Incorrect results reported in NC LP primary

Warren County, North Carolina, has only 41 registered Libertarians – but reported more than 800 votes cast in its Libertarian primary.

NC election officials confirm voting irregularities in one county, blame human error | Raleigh News & Observer - Will Doran:

March 5, 2020 - "Officials in a North Carolina county accidentally inflated the votes in one Super Tuesday primary election, but fixed the problem on Thursday. Tuesday’s election results are still unofficial everywhere in the state, and officials at the N.C. State Board of Elections will do audits all around the state regardless of whether voting results appear wrong. In one rural area, however, they have already found an issue and say it was due to human error....

"'It’s very important to note that the results on the election night reporting system are unofficial and this is ongoing,' Pat Gannon, a spokesman for the elections board, said in an interview Thursday morning.

"Warren County, a small community north of Raleigh on the Virginia border, has only 41 registered Libertarian voters. But on Tuesday the county reported more than 800 votes cast in the Libertarian presidential race. The county also has just one registered Constitution Party voter and one registered Green Party voter — but mistakenly reported dozens of votes cast in both primaries.

"By Thursday afternoon, however, the county had figured out what went wrong and submitted the correct numbers. In reality, the new numbers show, both of the county’s single Constitution Party and Green Party voters cast a ballot. So did five — not 863 — Libertarians, most of whom voted for “No Preference” ....

"Before each election, counties run what are called 'logic and accuracy' tests of their voting software to ensure there are no problems. A top state election official, Katelyn Love, wrote in a press release ... on Thursday afternoon that on election night, Warren County officials accidentally reported those test results.... 'The error ... would have been caught by one of the numerous audits that take place prior to canvass,' Love said."

Read more: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article240917261.html

[Corrected figures have been posted on the North Carolina State Board of Elections site. The change does not substantially change the previously reported ranking and percentages. None of the Above's vote share increased, from 30% to 33%. - gd ]

NOTA wins North Carolina Libertarian primary

by George J. Dance

According to results posted on Wikipedia, None of the Above (NOTA) won the North Carolina Libertarian Party primary held on Super Tuesday, March 3. There were 6,904 votes cast in the primary, the largest number of Libertarians to vote a presidential candidate preference so far in 2020. Less than 500 people voted in the three previous contests (in New Hampshire, Iowa, and Minnesota) combined, making the Super Tuesday votes the first with a large enough sample size to indicate Libertarians' actual preference.

Of those 6,904 votes, 30% (2,060) went to NOTA. Future of Freedom Foundation founder Jacob Hornberger placed first among the declared candidates, with 604 votes, or 9% of the vote (making NOTA's margin of victory more than 20 percentage points).

Close behind Hornberger were John McAfee with 570 votes, and Kim Ruff (who suspended her campaign in January after losing to Vermin Supreme in New Hampshire) with 545. The only other candidates to receive at least 5% of the vote were Supreme (410), Ken Armstrong (366), and Jo Jorgensen (316).

Neither former Rhode Island Governor and Senator Lincoln Chafee nor "million-vote man" John Monds received any votes, and they may not have been on the ballot. I have asked the North Carolina Party to clarify the point, and will update the article when received.

Close to 50 Libertarians running in North Carolina

Libertarian candidates swell ranks - Rocky Mount Telegram - Lindell John Kay:

September 23, 2018 - "Two local candidates for state office this year are part of a growing trend of more Libertarians appearing on North Carolina ballots.

"'I’m fortunate to be the first Libertarian to run for the North Carolina House in our area,' said Nick Taylor, 30, of Nashville, who is running for the state House District 25 seat, which represents most of Nash County including Rocky Mount. Jesse Shearin, 77, of Scotland Neck, is running for for the state Senate District 4 seat....

"North Carolina is second only to Texas this year in having the largest number of Libertarian candidates — and with nearly 50 Libertarians running this year, it's one of the largest slates of Libertarian candidates ever, according to information from the N.C. Libertarian Party.

"Libertarians believe government stifles innovation through regulation, subverts compassion through bureaucracy and suppresses achievement through economic manipulation, according to the preamble of the party's platform....

"Lack of jobs is one of the biggest challenges facing Nash County and the state, Taylor said.... 'I would like to make it easier for businesses to open up in Nash County and our state,' he said. 'Therefore reducing the unnecessary steps and run-around that citizens have to take to create a business'....

