Libertarian Party of Indiana
Encyclopedia
The Libertarian Party of Indiana is the Indiana
affiliate of the Libertarian Party
. The Libertarian Party of Indiana has continually earned ballot access since 1994. In 2008 the Libertarian presidential ticket of Bob Barr
and Wayne Allyn Root
had their strongest showing in Indiana receiving 1.1% of the vote (19,243 votes) http://www.lp.org/2008-presidential-results. On February 17, 2009 Indianapolis
city councilmember Edward Coleman publicly announced that he had left the Republican Party and joined the Libertarian Party http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/02/17/indianapolis-city-councilman-switched-from-republican-to-libertarian/ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-libertariancounci,0,2934457.story. Coleman now is the highest-ranking Libertarian public official in the state, and one of the top (if not highest) ranking Libertarians holding elective office in the United States. The party's best finish in a statewide race came in 2006 when US Senate candidate Steve Osborn received 13% of the vote. Osborn had the best result for a third party candidate running for the Senate in the 2006 elections.
The founding meeting of the Libertarian Party of Indiana was held on July 14, 1974 at the Holiday Inn at Weir Cook Airport (now called the Indianapolis International Airport). Approximately 20-25 people attended including Paul Hyatt, Tom Duncan, Marvin Lazaro, Brian Bernstein, Dick Smith, Steve Butterbaugh and Charlie Reisert. Reisert made the motion to start the Libertarian Party of Indiana. The first headquarters was located at 1430 N. Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis. The LPIN became a minor political party in 1994 after achieving ballot access when Steve Dillon received more than 2% of the vote running for Secretary of State.
The Libertarian Party of Indiana is the only party other than the Democrats and Republicans with ballot access in Indiana. Hoosier Libertarians have continually earned ballot access since 1994. Other parties have tried - and failed, to gain ballot access.
Hoosier Libertarians advocate smaller government while defending civil liberties.
In the last decade, Hoosier Libertarians came to the defense of eminent domain victims, marched in opposition to property tax laws, fought for reduced small business licensing and pursued fairness and transparency in our elections.
Indiana Libertarians lobbied dozens of city and town councils across Indiana to allow property owners to make the decision on smoking on their property.
State Central Committee
Staff
Libertarian National Committee Representative
1. Susan Bell, Town Judge, Hagerstown, Term Ends 12/31/11
2. Conley Tillson, Clay Township Advisory Board, Wayne County, Term Ends 12/31/10
3. Steve Coffman, Liberty Township Advisory Board, Henry County, Term Ends 12/31/10
4. Michael Sloan, Town Council, Pottawattamie Park, Term Ends 12/31/11
5. Ed Coleman, Indianapolis City-County Council At-Large, Term Ends 12/31/11
Dr. Barbara Bourland Light of Liberty Award: The recipient is honored as the person most responsible for the growth of the party and dedication to the libertarian cause.
Past winners include:
Susan Bell Officeholder of the Year Award: Awarded to a current elected officeholder of the Libertarian Party that best promotes libertarian principles and values through public service.
Ken Bisson Outreach Award: Awarded to a party member who has strived to spread the message of libertarian principles to as many potential voters as is possible.
Joe Hauptmann Campaign Leadership Award: Awarded to a campaign volunteer who has worked above and beyond in an extraordinary fashion, and has significantly contributed to the success of a campaign.
Phil Miller Candidate of the Year: Awarded to a Libertarian Candidate that has shown an extraordinary ability to reach and connect with voters, as well as further the cause of libertarianism.
Steve Dasbach Chairman's Award for Extraordinary Service: Awarded to an individual that has helped grow the Libertarian Party of Indiana in extraordinary ways over many years. This award is not voted on by LPIN membership, and it is the sole privilege of the Chair of the LPIN to award it to the recipient.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
affiliate of the Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
. The Libertarian Party of Indiana has continually earned ballot access since 1994. In 2008 the Libertarian presidential ticket of Bob Barr
Bob Barr
Robert Laurence "Bob" Barr, Jr. is a former federal prosecutorand a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Georgia's 7th congressional district as a Republican from 1995 to 2003. Barr attained national prominence as one of the leaders of the impeachment of...
