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LPWS Convention

Delegates plan for future, liberate our candidates, elect all-new board

Four new members joined or re-joined at the door. One was later elected to state office. A college student walked in, felt slightly out of place at first, but also went home a state officer. A young couple came together, on what they jokingly called a date — both were elected. It would be that kind of day.

State Chair Jim Campton's opening address set a transitional tone. He described his yearlong quest to provide the LPWS with professional management, contrasted with leadership obstacles in the past. Interviewed later, Campton said the explosive growth in membership was exciting, but also had a downside. At a previous membership peak, ''We bumped into a management ceiling. We had grown too big to be managed by a committee of volunteers. We had no continuity, no stability.''

Two examples could not be avoided.. Due to problems with the Secretary position, there were no minutes from the 1996 convention. There was also no record of who serves on the Judicial Committee.

The Secretary and archive functions had been contracted to the Director, so the Constitution was amended to abolish the position of Secretary. The entire Judicial Committee — whoever they were — was ''fired'' by unanimous vote, paving the way to start over.

Officer elections. New state officers are listed elsewhere. We're cramped for space this month. Look for photos and a short bio for each in August.

The all-new Judicial Committee consists of Chief Justice Andria Frost, Pat Michl, Dave Maas, Bill McCord and Ron Ralstin.

Platform. With no dissent, delegates repealed the ''Issues'' section of the state platform. The Property Rights section was repealed as being redundant. Jeffersonian language was added to the Statement of Principles. The current Party Program, was amended, then added as a new third section of the platform. The revised platform is on the LPWS Web site.

Director Hihn had argued that Libertarian positions cannot properly be stated in one or two sentences of a platform plank. The Issues section would actually be replaced with something better — at least ten detailed position papers on Washington state issues — in time for the 1998 campaign season.

Stahl also introduced a strongly worded ''Candidate Self-Defense Resolution''—disavowing conflicting issues planks in the national platform. Where the state and ational platforms conflict on issues, including issues omitted by the state platform, the state platform shall prevail. In effect, LPWS candidates are now free to accept or disavow individual issues planks which appear only in the national platform.

Bylaws. The fiscal year was extended from June 1 to July 31. The Director is obliged to create a formal budgeting process. Newly-elected Executive Committees need time to review, modify and pass a formal budget. (The first formal budget will apply to calendar 1998, for the remainder of this fiscal year.)

Article 5, Section 2 of the Bylaws was amended, allowing vacancies to be filled by either the committee itself or (added) the Executive Committee.

Resolutions. Delegates adopted two resolutions regarding previously-endorsed ballot issues. The first reaffirmed LPWS support for Proportional Representation in general. Members were asked to actively join the petition campaign to amend Seattle's City Charter, adopting Preference Voting for the City.

The second Resolution affirms the LPWS as Washington's only true ''equal rights'' political party. The Washington State Civil Rights Initiative (I-200) would repeal state-mandated discrimination and preferential treatment. Because the I-200 petition campaign will donate money to the LPWS, based on the number of signatures obtained by our members, the Resolution urges fellow members to each consider obtaining a minimum of ten signatures. (See ''Ballot Issues'' department.)

Constitution. In addition to abolishing the Secretary position, delegates approved an amendment proposed by Jim Campton, as the last order of business. Campton returned to his original remarks, and the importance of stability. By a vote of 26-2, the terms of all state officers were extended to two years, with appropriate minor changes to be made in the Bylaws.

--MJH

unified membership plan

LPWS paid membership tops 900!

On Saturday May 30th, LPWS membership increased from 170 to 857. After months of planning, that's when the state and national LP membership databases were physically merged. At press time, total membership now stands at 940.

If you held membership in both the state and national parties, your new expiration date is the latest of the two. We're told it takes 3-4 months to totally complete a unification of state and national databases. If you're receiving two newsletters, please let us know which address is correct.

The old LPWS database did not record you had signed the Pledge, which is a required field in the national database. We also made no distinction between party members and newsletter subscribers. So 70 LPWS members will receive a request from LPHQ to again sign the Pledge — or to note that you're a subscriber only.

Finally, please compare the expiration dates printed on your state and national newsletter labels. Both expirations should be the same, but this is the most likely source of human error.

State Director now on board

Mike Hihn has been contracted to create and perform the duties of State Director for the LPWS, on a part-time consulting basis. A Director's report is enclosed.

Hihn, former LPWS Campaigns and Public Relations chair, has management and consulting experience in Training and Development, Marketing, General Management and Strategic Planning. He's been an elected Libertarian, to a suburban school board in Ohio (1989).