 "The most important issue facing District 4 — and all other districts — is the tendency to rely upon government to solve all problems, Shearin said....

"The Libertarian platform calls for the legalization of marijuana, the end of immigration laws, gun ownership without regulation, repeal of any restrictive marriage laws, outlawing government collection of information on people, a free market, abolishing the execution of prisoners, school choice, privately owned roads and more."

Read more: http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/News/2018/09/23/Libertarian-candidates-swell-ranks.html
'via Blog this'

Democrat endorses Libertarian in NC's 9th CD

Democrat supports Libertarian in 9th District congressional race | Richmond County Daily Journal - William R. Toler:

June 22, 2018 - "A two-time congressional hopeful is throwing his support behind a third-party candidate.

"Democrat Christian Cano announced June 14 that he is endorsing Libertarian Jeff Scott for North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District seat currently held by lame-duck Republican Rep. Robert Pittenger.

"'I know that Jeff Scott will fight for my family and all our families equally in Congress,' Cano said in a letter on his campaign website. “More importantly, he is not beholden to the corporate deep pockets in Nancy Pelosi’s political machine, President 45’s (Donald Trump) hatred and bigotry, or the privileged interests focused on preserving the status quo and the ways they benefit.'

"Scott said he was 'extremely pleased' with the endorsement. 'This opens a lot of important doors for me to swing voters in this district,' he told the Daily Journal....

"Cano also accused the other candidates of being involved in collusion or corruption during the campaign.

"'As a progressive and person of faith, major party collusion and corruption is a non-negotiable issue for my family and many of our families,' he said. 'I have decided to put our country over party and endorse Jeff, because I know where he stands on the real-world issues facing our rich culturally diverse working-class and struggling neighbors'....

"Cano made sure to say that his endorsement of a Libertarian 'does not and will not alter our complete dedication and support for flipping our North Carolina General Assembly' in the much-anticipated 'blue wave,' with Democrats replacing Republicans in November’s mid-term elections.

"Cano lost the Democratic primary last month to Dan McCready.

"Pittenger was defeated by former Charlotte pastor Mark Harris in the Republican primary. He narrowly won a recount against Harris in the 2016 primary and handily won over Cano in the general election."

Read more: https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/81521/democrat-supports-libertarian-in-9th-district-congressional-race
'via Blog this'

Record 50 Libertarians running in NC in 2018

In Wake County, the Libertarians Are Coming—and They’re Not Just Old Whites Dudes Looking to Skip Out on Taxes | Wake County | Indy Week - Erica Hellerstein:

March 7, 2018 - "Robyn Pegram ... a twenty-four-year-old Apex [North Carolina] native, had been a Democrat, but the party's handling of Bernie Sanders's candidacy and the HB 2 aftermath left her feeling alienated. Pegram had always been interested in libertarianism — 'I had always kind of prided myself on being a free thinker,' she says — so she switched.

"A few months later, Pegram made another big decision. She filed to run against state representative Nelson Dollar, the seven-term Republican whose district covers parts of suburban Wake County, because she 'wanted to be a voice for the people' and believed his seat was winnable....

"Pegram isn't the only local Libertarian with high hopes for 2018. She's one of a record number of Libertarian candidates running for office in Wake County, a trend party officials chalk up to voters' dissatisfaction with the two-party duopoly and a growing Libertarian presence across North Carolina. Statewide, the party is fielding six congressional candidates, twenty-one state House candidates, fifteen state Senate candidates, four sheriff candidates, and four county commissioner candidates.

"In all, fifty Libertarian candidates are running for office in 2018, including sixteen in Wake County.

"'The people of North Carolina deserve real choices in the voting booth, and we have an amazing group of people who have made the commitment to serve,' wrote Libertarian Party of North Carolina chairwoman Susan Hogarth in an email announcing the party's 'record-setting slate' of candidates. 'In an environment dominated by political expediency, the growing energy in the LPNC tells us people want something more'....

"Any sort of Libertarian movement in North Carolina, in fact, will face an uphill climb. Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson received less than 3 percent of the vote in 2016; Sean Haugh, the Libertarian Senate candidate, garnered 3.6 percent."

