New Jersey Libertarian Party
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NNeeww JJeerrsseeyy LLiibbeerrttaarriiaann Volume XXXII, Issue 3 April 2008 Convention Meeting Report By Sean Colon, NJLP Vice Chair The convention was called to order at 9:20 AM. There was a quorum check and quorum was present. The agenda was reviewed and changes were made concerning the county Regional Convention Rocks! caucuses and county committee reports being relocated. By Len Flynn, New Jersey Libertarian Editor Chair Lou Jasikoff reported that we had a successful year, had On March 14-16, 2008 the state LP organizations of some good campaigns, and were looking forward to an even Pennsylvania and New Jersey held a regional convention in better year. The Vice Chair Lou Stefanelli reported similar Malvern PA. The three-day regional convention was held at sentiments. Secretary Sean Colon passed out the minutes of the Desmond Hotel Conference Center. the last Steering Committee meeting (1/21/08) and made a report. At this point Lou Stefanelli made a motion to suspend The convention activities began Friday evening with the the rules so an instant Steering Committee meeting could be Montgomery County hospitality suite. This provided an held to approve the annual budget. (The planned 2/24/08 State opportunity to meet the candidates running for the LP Board meeting at Tumulty‟s could not occur because there nomination for President plus the NJLP and LPPa members was no quorum.) Without objection the “instant” meeting could socialize to discuss current issues. During this initial happened, then retiring Treasurer Ken Chazotte passed out the reception, I was able to take a number of pictures of the budget and he and Lou Stefanelli reported on the current status attendees. of the bank account. Convention organizer for LPPa Jim Babb and his wife New Business consisted of two rival bylaws proposals Christina were busy concerning At-Large Steering Committee members by welcoming the out-of- petition. Jay Edgar‟s motion Bylaws Amendment was town guests, and their introduced and Len Flynn introduced a substitute Amendment. efforts assured that the After discussion Len‟s proposal lost by a vote of 6 to 13. Jay's reception was well original Amendment then passed by a vote of 17 to 2. Two stocked with local beer non-controversial Business Rule changes were presented by and plenty of snacks. Jay Edgar and they unanimously passed. NJLP attendees at the evening reception Continued on page 6 included retiring Treasurer Ken Chazotte, long time NJLP members Judy Schubert In This Issue and her daughter Susan, and Sussex County activist Tony Federici. Fresh from the fall campaign battles were Jason PorcFest 2008 Advertisement 3 Scheurer, the “Clean and Fair Elections” qualified candidate for NJ Assembly in District #14, and attorney Walter Luers, Candidate Debate 4 who went to court when the election in that district was found Paff and OPRA Progress 7 to be anything but “clean and fair.” Members Write 8 Continued on page 2 NJLP Application Form 10 Judy Schubert and Ken Chazotte Christina & James Babb, Barry Dively, and Wayne A. Root LPPa Chair Michael “Mik” Robertson and Pennsylvania activist Barry Dively warmly greeted the candidates and the convention attendees and made everyone feel welcome. Michael Jingozian and Wayne Allyn Root both enjoyed the attention of the LPPa leaders. Jason Schuerer and Walter Luers Michael “Mik” Robertson and Michael Jingozian No candidates were bashful, Bob Jackson and George Phillies both mixed smoothly with the LPPa and NJLP members. Tony Federici and Ken Chazotte Bob Jackson and Jason Scheurer George Phillies and Susan Schubert The NJLP Editor‟s camera captured five of the LP Presidential candidates at the reception. Easy to recognize was Christine Smith, who happily greeted 2004 LP Presidential Candidate Michael Badnarik when she entered the suite. New Jersey Libertarian 2 Apr 2008 New Jersey Libertarian 3 Apr 2008 The next morning the NJLP held its annual convention campaign effort. Jingozian said he was popular with the meeting. (See report by Sean Colon on page 1.) In the Greens and was criticized for this by some libertarians. He afternoon a dual program of campaign workshops and concluded that gaining 5 percent of the vote would provide a presentations by the presidential candidates took place. I “crack in the door” to build a future for the party. listened to 2004 LP presidential candidate Michael Badnarik at his “Running for Office” workshop describe the need for Christine Smith next spoke about her campaign. She claimed “time, treasurer, and talent” for any campaign. At 1:45 PM I the ability to reach out to minorities and poor people in left the workshops to hear some presidential candidates. contrast to her opponents who are “white men talking to white Wayne Allyn Root emphasized his immediate impact and men” primarily. In response to the question