The Management Agreement was available at the convention, and may now be viewed on the LPWS Web site.

Project Bootstrap includes more than paid management. As funding develops, it will also include office space and equipment.

Management fees are based on performance, both direct and indirect.

Duration. The Agreement runs for two years, to meet all contracted objectives. It may be terminated by either side after one year.

Duties/Responsibilities. The Agreement includes several pages of tasks to be achieved within two years — created by the former board, but with priorities set by the new board.

Mike edits WL until a separate newsletter is spun off.

Here come the Libertarians!

I cannot adequately describe the spirit of this past convention, but I'll try anyway. There was a sense of shared vision, a quiet optimism — not just by the newly-elected officers, but by everyone in the convention room. I'd never felt that at a Libertarian gathering. I hereby pledge myself to spread that same energy and dedication throughout our party.

For years, we Libertarians have acted more like a think thank than a political party. We've read and reread our favorite books — but government keeps growing, ever more costly, and ever more abusive of our personal liberties. We must move beyond talking about libertarianism. It's time we start doing libertarianism.

Fortunately, we have two powerful allies — the Democrat and Republican parties — as they self-destruct in public. Libertarians have seen that for years. Increasingly, voters are seeing it too. Our new statewide advertising campaign is intended to "connect" with the growing number of disgruntled voters.

The draft of our first ad is enclosed — the donkey and the elephant, plus one simple question: "Had enough yet?" If so, we offer the "principled solutions" of the Libertarian party. The ad has a light touch, humorous to many people, which also makes us the alternative to shrill shouting matches between the older parties.

It's been only a week, but I must thank Jim Campton for the leadership structure he created and passed on. The new officers and new Director are still developing their working relationships, but action is already proceeding — swiftly and professionally.

We should have next year's convention wrapped up this month, for announcement in the next newsletter. Less than a week after the convention, Mike Hihn was seeking bookings with one big-name speaker, plus some of the best Libertarian candidate and activist workshops and seminars available.

Brett Wilhelm (Membership) will use a detailed county-by-county membership analysis to develop longer-term goals. Short-term goals, for more easily organized counties, are addressed, as detailed in the Director's Report. Then the harder work begins — organizing all 39 Washington counties.

Ken Houghton (Treasurer) and Mike will together take over the party's books and records from Steve Cornell, outgoing Treasurer, later this month.

Doug Thornton (Public Relations) is working on even more expansions to our PR program, and developing basic objectives for the planned LPWS position papers.

Doug Langworthy (Finance) won't have a big project until early next year — the new Non-Member Donor Development program. For now, he's volunteered as Regional Re-Organizer for Whatcom County.

Finally, it may seem like we're asking a lot of you in this newsletter, but we're really expecting a lot from the membership as a whole. For you personally, the more projects and activities we have, the more likely you are to find just one or two to support, get involved in, or lead.

Could you serve in public office?

It's not impossible: we could have two dozen Libertarians in office by next Christmas — certainly before the big elections in year 2000. Could you be one of them?

Libertarians typically have two questions when considering public office? How hard is it? What can a lone Libertarian actually accomplish, as part of a larger board or council?

I've been elected myself, as one of five school board members, so let's start with the second question. What could I do, all by myself?

My term in office was like a high-stakes poker game. You play poker all night long, just for one or two hands which determine the evening. You play all those other hands, patiently, waiting for your opening. You don't need to win every hand, or even most hands. Good poker players have that patience, because they have rational expectations of what they must do. Public office is the same. What can you reasonably expect to achieve?

There were only five or six times per year when my vote could make a difference. I was the swing vote between two factions, or they wanted a unanimous vote on something. I learned to recognize when my vote had power. If they wanted my vote, they had to earn it. That's when I earned my keep.

A half-dozen opportunities per year may not impress you, but consider the alternative. If you don't cast those six votes, who will?

If you're at all aware of local politics, you've seen a half dozen of your neighbors spend three or four years of their lives, just trying to change a comma in your City Charter. Fighting government is just that tough. Isn't that why you became a Libertarian in the first place?

Not every Libertarian can, or should, seek public office. But even those two dozen I mentioned would be only 2.6% of our current membership. The LPWS can't identify who those 2.6% are, they have to identify themselves — make it a point to attend at least three different meetings of local boards, commissions or councils in the next month or so. If you see a possibility for yourself, go for it. At the worst, you'll have a better idea who to vote for in the next election.

There are many entry points to political office, but the lowest and easiest are appointed boards described later in this article, and nonpartisan offices described next by Kelly Haughton.

