Published for friends ei supporters of the Libertarian Party • # • •# • # 0 • Libertarian National Committee, Inc. ♦ 2600 Virginia Ave, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 ♦ Phone: (202) 333-0008 ♦ Fax: (202) 333-0072 DECEMBER 2000 newsletter Libertarian wins Supreme Court case UP DATE n Indiana Libertarian "stand up to something that Election '00: Party member has won I know is wrong," he said. A a Supreme Court de- Palmer and co-plaintiff cision striking down random James Edmond first lost in 34 victories drug-search roadblocks. U.S. District Court, won in The number of Libertarians On November 28, the the Seventh Circuit Court winning public office in nation's highest court ruled of Appeals — and won the November has jumped to 6-3 that police checkpoints ultimate victory when the 34, thanks to a flurry of late infringe on the Fourth Amend- high court ruled in his favor. results — including a 5-vote ment's protection against In its decision, the squeaker in California. unreasonable search and Supreme Court said drug- The new victories make violate motorists' privacy. search roadblocks are fun- Election 2000 the most The ruling was a defeat damentally different than successful presidential year for Indianapolis, which had checkpoints to find drunk ever for the party in terms used police and drug- ■ Joell Palmer: Wins 6-3 drivers or illegal aliens, of winning local office, said sniffing dogs at random Supreme Court victory. which it has held to be legal. LP Political Director Ron checkpoints to search "We have never approv- Crickenberger. motorists for illegal drugs 1,161 drivers stopped in ed a checkpoint program "We may have fallen — and a victory for LP Indianapolis between whose primary purpose short in the presidential member Joell Palmer, who August and November 1998 was to detect evidence of vote, but we exceeded all was a plaintiff in the case. after police set up "narcotic ordinary criminal wrong- expectations in the number "This is a big day for checkpoints" in various doing," wrote Justice of local wins," he said. "We Libertarians everywhere," locations. Although he did Sandra Day O'Connor. If elected five times as many said Indiana LP Executive not consent to it, Palmer's the court allowed such Libertarians this year as we Director Brad Klopfenstein. car was searched by police roadblocks, "the Fourth did in 1996." "Freedom has won out over dogs. No drugs were found. Amendment would do little In addition to the 26 oppression for a change. We With the help of the to prevent such intrusions victories reported immedi- are all very proud of Joell." Indiana Civil Liberties Union, from becoming a routine ately after the November 7 Palmer, 21, was one of Palmer filed a lawsuit to part of American life." election, Libertarians were elected in West Virginia, Michigan, Iowa, and Idaho. Libertarians won posts as County Constables, on a Gov. Gary Johnson: Loves 'libertarian' Soil & Water Conservation overnor Gary Johnson said in the January 2001 In response, Drug Czar Barry Board, as a County Prosecut- G loves it when you call issue of Playboy. "If people McCaffrey labeled him "Puff ing Attorney, on an Agricul- him a "Libertarian." call me a Republican Liber- Daddy Johnson." tural Extension District, Johnson, the two-term tarian, great. I separate At the time, New Mexico and as a County Surveyor. Republican governor of New myself from the [Republi- Libertarians tried to draft The most contested Mexico — and one of the can] party when it wants to Johnson as the LP's presi- race: The Rancho Simi Rec- country's leading advocates legislate morality." dential candidate, which he reation and Park District of an end to the Drug War — Johnson, 47, generated "politely declined." seat (Ventura Co., California), said so in a new interview. headlines in 1999 when he Johnson, whose term won by Kate O'Brien by five "If there's a criticism called for an end to the War ends in 2002, said in Playboy, votes out of 17,310 cast. Her about me that I love, it's on Drugs — becoming the "I don't plan to run again opponent didn't concede that I'm a Libertarian," he first GOP governor to do so. for any office." until December 11. Liberty Pledge News • December 2000 Libertarians say they're building for the future candidates like Jim Mollison of Billerica to Poor ballot performance takes second to raising voter awareness run against Rep. William Greene for the 24th Middlesex District and lose by a By JASON LEFFERTS Party. Six of the party's 21 candidates on nearly 5 to 1 margin, El-Azem to