Elections
The Libertarian Party of California held its annual convention April 20-22, 2007 in San Ramon. With none of the past officers standing for reelection, five new officers were elected to the two year terms. The new officers are:
Chair: |
Kevin Takenaga |
N. Vice-Chair: |
Richard Newell |
S. Vice-Chair: |
Zander Collier |
Secretary: |
Beau Cain |
Treasurer: |
Don Cowles |
Nine of the ten representatives either ran for reelection (as their terms were up), are new to the board or were appointed to vacancies during the Executive Committee meeting, following the convention. Only Mark Johnson is staying in his current position to serve out the second half of his term. The five ExComm members whose terms end in 2009 are Ted Brown, Brian Holtz, Camden McConnell, Lawrence Samuels and Mike McMahon. Those whose terms end in 2008 are Mark Johnson, Mathew Barnes, Bruce Dovner, Chuck Moulton and Jesse Thomas.
This is the last Judicial Committee to serve one year. A change in the Bylaws beginning next year makes each term two years.
M Carling, Allen Hacker, Rick Nichol, Bob Weber and Dan Weiner were elected by the convention. In their first meeting, they selected M Carling as Chair.
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Bylaws and Platform Changes
A proposal supported by members of the outgoing administration and opposed by the officers elected later that day was defeated. It would have created separate memberships for county and state party members, and end dues sharing between those two levels of the party. Several delegates who spoke against the measure said the national LP ended the "unified membership program" (with the states) in 2005, and noted many members are confused about which group they should pay dues to (answer: both the state and national parties).
Two Bylaw proposals passed that are intended to make the convention more inclusive. One allows any member to become a delegate, notwithstanding the previous system of allocating 300 seats among the counties according to membership. The requirement that they hold membership at least 90 days before the convention still stands, but a second proposal now allows each Executive Committee member to override the 90-day rule for one person.
A Platform amendment was approved that calls for the repeal of the Real ID act and opposes the use of driver licenses as national ID cards.
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LP Presidential Candidates
After the Saturday night banquet, five candidates for the Libertarian Party 2008 Presidential nomination each gave half-hour presentations.
The candidates were, left to right in the photo, Mike Jingozian, Steve Kubby, Wayne Allyn Root, Dave Hollist, and Daniel Imperato.
Read more about the LPC 2007 Convention in the May issue of California Freedom
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  Money is the mother's milk of politics, and the Libertarian Party of California is no exception. Maintaining an office and a full-time Executive Director takes a steady stream of funds well above what membership dues alone can support.
Please join the the "California Coffee Club" pledge program. By pledging $2 per work day, $42/month, you can help the Libertarian Party of California "wake up" each day with the resources to elect Libertarians across the state, conduct research and provide commentary, insight and opinion on what is happening in Sacramento. The program also will help grow the party in all 58 California counties.
Click the link below to send your pledge to Angela, our executive director.
Join the California Coffee Club
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California Freedom is the official print newsletter of the Libertarian Party of California.
The May issue is a special post-convention issue, and includes extensive coverage of the 2007 Convention with over 20 photographs.
Contents:
- Kevin Takenaga elected chair - state party delegates vote on changes
- Secretary’s summary
- Five LP presidential candidates featured in forum
- From the executive director - what needs to be done?
- New office manager — Ali Martin
- Get well soon, Kate O’Brien!
- Seen and heard in San Ramon in April
- It takes teamwork…
- The lives of others - freedom triumphs over government oppression
- New executive committee of the Libertarian Party of CA
- Medical marijuana legalization - OC finally moves forward
Download and read The May 2007 Issue [PDF]
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SB 1019 - Make Police Accountable
The LPC has gone on record in support of SB 1019. These bills legislatively reverse a California Supreme Court decision, Copley Press v. Superior Court (2006) which placed a cloak of secrecy over police personnel records.
This bill would restore the limited public access to police disciplinary records and hearing that was in place before the court decision. They would provide greater public access to basic information about sustained cases involving police discipline, including the name and badge number of the officer, a summary of the facts, charges brought and disciplinary action taken. Greater openness will lead to increased police accountability and public trust, and promote public safety.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU-NC) is leading the coalition supporting SB 1019. The Libertarian Party of California is proud to join this coalition and has written a letter to SB 1019's author, Senator Gloria Romero, stating our support. We hope that you will call or write your state senator and ask them to support the bill. For more information, see the SB 1019 information pages on the ACLU-NC website.
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AB 900 - Massive Prison Bill Passed and Signed Into Law
 In an example of "bipartisan cooperation," the legislature rushed through AB 900, spending $7 billion in borrowed money for 53,000 new prison beds, and which also includes $300 million in general tax money for prison infrastructure improvements and $50 million to improve rehabilitation programs, drug treatment and vocational education.
