North Dakota Libertarians get 2020 ballot line

Libertarian Party regains ballot status in North Dakota | Grand Forks Herald - Jeremy Turley:

January 8, 2020 - "The Libertarian Party of North Dakota has regained its status as an official political organization in the state, meaning it will have a separate column for its candidates on the statewide primary ballot in June and the general election in November.

Secretary of State Al Jaeger distributed a letter ... stating that the party's petition for ballot status had been approved after the party turned in the signatures of at least 7,000 eligible North Dakota voters to Jaeger's office in October.

The party lost its ballot status in 2018 after its only candidate on the statewide primary ballot failed to receive 300 votes. That candidate, Roland Riemers, was running on the Libertarian ticket for Jaeger's position.

The party advocates for smaller government and lower taxes, according to its website."

Read more: https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/government-and-politics/4856054-Libertarian-Party-regains-ballot-status-in-North-Dakota
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ND Libertarian candidate denied recount sues

ND Libertarian candidate sues for recount | Grand Forks Herald - Jack Dura, Bismarck Tribune:

July 10, 2018 - "The only Libertarian who appeared on North Dakota's statewide primary ballot is asking the state Supreme Court for a recount, alleging errors that affected his vote total.

"Roland Riemers appeared in the June 12 primary as the Libertarian candidate for secretary of state. Officially, he received 247 votes statewide for his party's nomination for the office — short of the 300 votes he needed to advance to November's general election....

"[T]he Secretary of State's Office maintains he was the only candidate in his column, and cannot request a recount, according to a June 20 letter.

"The Libertarian also pointed to possible issues with ballot counting and crossover voting for candidates of different parties as reasons for his vote total.

"'I think it's quite possible to pick up 53 votes across the entire state out of 100-some thousand votes that were cast," Riemers said.

"Republican Secretary of State Al Jaeger said, as Riemers had no opposition within his column for his party's nomination for secretary of state, he has no basis for a recount.... 'I don't want to respond more than what we already did. Now it's in the court's hands, and it'll be up to them to decide what they think should be done.'"

Read more: https://grandforksherald.com/news/government-and-politics/4471009-nd-libertarian-candidate-sues-recount
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End drug war, forfeiture, says ND Libertarian

ND Libertarian candidate: 'War on drugs' a failed policy | INFORUM - Patrick Springer, Fargo-Moorhead Forum:

July 4, 2016 - "Marty Riske's platform is unconventional for a candidate seeking the North Dakota governor's office. He advocates legalizing marijuana and stopping civil forfeiture of property seized in criminal investigations.

"The Fargo businessman, whose only earlier run for political office was a bid years ago for the Grand Forks City Council, is running as a Libertarian Party candidate.... His candidacy is motivated by his drive to spread the Libertarian philosophy in the hope of altering public policy....

"At the top of his list: what Riske calls 'prohibition' of marijuana. It's a policy he said has failed, with disastrous results, including costly prisons crowded with non-violent drug offenders. 'I saw that as a major catastrophe,' Riske said of the nation's 'war on drugs.'

"Those opposed to legalizing marijuana are ignoring the drug's wide prevalence, even though it is illegal, he said. 'We are currently consuming vast quantities of marijuana right here in Fargo, North Dakota," Riske said.... 'Let's not pretend that this is going to be a new thing.'

"Riske also is a staunch backer of marriage equality, and supports gay marriage. The state has no role in deciding who should marry, he said.... The Libertarian view, Riske added, is, 'Everyone is sovereign in their own body.'

"Riske advocates performance audits of all state departments and agencies, which he said would determine whether taxpayer money is being effectively spent. Nonprofits must be audited so donors know how their money is spent, and the same should be true of state programs, he said....

"Riske owns the M.J. Capelli Family Hair Salons in Fargo, and got his start in business when he and a partner launched the Walrus waterbed stores in North Dakota. "His political past included hosting a fundraiser for Democrat Byron Dorgan and voting for Republican Ronald Reagan....