Read more: https://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/in-wake-county-the-libertarians-are-coming-and-theyre-not-just-old-whites-dudes-looking-to-skip-out-on-taxes/Content?oid=12102419
'via Blog this'

12 Libertarians win office in November elections

Libertarian Party Wins More Than a Dozen Elections Across the Nation - Hit & Run : Reason.com - Brian Doherty:

November 8, 2017 - "The Libertarian Party participated in elections in 12 states yesterday: Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. The party's candidates won races (not always partisan ones) in the following states:

• In Florida, party members were elected to the Altamonte Springs City Commission, the Coconut Grove Village Council, and the Cape Canaveral City Council.
• In Pennsylvania, party members were elected Rome Township auditor, Spring Township auditor, auditor of Upper Providence, Victory Township supervisor, Houston Borough judge of elections, Exeter Township school director, Lower Nazareth auditor and judge of elections, constable in Sunbury, and member of the Houston Borough Council.
• In Washington, party members were elected to the Long Beach City Council and the Covington City Council.
• In North Carolina, a party member was elected to the Carthage Town Board of Commissioners.

"While nowhere near the spread between winning Democrat Ralph Northam and losing Republican Ed Gillespie, at least 29,000 Virginians voted for Libertarian Cliff Hyra for governor. Michelle Darnell won an impressive 32 percent in a Washington State Senate race in the Redmond area, though with only one major-party opponent, the winning Democrat.

"Details on the L.P.'s results yesterday can be found on the party's website."

Read more: http://reason.com/blog/2017/11/08/libertarian-party-wins-more-than-a-dozen
'via Blog this'

More than 200 forfeited cars go missing in NC

Audit: State cannot account for 234 vehicles seized under DWI forfeiture program - Carolina Journal:

September 28, 2017 - "State officials failed to account for 234 vehicles worth $634,000 seized by a program targeting drivers convicted of felonies for speeding or driving while intoxicated, a new state audit reported.

"Auditor Beth Wood found gaps in monitoring the contractors charged with impounding the vehicles, along with resistance from one major contractor to cooperate with the investigation. The missing vehicles should have been auctioned, kept in storage, or returned to the owners. But audit investigators couldn’t find the missing vehicles or the paperwork that might help find them.

"The Department of Public Instruction, the state agency that received money from the sale of seized vehicles, didn’t want the responsibility of monitoring the program, saying it was outside the agency’s core mission.

"The audit reviewed the DWI/Felony Speeding to Elude Vehicle Seizure Program from July 1, 2011 until June 30, 2016. Though the review covered five years, vehicles were reported missing over only the past three years.

"The General Assembly created the program in the 1990s to seize vehicles.... By law, proceeds from the sale of items seized in criminal cases go to the school district where the case was prosecuted. Local school districts initially and reluctantly monitored the program.

"In 1997, DPI took charge of overseeing the contractors that impounded and later auctioned the vehicles. But DPI didn’t want that responsibility, either. Oversight was lax, and DPI officials said it didn’t have the people or money needed to keep tabs on the contractors.... Oversight of the program shifted last year to the Department of Administration.

"The audit recommended tighter oversight from DOA, including a referral to the Division of Motor Vehicles, which may be able to track any undocumented vehicles.

"It also noted that Martin Edwards and Associates, the contractor handling (and losing) the vast majority of the vehicles, had impeded the investigation and resisted subpoenas from the auditor’s office. The auditor said DOA should reconsider using MEA as a contractor.

"DPI and DOA agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations."

Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/news-article/audit-state-cannot-account-for-234-vehicles-seized-under-dwi-forfeiture-program/
'via Blog this'

NC libertarian builds low-cost private schools

A Libertarian Builds Low-Cost Private Schools for the Masses - Reason.com - Jim Epstein:

January 23, 2017 - "Bob Luddy ... built his own network of low-cost private schools that the government can't meddle with.... A libertarian businessman based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Luddy made his fortune as the owner of the nation's leading manufacturer of commercial kitchen ventilation systems. CaptiveAire has factories in six states, and its 2016 revenues were $400 million....

"Luddy became interested in education when he observed that many hires at CaptiveAire lacked the basic math and science skills to thrive on the job. He volunteered to co-chair a statewide education commission and met with North Carolina officials to voice his concerns. 'They were happy to discuss all of these ideas,' Luddy says, 'but they weren't going to implement any of them.'

