Lone Star Liberty The Official Monthly Newsletter of the Libertarian Party of Texas June 2004 LP Candidates Should Make '04 Ballots May 24, the Libertarian Party of Texas delivered eight boxes of peti- tions containing 80,107 signatures to the Secretary of State's office. With just 45,541 valid signatures needed to se- cure ballot access the LP expects to have our candidates on the November General Election ballots. Ann McGeehan, Director of Elections, reports what happens next is her department will count the signa- tures. Once this is done the Secretary of State's office will inform us of their count. They then consult a statistician who directs them as to how many sig- natures they sample. Each signature to LP activist Art DiBianca of Austin unloads petition boxes for the media. be validated will be sent to the county a challenge. Internal validation was helped —including top volunteer peti- it came from where the County Clerks done using the statewide voter rolls and tioners Wes Benedict, Rick McGinnis will check the voter's status. Official copies were made of all pages turned and Stacey Bourland and top donors ballot status may unknown until July. in. Larry Nickerson, Richard Walker, However, the LP is ready for Thanks are due to all who Heinrich Foltz and Jimmie Vaughn. Badnarik Wins Presidential Nomination Atlanta, GA—May 30. In an our rules the nomination requires a exceedingly close race our own son majority and provides for two votes Michael Badnarik of Austin, Texas after which on each subsequent ballot own the Libertarian nomination for the candidate with the least votes is U.S. President on the third ballot. The removed. The convention accepted a final count was Michael 427, movie motion to speed this process by limit- producer Aaron Russo of California ing the second vote to only the top three 344, and None of the Above (NOTA) candidates. 11. Former radio talk show host Gary Aaron lead the second vote Nolan—considered by many to be the with 285 votes, Michael earned 249 front-runner prior to the convention— and Gary was just five votes behind at had the least support after the second 244. Gary conceded the race and asked ballot and was eliminated from the fi- his supporters to elect Michael on the nal vote. next ballot. Results of the first ballot were Michael opened his accep- almost equally divided among the three tance speech "never in my dreams..." with Michael at 256, Gary with 246 and Michael, a Constitutional scholar and Aaron with 258. Candidates Jeffery teacher, traveled more than 25,000 Michael Badnarik accepts the LP Diket, David Hollis, various write-ins miles in the months before the conven- Nomination for President in Atlanta. and NOTA accounted for 18 votes. Per tion. He visited 34 states and as Fred Continued on page 2. Lone Star Liberty Badnarik Wins Continued from page 1. Volume 14, Issue 6 June 2004 Collins of Michegan said in nominat- aide Jon Airheart of Austin, Michael's Available monthly ing him—"he's done the work to gain parents, and Lynn Brown of Grapevine, online at our confidence." Joining in Michael's TX. www.lptexas.org; nomination were Pat Dixon, Texas Richard Campagna of Iowa Ballot Access Committee Chair of won the Libertarian Party's nomination Publisher: for Vice President on the first ballot Libertarian Party of Texas Austin, Alan Weiss of the Free State with 353 votes or 56% of those vot- P.O. Box 27932 Project also of Austin, and Michael's mother Elaine Badnarik of Indiana. ing. Tamara Millay of Missouri earned Houston, TX 77227 220 votes. Our own Scott Jameson of www.lptexas.org "Michael's two younger broth- ers always insisted that I thought Dallas received seven votes. Many delegates praised Scott's candidacy, but State Chair: Michael could walk on water—I hope expressed reluctance to have a totally David DeLamar it's the Potomac," she said. Joining Michael on the stage Texan federal ticket. P.O.Box 98131 Lubbock, TX 79499 to celebrate his win were top campaign [email protected] 806-795-6961 Dauben Gets 16% in MISD Race Joey Dauben of Ellis County Ellis County and currently the Student Editor: earned 