about a “wasted support he had gained before the convention. He noted that his vote” for non-Demopublican candidates, she said that 50 full attention is now on the nomination effort. percent of people don‟t vote anyhow and that to “be a voter of conscience and integrity, then your vote is not wasted.” I then heard Michael Jingozian who emphasized experience with innovative interactive Internet advertisers to support his Candidate Debate (L-R) Christine Smith, Wayne Allyn Root, George Phillies, Bob Mills, Walter Link, Michael Jingozian, Bob Jackson, Daniel Imperato, Jim Burns At 3:20 PM the Candidate Debate started. The debate had debate visit the LPPa website at: LPPa. member Ken Krawchuk as the moderator and he http://libpenn.blogspot.com/2008/03/lppanjlp libertarian announced Michael Badnarik as the “Panel of Expert” for the candidate debate 3.html debate. The NJLP contributed the timer Derek DiMarco and another recruit, Maria Marinaccio, who gathered written The first question after opening statements was from Michael questions from the audience. The debate had a total of nine Badnarik, who asked “How has the Ron Paul campaign candidates, including several who had not previously affected the LP–did it help or hurt?” Jingozian replied that half participated in the program. The candidates were Jim Burns, the inquiries to his web site were from Ron Paul campaigners. Daniel Imperato, Bob Jackson, Michael Jingozian, Alden Root said he was a “big fan” of Ron Paul and considered (Walter) Link, Robert Milnes, George Phillies, Wayne Allyn himself and Ron to both be anti-politicians. Smith stated that Root, and Christine Smith. she went to New Hampshire to speak for Ron Paul. She felt that Ron Paul had done more for freedom than any other One innovation for this debate was the addition of two “30” politician. slips provided to each of the candidates, giving them 30 additional seconds to speak in response to another candidate‟s Krawchuk next asked for the response to the typical reporter answer. Each candidate could exchange their “30” slip at any question: “What is a libertarian?” time during the debate. Another innovation was the use of the audience to enforce time limits on the speakers. When a George Phillies said to get government out of your gun speaker was out of time, the audience was cued to applaud. cabinet/bedroom/medicine cabinet. Jackson replied: “smaller This was a polite but effective way to encourage a speaker to government, personal freedom, responsibility for one‟s stop. This report contains some interesting points heard during actions, and fiscal responsibility.” That is the American way the afternoon debate. For an online recording of the entire New Jersey Libertarian 4 Apr 2008 and it can restore the country. Smith said that libertarians are said “I get national media.” Again he stated his plan to go devoted to individual liberty and personal freedom–with no after 23 million small-business owners, 12 million online exceptions (her emphasis) gamblers, and 4 million home schoolers. Smith said she raised more money than the other candidates, if you consider The moderator asked family-oriented questions in a “lightning individual contributions not contributions from the candidates round”–namely where are you from and tell us about your themselves. She said “image is important” and that “I can do family and their influence? Jingozian is from Portland, Oregon something that these men can‟t do.” She took a “30” slip to and has a wife and two children and he‟s concerned about his state that she wanted to debate Hillary Clinton because “I‟ll family‟s future. Link has been married for 48 years and has destroy that woman!” Jackson said he has world trade lived continuously in Brooklyn NY. Mills spent his entire life experience and political experience/success creating jobs. in Camden, NJ where he resides with five cats and members Jingozian mentioned his AngelVision interactive media of his family nearby. Phillies hails from Massachusetts and he company and said that “nobody understands the media like we considers his students to be his “hundreds of children.” Root do.” has four children ranging in age from his 15-year-old daughter to a new baby, and he has had the same wife for 17 years, Ken Krawchuk asked the candidates if anyone had a detailed which he calls “a Las Vegas record.” He comes from Nevada budget for the federal government. Jim Burns immediately where there‟s no income or sales taxes, but has legalized responded affirmatively with a “zero.” Ken tried to sneak in a gambling and prostitution. Smith was born in the South but quick question about the 9-11 attacks seeking opinions now lives in Colorado. She says her biggest influence was her whether the government was “involved.” The candidates father, a former professional chess player, who told her she made it clear that this sort of question required extensive could be anything she wanted.