"The last straw for Luddy came in 1997, when he ran for a seat on the local school board and lost.... Almost immediately, he filed a charter for Franklin Academy, which today is the third largest charter school in North Carolina, with about four applicants vying for every kindergarten spot.... In 2007, he decided to take a more radical step by creating a non-profit network of schools called Thales Academy....

"Tuition is $5,300 for elementary school, and $6,000 for junior high and high school.... It takes advantage of North Carolina's tax-exempt financing for school construction, and Luddy himself makes a one-time contribution to help defray capital costs with each new facility. Luddy also provides about 6 percent of the student body with financial aid that covers up to half the cost of tuition, and 34 students (1.5 percent) receive financial aid through North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program.

"So how does Thales get by with so little revenue? (North Carolina's public schools spent about $9,300 per pupil in the 2015-2016 school year.) One factor is that it doesn't serve kids with severe learning disabilities.... Luddy believes those students are best served through North Carolina's school voucher program....

"Thales schools also have no auditoriums because they're too expensive to build, heat, and cool.... There's no cafeteria, and thus no cafeteria staff. There are no school buses, and thus no school bus drivers. There's also hardly any support staff, and fewer actual teachers. Thales targets a teacher to student ratio of about 26 to one.... Most schools boast about small class sizes, but Luddy is proud of having large classes because it demonstrates efficiency.... It's part of a pedagogical approach called 'direct instruction,' which Luddy believes provides a superior education in a more efficient manner....

"As Thales enters its tenth year of operation, Luddy and his team have grand ambitions. There are currently 25 new Thales schools in the planning stages that would extend the network's reach into Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida."

Read more: http://reason.com/reasontv/2017/01/23/thales-academy-north-carolina-bob-luddy
'via Blog this'

Libertarians end year with 38-state ballot access

The 2016 Election's Biggest Winner: Gary Johnson and The Libertarian Party? - IVN.us - W.E. Messamore:

November 12, 2016 - "The Libertarian Party is now an officially recognized party for the next election in [38] states, the highest ever for the burgeoning third party. Here’s a breakdown of the gains state by state from the LP’s website:

• The Texas LP retained ballot access with Railroad Commission candidate Mark Miller receiving over 5 percent. The party would have had to collect over 80,000 signatures to get back on the ballot if no statewide candidate received 5 percent. This will save the party approximately $220,000 in petitioning cost.
• The LP retained ballot access in North Carolina for four years with Gary Johnson and the gubernatorial candidate, Lon Cecil, each getting over 2 percent. The party would have had to collect over 100,000 signatures to get back on the ballot if neither the presidential nor gubernatorial candidate got 2 percent, saving the party approximately $250,000 in petitioning cost.
• Iowa and Kentucky LPs are recognized parties for the first time, with Gary Johnson getting over 2 percent in both states.
• The New Hampshire LP is a recognized party for the first time in two decades due to gubernatorial candidate Max Abramson getting over 4 percent.
• The DC party is recognized for the second time ever, with candidate for Delegate to the US House of Representatives Martin Moulton getting over 17,000 votes.
• The LP retained ballot access in North Dakota, with Gary Johnson getting over 6 percent.
• In Connecticut, Libertarian Dan Reale for US House in the second congressional district, Richard Lion for US Senate, and Gary Johnson for President all received over one percent of the vote. As a result, the party will not have to petition in these races in the next election.
• Massachusetts’ LP is a recognized party again, with Gary Johnson getting over 3 percent.
• West Virginia’s LP retained ballot access for four years due to David Moran receiving over 2 percent in his race for governor.

"Instant ballot access in these states’ next election, just like the Republican and Democratic parties get, is a coveted status that will save the Libertarian Party a small fortune in money, time, and energy previously wasted on petitioning efforts just to get on the ballot.

"That’s resources that can go toward more fundraising, registering more voters, campaign ads, poaching disaffected voters from the two major parties, and making the case for Libertarian policies to unaffiliated independent voters."

Read more: http://ivn.us/2016/11/12/2016-elections-biggest-winner-gary-johnson-libertarian-party/
'via Blog this'

Winston-Salem Journal endorses Gary Johnson

Decision 2016: Gary Johnson for president - Winston-Salem Journal: Editorials:

September 11, 2016 - "We’ve surprised even ourselves with this endorsement, our first for a Libertarian for president. But the timing has never been better for this particular Libertarian, Gary Johnson of New Mexico. He is everything the presidential candidates for the two major parties are not, thank God.