116 votes or 16% in his third Coordinator for the Republican Liberty Laura Coker-Garcia try for the Midlothian ISD School Caucus of Texas. He is also active in 9835 Sagedowne Lane Board on May 15. Midlothian is lo- many tax issue groups and local advo- Houston, TX 77089 cated about 20 miles south of Dallas. cacy or interest groups. [email protected] Joey lost a seat by just 19 votes in the Joey's advice to Libertarians is 281-997-8141 last election garnering the attention of if we want to be taken seriously we his opponents who this time around need to go after races we can win. "Lo- Database Manager: took him seriously and "brought out the cal races have the bigger impact, be- Bryan Parker big guns" to defeat him. cause you’re there with the people, 2730 Renwick Drive The incumbent held his posi- you’re accessible, you have a better Carrollton, TX 75007 tion with 397 or 54% of the vote. A chance at winning than say, running for [email protected] second candidate, Matthew Goldman congress in a district with a eight-term 972-417-8838 earned 222 votes or 34%. incumbent," he says. "Despite the last-place finish "Only serious candidates 2004 State Convention Planning this year, I still feel I accomplished should run under the LP banner. If Committee Chair: what I wanted to make public, and that you’re not willing to pump in at least Christopher Jagge is the property tax situation. Nobody $1,000 to it and go all out with yard [email protected] running for office the past three years signs and brochures, then you might 979-695-9646 wanted to touch on that subject except as well not even vote. It sounds harsh, me," Joey said. but perception is everything. If the pub- 2004 Platform Committee Chair: "I didn't do as well this year lic sees the LP as nothing more than Kris Overstreet as I did last year," Joey said, "but I the Lib’ at the end of someone’s name, Proposed changes online at www. stirred the pot, I rattled the cages of a how is that progress?" Joey says. ivingston.net/redneck/platform. few people and a few organizations, Joey has announced that he and for that I'm proud. I'm also proud will be running for State Representa- 2004 Rules Committee Chair: of the fact that I actually worked at try- tive District 10 against Republican in- Royce Mitchell ing to win the race, as opposed to just cumbent Jim Pitts in 2006. [email protected] sticking my name on a ballot." For more information on Joey 281-331-8607 Joey, who is just 23, is a re- visit his website at www.joeydauben. porter/photographer for the Ellis com or read his articles at www. 2004 Credentials Chair: County Press. He was appointed to the elliscountypress.com. He can also be Barbara Cunningham Midlothian Districtwide Education reached at 972-617-9537 or by email [email protected] Improvement Council after the last at [email protected]. election. He is former LP Chair for Check any that apply: ______I will volunteer with a local campaign Contact me with details. ______I can design or host a website for a candidate or county party. ______I am wiling to serve as an appointed County Chair. ______I want information on how to be more active in the party.

______I am enclosing a donation to pay petition drive debt. ______I am enclosing a donation to support party activities (outreach, newsletter, etc.) ______I am enclosing a donation to fund hiring an Executive Director. My best donation:____$35_____$75______$100_____$150_____Other Name:______Address:______Please make checks payable to the City & Zip code:______Libertarian Party of Texas. Include this Telephone:______form with any donations and Mail to: Email: ______PO Box 27932 , Houston, TX 77227. Occupation:______Employer:______Donations can also be accepted online Precinct #:______via PayPal at the State Party website: County:______www.lptexas.org/donations. Federal law requires political committees to report the name, mailing address, and occupation and name of employer for each individual whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 in a calendar year. The Libertarian Party of Texas also submits finance reports to the Texas Ethics Commission.

