known on a post to the Libertarian Party's Facebook page Wednesday, and the party's executive board met quickly to select Libertarian stalwart Mark Fish to replace him as the party's nominee. Fish had been endorsed by the party before the election as well.

"Fish said Wednesday that his candidacy will give Alaskans a chance to vote for a candidate who will stand up against government intrusions on Alaskans' property rights.

"'Our congressional delegation is not taking them to task for that. They're more focused on propping up federal spending in Alaska than ensuring Alaskans have rights to their land and their resources,' Fish said.

"The election of little-known Walker came as a surprise to many, especially state party leaders, and led to speculation that the last name he shared with Republican-turned-independent gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker might have led to the victory....

"Walker was unavailable for comment Wednesday, and party chair Michael Chambers said he is currently working north of the Brooks Range and only has contact through satellite telephone. Chambers has not talked to his party's nominee since last week's election, he said, and the Facebook post was the first notification from Walker since his win."

Read more: http://www.adn.com/article/20140827/alaska-libertarian-candidate-us-senate-withdraws
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Thom Walker wins Alaska LP Senate primary

Walker wins primary … for Libertarian Senate nomination - KTOO - Alexandra Guttierez, APRN:

August 22, 2014 -  "The Libertarian Senate primary was supposed to be a race between two former party chairs: conservative Mark Fish and the more liberal-leaning Scott Kohlhaas. And then there was candidate Thom Walker. 

"Walker had been a registered Republican until this spring. He hasn’t campaigned or raised any money. He hasn’t even joined the Alaska Libertarian Party Facebook page. So, when Walker got 2,600 votes – more than Fish and Kohlhaas combined – it was not expected.

"Michael Chambers, the chair of the Alaska Libertarian Party ... was pretty confused, until he realized that Thom Walker shared a last name with another candidate for statewide office – that is, Bill Walker, an independent candidate for governor who has spent more than $100,000 on signs, internet advertising, and traditional media buys.

"Chambers thinks all that promotion of the Walker name may have something to do with the outcome of the Libertarian race. The Libertarians hold an open primary with the Democratic and Alaska Independence Parties, so anyone can vote in their race – including people who aren’t familiar with Libertarian Party workings....

"Chambers suggests it’s possible that Thom Walker is a plant, and he doesn’t intend to support Walker at this time. Chambers adds that he’s reached out to Walker multiple times over the past three months, and none of his calls have been returned....

 "Thom Walker also didn’t return messages left by APRN. A source close to Walker explained that he had left for an extended float trip through the Endicott Mountains on Wednesday, and will be off the grid for the duration."

 Read more: http://www.ktoo.org/2014/08/22/walker-wins-primary-libertarian-senate-nomination/

46,000 Alaskans want cannabis initiative on ballot

Backers of vote on legal marijuana in Alaska turn in signatures | State News | ADN.com - Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News:

January 8, 2014 - "Backers of a ballot initiative that could make Alaska the third state to legalize marijuana for recreational use turned in some 46,000 signatures to the state election officials Wednesday -- putting the question one step closer to the Aug. 19 ballot.

"The Alaska measure is modeled on the 2012 Colorado initiative that paved the way for a recreational-pot industry that threw open its doors there on Jan. 1, when the law went into effect....

"The proposed initiative is backed by a coalition that calls itself the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana....

"So far, the campaign has mostly been funded by the Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit that is the largest marijuana policy reform group in the country."

Read more: http://www.adn.com/2014/01/08/3264121/backers-of-initiative-to-legalize.html#storylink=cpy

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Old Guard launches coup in Alaska GOP

Old Guard launches coup in Alaska GOP | Washington Times Communities - Dave Nalle:

"WASHINGTON, DC, February 1, 2013 - In a hastily convened meeting Thursday night the outgoing leadership of the Republican Party of Alaska staged what amounts to a coup to oust the incoming Chairman and seize control of the party.

"Two weeks ago, I wrote about the controversy over the election of reformer candidate Russ Millette to the Chairmanship of the Alaska GOP.  Millette is a Republican Liberty Caucus member who represents the more libertarian/conservative wing of the party and party insiders did not want him to take control of their party and institute reforms.

"During the lame duck tenure of the outgoing State Executive Committee, party insiders raised various charges against Millette and his Vice Chair Debbie Brown.... A plan was put forward to hold a hearing on the charges at the installation meeting of the Executive Committee on February 1st. Then ... the hearing was moved forward a day so that the new committee members would not yet be seated or have a vote on the accusations.

"Even more troubling to many party members was the notification right before the meeting that outgoing Chairman Randy Ruederich had cleaned out the party treasury of $35,000."

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/liberty-our-times/2013/feb/1/old-guard-stages-coup-alaska-republican-party/
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Libertarian Gary Johnson warmly welcomed in chilly Alaska

Libertarian Hopeful Gary Johnson Warmly Welcomed in Chilly Alaska | Alaska Dispatch - Amanda Coyne:

August 3, 2012 - "Even though Alaska has a relatively strong Libertarian Party, former two-term New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson’s face isn't readily recognizable to many in the state. So it was surprising to this reporter when a young man walked up to his table at the Midtown Anchorage Village Inn, where Johnson was munching on a cobb salad, to shake his hand and thank him for running for president of the United States.

"Johnson, however, didn't seem surprised. He's experiencing this more and more often as he crisscrosses the country, trying to gain traction for his quixotic campaign."

Read more: http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/libertarian-hopeful-gary-johnson-gets-warm-welcome-chilly-alaska
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Ron Paul supporters take over Alaska Republican Party | Alaska Dispatch

Ron Paul supporters take over Alaska Republican Party | Alaska Dispatch - Amanda Coyne:

April 28, 2012 - "'There’s always someone pointing out that the world would be a better place if they were in charge,' said Randy Ruedrich, longtime and outgoing chairman of the Alaska Republican Party.... This weekend, it was the ... supporters of presidential candidate Ron Paul

"After at least 12 years of the Alaska GOP being run by what those party newcomers call 'establishment Republicans,' a new force is taking over: Alaska Republicans voted Russ Millete as the party’s new chairman and Debbie Holland-Brown as co-chair. They are both supporters of presidential candidate Ron Paul.

"Ruedrich, an old-school Republican who had held the job of chairman since 2000, chose not to run again,"

Read more: http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/ron-paul-supporters-take-over-alaska-republican-party
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