"Johnson and his running mate, William 'Bill' Weld of Massachusetts, were both popular, effective Republican governors who worked well with Democrats. They are principled and honorable in a time when our country sorely needs such qualities.... We join many Americans in being sick of the status quo in American politics, particularly presidential politics, that has far drifted from the bedrock ideals of our fabulous Founders. On this day, by endorsing Gary Johnson, we issue a challenge to change that status quo.

"This Westerner’s strong, common-sense record of being fiscally conservative and socially progressive matches our editorial board’s emphasis, as well as his concentration on small government, and, best of all, freedom. We suspect his stances mirror that of many other Americans.

"We are recommending Johnson on this early date because, as he has acknowledged, it’s crucial that his ticket be included on the presidential debate schedule that starts Sept. 26.... We make this early endorsement today in hopes it will help persuade the Commission on Presidential Debates to include Johnson, even if he falls short of the required number, a hope we share with a sister paper, the Richmond Times-Dispatch....

"On public education, he supports more local control. We agree, although we object to his emphasis on eliminating the federal Department of Education and Common Core. On the environment, we like his emphasis on reasonable regulation and his objection to politicians doing the bidding of lobbyists. He has good ideas on taxes, including eliminating double-taxation on small business.

"We like his emphasis on criminal-justice reform, especially on draconian and unequal drug laws, although we are not with him yet on the legalization of recreational marijuana. We like Johnson’s commitment to common-sense immigration reform that would include a better system of work visas, background checks and undocumented immigrants paying their fair share of taxes.

"Johnson does have much to learn on foreign policy. But we like his emphasis on a strong military, and that he says we can’t be the world’s police, especially with all the domestic problems in our country. War, he rightly says, must be authorized by Congress through a transparent process. And he emphasizes better care for our veterans."

Read more: http://www.journalnow.com/opinion/editorials/decision-gary-johnson-for-president/article_7351cdb6-327e-5cf0-b0d2-9bff7ab6d874.html
'via Blog this'

Alternatives to government licensing

Why Should Anyone Need a License for Anything? | Foundation for Economic Education - Kevin Currie-Knight:

May 23, 2016 - "Recently, the state legislature in my home state of North Carolina approved draft legislation that would undo licensing requirements for 15 professions, including locksmithing, pastoral counseling, and acupuncture..... It is tempting to assume that the only way professional certification can be effective is if the state does it and if it is mandatory. Neither assumption is true....

"First, let’s ask ourselves when certification is and isn’t valuable. Certification reduces what economists call information costs: if I am shopping in a field where choosing a bad provider may be costly, searching for a certified provider may be an easy way to ensure that the provider meets a minimum standard....

"In Kansas and Wyoming, two states where licensure is not required to practice acupuncture, the number of acupuncturists who voluntarily have certification from the NCCAOM is 42 and 26, respectively. That may not seem like many, but consider that Kansas has 1 voluntarily certified acupuncturist for every 49,000 residents, while neighboring Missouri has 1 licensed-by-legal-requirement acupuncturist for every 51,300 residents. That’s pretty comparable....

"And what if the state decides not to serve as licenser? Will private organizations step in? The answer is an almost certain yes.... Becoming an 'athletic trainer' in North Carolina requires a state license, but becoming a 'personal trainer' does not. It turns out, however, that most employers seem to want only certified personal trainers.... So where do personal trainers get certified?.... private certifying bodies for personal trainers, such as the National Personal Training Institute and the International Fitness Association. Why do employers tend to hire trainers who are certified? Presumably, it’s not because of any government demands, but because they find those trainers to be better for business.

"Locksmithing is another profession for which the North Carolina bill would dissolve licensure requirements. To help us predict the outcome for the state’s consumers, we can look to Great Britain, where the government imposes no licensing requirement on locksmiths. British locksmiths can, however, pursue certification with the nonprofit Master Locksmith Association and other similar organizations, which allow locksmiths to advertise as certified. And, true to form, a good many locksmiths voluntarily acquire this certification....