Here's another rational expectation: when and if you make it, allow for a learning curve. That's why most Libertarians should start in lower offices. I made mistakes, so will you. Get all that out of the way before you seek higher office. If you're the one who mediates disputes in your family, you may already know how to work with conflicting factions.

If you were in Congress, the factions would be the two older parties. You'd often vote with Democrats on civil liberties, and with Republicans on economic issues. The same is true for local government, but the factions are less likely to be partisan. Every now and then, yours will be the swing vote. That too must be learned. If you demand too much, you'll get nothing. Learn from that, and wait for your next opening.

The easiest place to start learning this new craft is an appointed board. Many slots will open up after this year's nonpartisan elections. Some may be available now.

Last November, the day after elections, the LP state chair for Illinois wrote his mayor volunteering for a board appointment — ''wherever you believe I can best help my community.'' A week later he was on a zoning commission, ready to defend property rights.

It's not always that easy. But in some parts of the state, positions go begging. In other parts, there's a waiting list. Find out. Contact your City Hall and County Administration. Learn how to govern first, in nonpartisan office. Develop a following of supporters, and your campaign will be that much easier when you seek elected office.

-MJH

Nonpartisan races:
let's win a few in '97!

By Kelly Haughton

The Libertarian Party is in the business of winning elections. We haven't done too well at that business. We have focused our attention on running candidates for partisan offices such as President, Congress and State Legislature. Generally, we have been lucky to break 10% of the vote and often we have received less than 5% of the vote. Not a good record.

1997 represents an opportunity to change this. In the state of Washington, nonpartisan offices are generally elected in odd years. Nonpartisan offices represent Libertarians best chance to win elections and improve their political resumes.

Why run for nonpartisan offices?

Reason #1: Libertarians can win these elections! In 1995, I ran for Pierce County Charter Review Commission and narrowly missed upsetting a sitting Port Commissioner (51-48%). Democrats and Republicans who would never endorse a Libertarian partisan candidate endorsed me. With a less formidable foe, the race was quite winnable. And many nonpartisan races have weak competition.

Reason #2: Voters care about community service. People who serve the community, whether in elected or appointed positions, gain name recognition and respect. Elected officials can then support other candidates. Imagine Bellevue City Councilman Tom Isenberg supporting Libertarian Art Rathjen for State Legislature. Sounds good, doesn't it?

Reason #3: It makes you a more respectable candidate if you decide to run for partisan office later on. Imagine Tacoma City Councilwoman Karen Allard running for State Legislature. The media and the voters would take such a candidacy very seriously.

Reason #4: It helps build the Libertarian Party. If we had 20-30 Libertarians elected to nonpartisan offices in Washington, it would help with media attention and membership recruitment.

Reason #5: If you don't sign up to run for Sammamish Plateau Water & Sewer Commissioner or Spokane County Fire District #3 Commissioner, someone who believes in bigger government will fill the position for sure.

So what are you waiting for? Find out what you can run for today! Review the Tip Sheet below. Call your County Auditor's Election Department and ask them what seats are open for you to run for.

And have fun!

Campton announces:
Federal Way School Board

Jim Campton, outgoing State Chair, told applauding state delegates that he would soon announce for Federal Way school board. Two days later, he made it official.

"I want my campaign to be an example," he said, "to show how Libertarians can form coalitions in their community, and win local office."

Jim's campaign staff and advisors include Libertarians (Rich Shepard and Mike Hihn), along with Republicans and Democrats in his community.

WL asked, did Campton have to "cut a deal" to get support from Republicans and Democrats? "I sure did. I agreed not to run later against anyone on my own campaign staff!"

Actually, they came to him, Jim says. "I was planning the typical Libertarian race, for state legislature. Then people I know, from my civic involvement, began asking me to consider school board. I asked a few others, who were also encouraging. When they offered serious help, I began getting serious myself."

Campton's campaign has two main themes: common sense, and a demand for performance audits. His campaign Web site is even named schoolsense.org. Matt McCally, another former State Chair, reported hearing favorable comments about the Campton campaign, weeks before the formal announcement.

Jim echoes many of the same sentiments printed above from Kelly Haughton. "I'd been planning, well enough in advance, to run a credible race for the legislature. But 15% or so would have been considered successful. This one, I can win. It's also more fun, and I've already learned a lot more about planning and organizing a professional campaign."

Volunteers and contributors are invited to participate. Committee to Elect Jim Campton, 3001 S. 288th St. #182, Federal Way, WA 98003-7935. (206) 941-4547. jimcampton@schoolsense.org

Two ballot issues provide a unique opportunity for our state party. By gathering signatures, we can help place our principles on the ballot — while also earning money for LPWS projects. Both are measures most Libertarians would support anyhow, even without the added incentive.