"'He's been one of the founders and leaders of our party," said Jack Seaman, who runs MinDak Gold Exchange in Fargo and is the Libertarian candidate for the U.S. House. 'Marty is a true champion of liberty.'

"At its most basic, the core of Libertarian philosophy is nonaggression, 'Live and let live,' Seaman said. This apparently is the first North Dakota election in which the Libertarians have fielded a full slate of statewide candidates, a sign the party is catching on, Seaman said."

Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/4066184-nd-libertarian-candidate-war-drugs-failed-policy
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ND Libertarians select candidates for 2016

Libertarians select slate of candidates for 2016 - Brett Williamson, Bismarck Tribune:

November 7, 2015 - "Libertarians from North Dakota and South Dakota gathered Saturday at the Baymont Inn and Suites in Mandan and selected candidates for the 2016 election.

Candidates selected for North Dakota were: Jack Seaman for U.S. House, Robert Marquette for U.S. Senate, Joshua Voytek for lieutenant governor, Kevin Johnson for District 16 representative, Nick Bata for insurance commissioner, Tom Skadeland for public service commissioner, and Roland Riemers for state auditor.... The Libertarian nominations for governor and state treasurer were postponed to a later date.

"This was a convention for the people looking for a change in their government.

"In the 2014 elections, the Libertarian Party was able to capture more than 5 percent of the vote for certain races and was added to the 2016 ballot. This is not their first year on the ballot, but it is the first year the Libertarian Party was added because of votes rather than petition....

"The convention was a time for change for the North Dakota Libertarian Party. Along with selecting candidates for 2016 races, the four-year North Dakota Libertarian party chairman, Roland Riemers, was replaced in a vote by Anthony Mangnall....

"In 2014, Mangnall ran for tax commissioner and was able to pull 6.4 percent of the vote to the Libertarian Party."

Read more: http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/libertarians-select-slate-of-candidates-for/article_1e88a0c6-33ff-5a91-a982-dcc9779e6c83.html
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North Dakota LP attains ballot access for first time

North Dakota LP attains ballot access for the first time in its history | Libertarian Party:

November 10, 2014 - "For the first time in party history, the North Dakota Libertarian Party has met the vote test to attain ballot access.

"In a non-presidential general election, the candidate for attorney general or secretary of state must get at least 5 percent of the vote for automatic ballot access.

"Roland Riemers, the LPND candidate for secretary of state, received 5.3 percent of the vote in the election...

"This is only the second time a minor party has met the vote test in North Dakota, the other time being the Reform Party in 1996, when Ross Perot was its presidential candidate, according to Ballot Access News.

"In addition, Jack Seaman, candidate for the U.S. House, received 5.8 percent, and the candidate for tax commissioner, Anthony Mangnall, got 6.4 percent. Both candidates were in three-way races with Democrats and Republicans."

Read more: http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/north-dakota-lp-attains-ballot-access-for-the-first-time-in-its-history
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ND Libertarian Party qualifies for 2014 primary ballot

Libertarian Party ballot approval - Nick Smith, Bismarck Tribune:

August 30, 2013 - "The North Dakota Libertarian Party was formally granted eligibility Friday to place candidates on the June 2014 primary ballot.

"Under North Dakota Century Code organizations seeking to place candidates on the primary ballot must provide at least 7,000 valid signatures prior to 4 p.m. on the 64th day prior to a primary or special election.

"Secretary of State Al Jaeger issued a release Friday morning stating that his office had received petitions with the more than 7,000 necessary signatures....

"In 2012 the Libertarian Party had candidates on the general election ballot for Congress and the Public Service Commission. The party’s gubernatorial candidate was disqualified from the ballot due to improperly filing paperwork and later gained ballot access as an Independent."

Read more: http://bismarcktribune.com/news/columnists/nick-smith/libertarian-party-ballot-approval/article_f5538b4e-1196-11e3-b8ae-001a4bcf887a.html
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