"Kosher food regulation is a well-studied example; kosher meats used to be certified by state governments, but over time, it was found that private organizations like Organized Kashrut Laboratories and the Union of Orthodox Congregation did a better job.... In his essay 'Kosher Certification as a Model of Private Regulation,' law professor Timothy Lytton suggests several reasons. Demand for kosher products, he says, 'gives food manufacturers incentive to pay for reliable, independent' certification. Additionally, 'brand competition among certifiers based on reliability has led to increasing expertise and accountability.'

"When customers demand a superior product or service, and they believe certification to be a good indicator of quality, businesses will generally realize the benefit of pursuing certification, even if the certifying bodies are private and licensure isn’t mandatory.

"Consumers will decide what the value of certification is by deciding what premium they will pay to go with a certified service provider. This outcome would offer the best of both worlds, because nothing would be imposed on anyone. Whether to obtain certification, and whether to use certified providers, will be voluntary. And voluntary is good."

Read more: https://fee.org/articles/why-should-anyone-need-a-license-for-anything/
'via Blog this'

Libertarians holding debate and primary in NC

N.C. Libertarian Party to hold presidential debate - Winston-Salem Journal: Local News - Melissa Hall:

"The Libertarian Party of North Carolina will host a presidential debate at 9 p.m. Monday in Raleigh. It will be webcast on Google Hangouts On Air.

"The debate will feature five of the 11 Libertarian candidates who will appear on the March 15 North Carolina primary ballot. The participants will be chosen in an online poll. To vote in the poll visit, http://strawpoll.me/6514672.

"The moderator of the debate will be Barry Smith, the associate editor of the Carolina Journal. The candidates will take part from locations across the country.

"To watch the debate, visit http://bit.ly/libertarian_debate.

"The candidates listed on the primary ballot are: Marc Feldman of Ohio; John Hale of Kentucky; Cecil Ince of Missouri, Gary Johnson of New Mexico; Steven Kerbel of Colorado; Darryl W. Perry of New Hampshire; Austin Petersen of Missouri, Derrick Reid of California; Jack Robinson of South Carolina; Rhett Smith of Texas, and; Joy Waymire of California.

"Presidential and vice presidential candidates will be chosen by delegates to the party's national convention scheduled for May 27 to 30 in Orlando, Fla."

http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/n-c-libertarian-party-to-hold-presidential-debate/article_6f1d420b-c1f7-5c62-8089-39a76bacb9e4.html
'via Blog this'

Libertarian enters North Carolina Senate race

Libertarian joins race for Senate seat here - Mooresville Tribune: Local News:

December 9, 2015 - "Nic Haag of Denver, an information security professional and Marine Corps combat veteran, has filed to run as a Libertarian candidate for the North Carolina Senate District 44 seat.

"Haag joins a race that includes two Republicans – incumbent David Curtis and challenger Chris Carney – who will square off in a March 15 GOP primary. If no additional Libertarians file for office, Haag will be on the November ballot....

"Haag said his campaign will focus on issues 'regarding individual liberties, restoring the rights of the people in the era of ever-expanding government. (My) guiding principle in regards to good government has always been: The government is best, that which governs the least'....

"Haag said he has 'always been against government where [it] does not belong,' hence his positions on 'abolishing the ABC spirits monopoly. NC citizens should be allowed to buy spirits in a competitive free market, where selection is greater and prices are cheaper,' he said.

"Haag also advocates the legalization of marijuana in North Carolina and “using the tax revenue to abolish property taxes on vehicles and reduce income tax rates'....  Haag said he is 'confident a state with such deep roots in the tobacco industry will be more than welcoming to a cash crop that will bring about long-term economic stability.'

"Haag spent more than 10 years in the Marines and works as a technical advisor for a venture capital firm. He said he supports the idea 'that entrepreneurial spirit is among the most important things for a government to nurture. This is done by ensuring people are free from burdensome regulations, economic protectionism, and bureaucratic meddling.'"

Read more: http://www.mooresvilletribune.com/news/libertarian-joins-race-for-senate-seat-here/article_0cf38ea4-9e8d-11e5-a673-5bc4a6f3f01c.html
'via Blog this'

Former news publisher to run for NC governor

Former Denver newspaper publisher announces bid for governor as Libertarian | Lincoln Times-News:

January 5, 2015 - "An East Lincoln resident has announced plans to run as a Libertarian candidate in North Carolina’s 2016 gubernatorial race.