Both deadlines are yearend.

Washington State Civil Rights Initiative

The Washington State Civil Rights Initiative (WSCRI) seeks to guarantee equal treatment under the law for everyone. It is: "An act relating to prohibiting government entities from discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin." (The entire text of WSCRI is on the Web at: http://www.wscri.com/equality)

Government preference (discrimination) programs assume some groups of people should be favored at the expense of other groups. Rather than treating all people as individuals, government misguidedly lumps people into groups and treats them differently based on the group category. Such programs (while seemingly well-intended) are racist, sexist, etc., because they assume all members of certain groups share the same advantages or disadvantages, and treats them differently based on these assumptions. This is an example of "group-think" which Libertarians reject.

Until government can see each and every person as a unique individual with unique attributes, talents, and capabilities—until, in fact, we can all see each other that way—our country will be divided on the bases of race, sex, ethnicity, and national origin, and it will be more difficult for us all to get along.

We need to aim high with our signature gathering efforts and join with like-minded members of the Republican Party, Natural Law Party, U.S. Taxpayers Party, and Reform/United We Stand in supporting this important issue. (Ed. Note: According to the latest WSCRI bulletin, the LPWS is the only state party supporting this measure.)

We need to be outside the supermarkets, coffee shops, or in the public square asking people to sign the petition which will put the WSCRI on the ballot. We can provide the petitions but we need your time and effort to make it happen. There is no short-cut, silver bullet or trick to getting signatures. It will take motivated, inspired, committed and dedicated individuals.

The Washington State Civil Rights Initiative should be the statewide signature issue for the LPWS this year. Libertarian Party of Washington State. Petitions and scripts may be obtained from three sources: Mike Hihn (Seattle), Mary Maas (Island County) or Janice Moerschel (Spokane). See page 2 for phone numbers and email addresses.

- Janice Moerschel

Preference Voting (Seattle City Charter)

For libertarians who believe election laws will always be rigged against minor parties, Preference Voting is a cutting-edge issue.

We may need to clarify some terms. Preference Voting is only one version of a larger concept, Proportional Representation. Proportional Representation responds to the fact that winner-take-all elections necessarily discriminate against minority interests, including minor parties. For an extreme example, either major party could control 100% of Congress, theoretically, even if every candidate received only 50.1% of the vote.

Alternatively, also at the extreme, Libertarians could poll 49.9% in every Congressional district, and still be shut out. In reality, the two old parties split the majorities — which then creates the "wasted vote syndrome" for so many voters, along with a general feeling of helplessness to affect change.

One version, supported by left-liberals, seeks to create a voting entitlement for their favored groups, typically a racial or ethnic preference. Typically, if African-Americans are 12% of the voters, they'd be guaranteed 12% representation on, say, a city council. But a minor party with that same 12%, would still be shut out. Libertarians reject that version.

Preference Voting, the version supported by Libertarians, would empower minor parties, and eliminate the "wasted vote" syndrome. Total block-voting by racial and ethnic groups would still benefit, but is less likely than block-voting by a minor party.

The Fair Ballot Amendment would amend Seattle's City Charter, applying Preference Voting to that City's council, which has nine seats. Voters, instead of casting nine votes on an equal basis, would rank-order their preferences — 1st choice, 2nd choice, etc. In counting votes, the first-choice preferences are tallied first — any candidates with a majority there are elected. Then the second-choice preferences are tallied, but it now takes fewer remaining votes to get a majority.

Bottom line: with nine seats, if 11.1% of voters select the same Libertarian (or Green, or any party) candidate as their first choice, that candidate will be elected. The elected body would represent the voters. This is a fairness issue.

LPWS activist Janet Anderson is a co-leader for the petition drive. Contact her to get involved. (206) 322-4180. Or Kelly Haughton at (253) 858-7523. o

This will be my only report in the newsletter. In September, the newsletter will be replaced in even-numbered months with short, bimonthly, progress reports.

The following projects are underway. Operating costs for these come from member dues. A separate set of projects is ready to go, listed below, based on your level of support. Designating your support to specific projects, as described in the Member Survey, is popular enough to be adopted.

Office Administration will now include bookkeeping services. As a security measure, two signatures will now be required for checks over $250. Our phone lines will ring in my office (a spare bedroom). Our PO Box will be transferred closer to my home, to permit daily pickup. Volunteers will be solicited, for routine tasks which require no more than 3-4 hours.

Comprehensive Marketing and Communications. Starting in September, a second LPWS newsletter will be created, tentatively titled Liberty VIP. The intended audience is pledgers and donors, opinion leaders around the state, the news media, and state legislators.