lose ballots around the state this year came Sun Staff Chelmsford to Cleven by about 4 to 1, and from the Lowell area, including some who Kamal Jain to lose to Sen. Pam Resor by had some of the most impressive results of DEDHAM -- Asked a basic Election similar margins in the Middlesex and DaY question for a candidate — How did the night. Worcester District. yoU do? — Libertaiaaarty candidates Ilena Freedman of Billerica lost her "Getting out of the single digits and were sorely lacking for information. Senate race against Robert Havern, D- around 20 percent would be nice," said For Libertarians, counting votes wasn't Arlington, but put up a strong fight in her Mollison, who didn't reach his top figure as important as the feeling that its small hometown. She lost the 4th Middlesex Dis- and admitted he didn't campaign much. "I but growing band of small-government trict by a 4-1 margin but Billerica by only don't think it's particularly important. advocates is picking up steam in Massa- a few thousand votes (8,773 to 6,223). Our numbers are doubling and a result of elinsetts. Freedman was one of a few Libertarian that is that you 'are seeing a party that is •Last night, candidates from the Lowell candidates last night who did care about growing." area fared poorly when the results are the numbers. Freedman said if her votes Leaders say the Libertarian Party is viewed in traditional terms. The three didn't land her in the Senate, she would the only party in the state that is growing. House and three Senate candidates strug- use them to devise a campaign strategy for They point out that the party had three gled to reach 20 percent, but never threat- a 2002 campaign. candidates on the ballot in 1996, eight in enpd any Democratic incumbent. Joe Fischetti spent time on his cell 1998, and 21 this year. They are encour- - Statewide, U.S. Senate candidate Carla phone, trying to find out how he fared aged by the fact that in two years, party I Thwell mustered only about 13 percent against Rep. Geoffrey Hall, D-Westford, membership has doubled to over 16,000 in against Democrat Edward Kennedy, and for the 1st Middlesex District seat. He two years. They also point to Howell's waA in a duel with Republican Jack E. wasn't overly pleased with the results. campaign, which raised $800,000, a pile of co Rqbinson for second place. "I think if we had a debate, it would cash compared to the $8,000 she spent in co ''The numbers didn't matter, however, as have been better," Fischetti said. "Every- her auditor's run in 1998. c.N1 one else here seems happy, but I don't 2000 o6 pa'Oy members draw comfort from the Despite the numbers — whether a 8, gaftis the party has made since 1998. know. I was hoping for one out of every House campaign reached 20 percent or r " 'I'm realistic. If I break double digits, five." Howell finishes at 13 percent — party be E m 1.! l'If'be happy. If I break 20 percent, I'll he Libertarians were thrilled with the members feel the Libertarian effort will C ve z ecstatic, but this is about building for the showing P. Christopher Schoaff made only get stronger in the next few years. against Lowell incumbent Steve Panagio- No future," said House of Representatives State Party Chairman Elias Israel con- ts, takos for the 1st Middlesex District Senate t candidate Patrick El-Azem of Chelmsford. fidently predicts the party will have 100 El .Azem was soundly beaten by incum- seat in Westford, where Schoaff won about candidates in 2002, and party officials huse betit Carol Cleven of Chelmsford, 14,419 25 percent of the vote, 6,933 to 2,473. They were trumpeting 30,000 members in two ac s to 3,697. didn't know that Panagiotakos steam- years. Jain puts the number of candidates El-Azem spent much of last night not rolled Schoaff in Lowell, 23,482 to 2,159, in the 2002 election at a more conservative Mas U knowing how he was doing because he and Schoaff didn't especially care. 45 to 50,-which still represents a doubling 1Z- joined the Howell/Libertarian celebration "We want to attract people to the party, of where the party is now. o —] in Dedham. An energized crowd of over and we want people to be active in the "This is like when you're playing poker, 77. 200 cheered for Howell and any Libertar- party," Schoaff said. "We've been able to and you have three aces," Jain said. "You ian results that were shown on television, air radio ads and television ads and when know what you have in your hand, and you and booed Kennedy. people see you on television, they thing know you're going to win big." II.