"Ken Fortenberry, former publisher of the weekly news@norman newspaper, informed media outlets of his decision to run in a press release Tuesday afternoon. His political platform includes calling for a significant decrease in state income taxes, lowering the state’s legal drinking age and ceasing legislative and legal efforts in the War on Drugs.

"If elected, he plans to reduce North Carolina personal income taxes by 50 percent over the span of five years, with the ultimate goal of eliminating the tax entirely. 'If Tennessee, Texas, Florida and six other states can operate without a personal income tax, surely we can do half of that in North Carolina,' Fortenberry wrote.

"In his eyes, returning the legal drinking age from 21 to 18 is long overdue. 'If a person is old enough to go to war and possibly die for this country, that person is old enough to buy a beer…. North Carolina should lead the nation in telling the federal government to mind its own business in issues such as this,' he said.

"Although Fortenberry wrote that he has never consumed an illegal drug, he believes that the time has come to accept the War on Drugs has served as a “costly failure that has ruined millions of lives by labeling otherwise law-abiding citizens as criminals.'"

Read more: http://www.lincolntimesnews.com/2015/01/05/former-denver-newspaper-publisher-announces-bid-for-governor-as-libertarian/
'via Blog this'

Did Haugh 'spoil' election for Democrat in NC?

Analysis: Did Libertarian votes hurt Kay Hagan? - Meghan Molleruss, WFMY:

November 5, 2014 - "In the day following Democratic incumbent senator Kay Hagan's loss to Republican challenger Thom Tillis, voters speculate what role Libertarian candidate Sean Haugh played in the end result.

"North Carolina House speaker Tillis clinched victory by two percent over incumbent Hagan, who was favored in the majority of polls leading into Tuesday's Mid-Term Elections. Final numbers indicated Tillis received 49 percent of the vote. Hagan received 47 percent. Haugh received four percent -- a historically large number for a third party in Mid-Term Elections.

"Past elections and party platforms suggest Libertarian candidates tend to take away votes from Republican candidates. But, the trend might have been the opposite in this Senate race, according to a political poll.

"Elon Poll director Kenneth Fernandez, Ph.D. said, 'We (Elon Poll) did an online survey, and we found that basically two-thirds of the votes were being stolen from Hagan'....

"He added, 'I think this is a tough, tough decision for Hagan to think -- could I have done something different to woo those Sean Haugh voters or maybe have tacked Tillis to woo some independents? Tillis did much, much better with independents.'"

Read more: http://www.wcnc.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/11/05/analysis-did-libertarian-votes-hurt-kay-hagan/18532449/
'via Blog this'

Conservative group runs web ads for Haugh in NC

Conservative group funds pro-weed campaign for North Carolina Libertarian candidate - Washington Post - Matea Gold, Post Politics:

October 23, 2014 - "Sean Haugh, the Libertarian candidate for Senate in North Carolina, is getting a big lift in the waning days of the election from an unlikely group praising his support for marijuana legalization and his opposition to U.S. military action abroad.

"The 'More Weed, Less War' online ad campaign features beaming young men and women who tout Haugh as 'sharing our progressive values,' chant 'Get Haugh, get high!' and dismiss Democratic incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan as 'out of touch.'

"The outfit behind the campaign does not have a history of advocating for marijuana legalization.

"American Future Fund, a tax-exempt organization based in West Des Moines, has been frequently used as a pass-through for political money on the right. In the 2012 campaign, it was a major player in a network of politically active nonprofits supported by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch and other conservative donors.

"But James Davis, a spokesman for Freedom Partners, the main financial arm of the Koch-backed network, said it no longer funds the Iowa group and has nothing to do with its pro-Haugh campaign....

"Nick Ryan, AFF’s founder, declined to say who was supporting the campaign. 'As a practice, we don't comment on who does or does not contribute to our organization,' he wrote in an email.

"He added that the goal of the pro-Haugh campaign 'is straightforward — share information with voters about where Sean Haugh stands on a variety of issues'.

"Ryan said the campaign is now generating so much buzz that AFF plans to expand its initial $225,000 buy.... 'We are going to re-double our efforts and expand the program next week.'"