That's $15 billion including financing costs - that do not have to be approved by voters - but that will have to be repaid by taxpayers. Governor Schwarzenegger quickly signed the bill on May 3.
We believe the Legislature and the Governor are shirking their responsibility by taking the easy way out on the prison overcrowding crisis. Even a modest but widely endorsed proposal to move 4,500 nonviolent female inmates from prisons to correctional centers nearer their homes was ignored. What is really needed are more drastic reforms to both the prison system and the laws that are making California's incarceration rate one of the highest in the nation, and U.S.'s one of the highest in the world. The most obvious and highly effective step California could take to ease prison overcrowding would be to decriminalize acts without victims, such as consensual drug use.
Let's get some Libertarians elected so they can introduce some fresh ideas into the bi-partisan legislative wasteland.
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Op-Ed Columns
Click the title or thumbnail picture to read the full article.
To receive The Libertarian Perspective each week, along with all LPC Press Releases and Media Advisories, you may subscribe to the LPC media list.
 The recent cooperation between Gov. Schwarzenegger and Democratic lawmakers has been called a practice in "post-partisanship". This unanimous support for leviathan is not a sign of enlightened times. It is a tragedy and demonstrates the need for radical change. (Tue, 1 May 2007)
 The war in Iraq has had a poor cost-benefit ratio from the start. Americans have lost their lives, their liberties, and their security as a result, with no tangible benefits. Now, even some conservatives are coming around to the view we should leave. (Tue, 24 Apr 2007)
Victimized Again
 It is easy to forget that real crimes have real victims. These individuals are often forgotten by the criminal justice system, which focuses more on punishment of the criminal than restitution to the victim. Having the criminal work off their debt to the victim should be given greater consideration. (Tue, 17 Apr 2007)
How California Lost Its Sovereignty
 According to the Constitution the states
have the ability to call a constitutional convention—one of the last bastions of defense against a runaway central government. (Tue, 10 Apr 2007)
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California: Nanny (State) 911
 A nanny treats her kids with more respect than most politicians treat the people they are supposed to be working for. Politicians think they know it all, while the reality is that only individuals know what is best in each of their own unique situations. (Tue, 3 Apr 2007)
 Choosing whom to live one's life with has to be one of the most basic of human rights. Yet, Democrat and Republican politicians arrogantly believe that they know what is best, and won't recognize some marriages.
Schwarzenegger even overrode the will of the people, as expressed by the state legislature, and vetoed a bill allowing same-sex marriage in California. Libertarians say, let everyone pursue happiness in their own way—and keep the government out of it.
(Wed, 14 Feb 2007)
 The governor gave his State of the State address, and as expected proposed plenty of state meddling in our affairs. The Libertarian Party of California offers alternative solutions to the problems the governor is trying to address. (Tue, 9 Jan 2007)
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Student Outreach -
The Junior State of America (JSA)
 Libertarian Party of California volunteers tabled at Junior State of America events in Northern and Southern California in the last month. The weekend of our convention (Saturday April 21) we set up a "vendor" table at the JSA convention in Los Angeles.
The very next Saturday (April 28) the LPC had a big presence at the JSA convention at the Santa Clara Marriott. Meeting and greeting the students there were Lawrence Samuels, Kevin Takenaga, Rich Newell, T. J. Campbell, Starchild, and Travis Griffiths.
Special thanks should go to Lawrence Samuels who for years has been making sure that these politically-minded youngsters are exposed to the Libertarian Party. Other political parties participating were the Greens and the Peace & Freedom party. Notably missing were the Democrats and Republicans.
Something's Cooking at Stanford
There is a renewed interest in the Libertarian Party at Stanford University. If you are a Stanford Alumni, would you please contact Richard Newell, the Northern Vice-Chair of the LPC at 408-882-4785, or by email.
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Angela Keaton
 We'd like to briefly introduce you to Angela Keaton, our full time Executive Director. Angela runs the office in Panorama City, and manages the office staff. She has been incredibly busy; putting out membership retention mailings, completing Operation Breakthrough (see report next month), helping produce California Freedom, ordering business cards, bumper stickers, thank you notes, setting up various conference calls, sending membership and voter registration lists to those that request them, sending out the Q4 dues-split checks to the active counties, and generally providing a LOT of service to the party and its members at all hours of the day and night.
And that doesn't even take into account all the work she did in preparation for and during the convention.
A big "Thank You" to Angela Keaton for all she does for the cause of liberty!
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Cocktail Reception and Fundraiser following the meeting.
Come meet the new officers and members of the Executive Committee.
Cash bar. Cost: $15.
Call the LPC Office to RSVP.
(877) 884-1776
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