By August, monthly op-ed columns will be submitted to daily and weekly newspapers around the state. Once that mailing list is created, we'll also start generating regular statewide Press Releases, which is how LPHQ generates all those radio interviews.

A draft ad appears below, our small start on paid advertising. (It needs better graphics of the donkey and the elephant.)

Regional organizing is a major obligation for the next half-year. A few Regions exist on paper only. Several more have totally vanished. We now have a Regional Promotion Program for large enough regions.

To illustrate, East King County (EKCLP) began falling apart when its President resigned due to a job conflict. John Evans, a successful business founder, has stepped forward, offering to help save that Region's certification. Let's call John a Regional Re-Organizer. EKCLP will be our pilot project. We've made it as simple as possible, for the organizers.

The Regional Organizer needs only book the space and set the date for a Regional Convention — to elect officers and approve bylaws. The Regional Organizer will also sign a short invitation letter to the convention, which can be ghost-written if necessary.

The LPWS will then promote the convention in a mailing to current and expired members in that region, plus recent prospects. I'll chair the convention pro-tem, until officers are elected. A lunch or dinner meeting is probably best — members should have the opportunity to socialize before nominating and electing each other to office.

To keep the convention short and simple, pre-registrants will receive a kit in advance — comparing different types of regional bylaws and organizational structures. If it's a new Region, a small registration fee of $5 or so will even provide a starting treasury.

In addition to Evans in EKC, Doug Langworthy (Finance Chair) has offered to help re-organize Whatcom County. Ron Ralstin (360-479-2921) will help in Kitsap. We'll do those two after the pilot session for EKC. See "Help Wanted" on page 8 for other areas which need Regional Organizers.

Then ... when all the larger Regions are done, a new Council of Regional Chairs will be formed. Perry Willis, National LP Director, has been invited to come out and run his Regional Development workshop — an excellent training session which I've attended. Regular regional meetings are nice, but grassroots politics requires a lot more—and the officers don't have to do it all.

Infrastructure and Communications are key building blocks, to our becoming an emerging major party — with influence — in Washington state.

In addition to the Projects above, these are current goals for projects paid from Designated Funds as targeted by contributors:

Membership Recruiting. Current project is to regain lapsed members, with three mailings to promote the "new" LPWS. The mailings are priority-ranked as follows:

Group A: Lapsed members, with expiration dates less than two years ago, should be the easiest to regain. A very short cover letter will invite them back, along with a copy of this newsletter.

Group B: "Ever-been" members, with expiration dates of two years or more. A three-page deluxe letter describing the "new" LPWS.

Group C: 6000 prospects, all less than five years old. They'll get a cheaper version of the Group B letter.

Institutional Advertising. Space costs only. The draft of our initial ad follows (needs better graphics yet). It will appear statewide, with repetitions based on available funding.

Web site moves, becomes intranet

The LPWS Web site has moved to its own doman site: http://LPWS.org. The new site is also now a corporate-style intranet for member services and communication.

Each state officer and region now has a domain email address, as shown elsewhere. Permanent email addresses can now be printed on letterheads and literature, with no need to reprint when officers change.

Party training and campaign manuals, both state and national, can be made instantly available — for reading or printout — to any LPWS member with Web access.

July Events

July 15, Tacoma: "Robert's Temporary Libertarian Discussion Group" meets monthly. July guest Kelly Haughton — seminar on recommended nonpartisan races in Pierce County this year. The small back room at Roundtable Pizza, 72nd St. S., near I-5. 6:45 PM

July 19, Executive Committee: 1608 NE Parker Rd., Coupeville. 1:00 PM

July 25, Seattle: W. King County LP hosts the Liberty Supper Club, 4th Thursdays. Taped for Public Access cable. Ocean City Restaurant, 6th & Weller, International District, dinner 6:30, meeting 7:30 PM..

LPWS Executive Committee

State Director
Mike Hihn, director@LPWS.org
13508-37th Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98168-3933
Voice: (206) 241-6058 - Faxmodem: (206) 241-6128

WL Info

Washington Libertarian is published bimonthly (Starting August), in even-numbered months.

Publisher
Libertarian Party of Washington State
Seattle: 206-329-5669
Toll-free: 800-353-1776
http://LPWS.org

Editor (pro-tem)
Mike Hihn, editor@LPWS.org
Voice: 206-241-6058
Faxmodem: 206-241-6128

Contributing Editor
Janice Moerschel

Regional Correspondents
Robert J. Hill, Pierce
Janice Moerschel, Spokane

Submissions are encouraged, preferably in any PC format. Please query the editor before submitting.