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/10/23/koch-linked-group-launches-pro-weed-campaign-for-north-carolina-libertarian-candidate/

'via Blog this'

Conservatives, libertarians must unite to win, say GOP strategists

Strategists Say Libertarians & Conservatives Must Unite to Win - Josh Siegel:

September 30, 2014 - "Doug Stafford says he and his boss, Sen. Rand Paul, got into politics the same way: through their church, which inspired them to develop pro-life principles.

"Stafford, the executive director of RAND PAC and a close adviser to Paul, sat on a panel this past weekend at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., a gathering of social conservatives. "

"Stafford was there to sell Paul, the Kentucky Republican with a libertarian streak, as a potential 2016 presidential candidate who can bridge the divide between conservatives and libertarians....

"This week, Paul will travel to North Carolina to appeal to libertarian-leaning voters in a state with a hotly contested Senate seat.

"Republicans are worried that third-party candidate Sean Haugh, a Libertarian running for Senate in North Carolina, could siphon votes from Thom Tillis, the Republican who is challenging Democratic incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan.

"If Republicans are to take control of the U.S. Senate, experts say, they will likely have to overcome third-party candidates, many being libertarian, who could play spoiler and take away votes.

"The best way to do that, Republican strategists say, is to project the similarities of conservatives and libertarians, so as not to give voters a reason or alternative to vote outside of the two major parties."

Read more: http://dailysignal.com/2014/09/30/political-strategists-plot-libertarians-conservatives-can-unite-take-back-white-house/
'via Blog this'

LP could affect outcome in 10 U.S. Senate races

Meet Sean Haugh, the Libertarian pizza guy who may deliver a Senate seat in N.C. - The Washington Post - Karen Tumulty & Reid Wilson:

July 6, 2014 - "Most evenings, Sean Haugh is a pizza deliveryman.

"But every other week or so, the Libertarian Party’s Senate nominee in North Carolina opens a few craft beers ... and expresses his Everyman frustrations with the current political system into a video camera.

"So far, Haugh’s campaign barely exists anywhere but on YouTube. But it is doing surprisingly well in a high-stakes Senate contest in which candidates and outside groups have already spent more than $15 million.

"Four polls lately put his support somewhere between 8 and 11 percent — not enough to suggest a realistic possibility of winning, but conceivably enough to affect the outcome of the race. The same surveys show the margin between incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan and her GOP challenger, state House Speaker Thom Tillis, at six points or less....

"North Carolina is not the only state where Democrats and Republicans are starting to look over their shoulders and down the ballot.

"Libertarians are poised to draw votes in at least 10 other competitive Senate elections this fall — in Montana, Oregon, Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia and Alaska. The party is working to collect enough signatures to appear on ballots in Kentucky and New Hampshire and is attracting attention with gubernatorial candidates in Florida and Kansas

"How well any of them will do is hard to predict. Many pollsters have a policy of excluding from their surveys third-party candidates who lack celebrity or financial resources, on the theory that people who say they will vote for them rarely end up doing it, said Kenneth Fernandez, director of the Elon University Poll, which does not plan to add Haugh to its horse-race questions."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/meet-sean-haugh-the-libertarian-pizza-guy-who-may-deliver-a-senate-seat-in-nc/2014/07/06/b321c03a-022f-11e4-8572-4b1b969b6322_story.html
'via Blog this'

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
'via Blog this'

NC Libertarian polling at 11% in close Senate race

PPP: Hagan, Tillis a Toss-up, With Third-Party Spoiler - Chapelboro.com - Danny Hooley:

May 13, 2014 - "A new poll conducted by Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling finds that, overall, voters aren’t too happy with either of North Carolina’s candidates for U.S. Senate.

"As a result, a surprising number of voters are leaning Libertarian.

"Here’s Director of Public Policy Polling Tom Jensen:

"'Our first general-election poll finds Kay Hagan leading Thom Tillis 38-to-36,' says Jensen. 'And the Libertarian candidate, Sean Haugh, is getting 11 percent. And that’s a pretty unusually high level of support for a third-party candidate.'

"Jensen points out that Hagan, the Democratic incumbent, has a 38 percent approval rating, while 49 percent of voters disapprove....'And Tillis doesn’t do any better,' says Jensen. 'Thirty percent of voters see him favorably; 46 percent, unfavorably.'"

Read more: http://chapelboro.com/news/election/ppp-hagan-tillis-toss-third-party-spoiler/
'via Blog this'