Platform Revision ing the 2004 Platform Committee, plank a called for action to require all along with any members of previous issues of law in jury trials where the On Friday, May 28 the Na- committees willing to serve, to con- government is a party to be argued in tional Platform of the LP underwent tinue the work to finish the new for- the presence of the jury (a FIJA re- the most change since it's inception in matting. The committee will have a form). His motion was referred to com- 1972. With the passage of a motion put website accessible from the national mittee. forth by the Platform Committee del- party website that allows party mem- egates chose to adopt a complete revi- bers to participate. Progress will be National Elections sion to all planks in the platform. posted on the website, in LP News, and This revision reformatted all to discussion lists around the country. Mike Dixon, 2004 Platform the planks so that each, where possible, Further motions making Committee Chair, was elected in a contained an issue statement, a state- changes to the planks on Foreign In- landslide to National Chair. "I want an ment of principle, a Libertarian solu- tervention, Election Laws, Consumer LNC that plays well with others," tion and an Action or Transition step. Protection, The War on Drugs, Space Mike said in his acceptance speech. None of the language in the platform Exploration, Secession, Internal Secu- Lee Wright was elected Vice Chair. was changed, added or deleted. A mi- rity and Civil Liberties, and Economic Texas has joined a new South- nority call to vote on the revision plank Policy and Foreign Aid that were pro- western states LNC region. Our rep- by plank failed. moted by the committee also passed. resentative is George Squyres of Flag- The platform was further re- Each plank also saw several staff, Arizona. Contact him at vised with the passage of the amendments from the floor. A motion [email protected] or 928-635- committee's second motion. This mo- by Rock Howard, Travis County LP 7151. Our alternate is Tim Hagan of tion added language to the Platform to Chair, to add support for approval vot- Nevada (brother to Dallas former several planks where there was no lan- ing in the Election Laws plank failed. Chair Kevin Hagan). Tim can be guage fitting the new categories. Jon Roland of Burnet County reached at [email protected]. A third motion passed allow- proposed a motion to add to the Juries com or 702-433-0947. TX State Convention June 11-13 College Station Friday evening, June 11 4-9 p.m. Registration Opens. 7-9 p.m. "Icebreaker Reception." Saturday, June 12 7:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet with speaker. 9-Noon Workshops and Convention Business. Noon-1:45 p.m. Lunch with Congressman Ron Paul. 2-5 p.m. Workshops and Convention Business. 5 p.m. Candidate Press Conference. 7 p.m. Banquet Sunday, June 13 7:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet with speaker. 9-11 a.m. Workshops and Convention Business. 1 p.m. New SLEC meets (approx.). Speakers include Michael Badnarik, Kathryn Gra- ham, Geoffery Neale, Doug Young, Karen Hall. Workshops on outreach methods, Libertarians and religion, fighting annexation, constitution, gun rights. Vendors and displays. Full package is $125, individual events priced separately. Events of Interest to Texas Libertarians

June 1 (Tues.) Deadline for Early Bird rate for LP of 0306 or [email protected]. Texas State Convention in College Station. Full pack- age registrations postmarked by today cost $100. After June 26 (Sat.) 8:45 p.m. LP Outreach Houston Pride Parade. Volunteers needed to march in parade, distrib- June 4 (Fri.) 8 p.m. Welcome Michael Badnarik ute literature, etc. Contact Jeff Daiell at jeffdaiell Home Reception, 219 West, 4th Street and Lavaca, @yahoo.com or 713-777-1776 for information. Austin. Contact Pat Dixon for details at tclppatjdixon @earthlink.net. July 4 (Sun.) Independence Day Outreach opportu- nities. Contact your local party for information on June 16 (Wed.) 5 p.m Deadline for candidates to file planned events. Special Session report with the Texas Ethics Commis- sion. Statewide and legislative candidates who accepted July 9 (Fri.) 5 p.m. Deadline for filing candidacy ap- campaign donations between April 15 and May 17 are plications for most political subdivision offices that required to file. See www.ethics.state.tx.us/whatsnew/ would be on Sept. 11 ballots (election law requires 62 special_session_report.htm. days prior to election.)

June 11-13 (Fri.-Sun.) Opens 4 p.m. "Liberty: Texas Sept. 11 (Sat.) 7 a.m. to 7 p.m Election Day for local Style" LP of Texas 2004 State Conference and Con- political subdivisions or special elections. vention. Hilton Hotel, 801 E. University Drive, Col- lege Station. Nomination of statewide candidates, elec- Nov. 2 (Tues.) Election Day. Contact your local party tion of new State officers and executive committee mem- for information on getting out the vote, campaign events, bers, changes to platform and rules. Announced speak- parties, etc. ers include Ron Paul, Geoffery Neale, and Kathyrn Gra- ham. Workshops and networking. $125 for full pack- Nov. 18-21 (Fri.-Sun.) Victory Institute, New Orleans, age. Contact [email protected] for more information. LA. Campaign training for GLBT candidates, campaign workers, community activists. Workshops on June 21 (Mon.) Noon to 4 p.m. Texas Rally for Dads. fundraising, budgets, campaign plans, etc. See Protest at Harris County Family Justice Center, 1115 www.victoryinstitute.org/training. Congress, Houston. Contact Doug Henson 936-228-