and Wayne Allyn Root
Wayne Allyn Root
Wayne Allyn Root is an American politician, entrepreneur, television and radio personality, author and political commentator. He was the 2008 Libertarian Party vice-presidential nominee. In June 2009 Richard Winger wrote he was the front runner for the 2012 Libertarian Presidential nomination...
had their strongest showing in Indiana receiving 1.1% of the vote (19,243 votes) http://www.lp.org/2008-presidential-results. On February 17, 2009 Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
city councilmember Edward Coleman publicly announced that he had left the Republican Party and joined the Libertarian Party http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/02/17/indianapolis-city-councilman-switched-from-republican-to-libertarian/ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-libertariancounci,0,2934457.story. Coleman now is the highest-ranking Libertarian public official in the state, and one of the top (if not highest) ranking Libertarians holding elective office in the United States. The party's best finish in a statewide race came in 2006 when US Senate candidate Steve Osborn received 13% of the vote. Osborn had the best result for a third party candidate running for the Senate in the 2006 elections.
The founding meeting of the Libertarian Party of Indiana was held on July 14, 1974 at the Holiday Inn at Weir Cook Airport (now called the Indianapolis International Airport). Approximately 20-25 people attended including Paul Hyatt, Tom Duncan, Marvin Lazaro, Brian Bernstein, Dick Smith, Steve Butterbaugh and Charlie Reisert. Reisert made the motion to start the Libertarian Party of Indiana. The first headquarters was located at 1430 N. Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis. The LPIN became a minor political party in 1994 after achieving ballot access when Steve Dillon received more than 2% of the vote running for Secretary of State.
The Libertarian Party of Indiana is the only party other than the Democrats and Republicans with ballot access in Indiana. Hoosier Libertarians have continually earned ballot access since 1994. Other parties have tried - and failed, to gain ballot access.
Hoosier Libertarians advocate smaller government while defending civil liberties.
In the last decade, Hoosier Libertarians came to the defense of eminent domain victims, marched in opposition to property tax laws, fought for reduced small business licensing and pursued fairness and transparency in our elections.
Indiana Libertarians lobbied dozens of city and town councils across Indiana to allow property owners to make the decision on smoking on their property.
Officials and staff
State Central Committee
- Chairman--Sam Goldstein
- Vice Chairman--Dan Drexler
- Secretary--John Schick
- Treasurer--Dale Wedel
- 1st District-- Jeff Duensing
- 2nd District-- Ryan Liedtky
- 3rd District-- Doug Horner
- 4th District-- Todd Singer
- 5th District-- Rob Place
- 6th District-- Chad Roots
- 7th District-- Allison Maguire
- 8th District-- Ed Gluck
- 9th District-- Greg Hertzsch
Staff
- Executive Director--Chris Spangle
Libertarian National Committee Representative
- Rebecca Sink-Burris - District 3
- Andy Wolf - District 3 Alternate
Current elected Indiana Libertarian officeholders
Elected Indiana Libertarian Officeholders http://lpinscr.blogspot.com/ with 2007 results http://www.lp.org/index_2007.html1. Susan Bell, Town Judge, Hagerstown, Term Ends 12/31/11
2. Conley Tillson, Clay Township Advisory Board, Wayne County, Term Ends 12/31/10
3. Steve Coffman, Liberty Township Advisory Board, Henry County, Term Ends 12/31/10
4. Michael Sloan, Town Council, Pottawattamie Park, Term Ends 12/31/11
5. Ed Coleman, Indianapolis City-County Council At-Large, Term Ends 12/31/11
Appointed Libertarian officeholders
- Scott Baker, Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Commission
- Rex Bell, Hagerstown Board of Zoning Appeals
- Rex Bell, Hagerstown Plan Commission, Chairman
- Al Cox, Brown County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals
- Brad Klopfenstein, Indianapolis Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals II
- Mark W. Rutherford, Indiana Public Defender Commission, Chairman
- Mark Smith, Centerville Plan Commission
- Mark Smith, Wayne County Economic Development Commission.
- Chris Spangle, Vote Indiana Team/Indiana HAVA Commission
Past state chairs
- 1974-76 Paul Hyatt
- 1976-79 Sally (Heistand) Callin
- 1979-80 Joseph Hauptmann
- 1981 Joe Bryan (deceased)
- 1981-82 Kevin Grant
- 1983 Mike Fallahay
- 1984-85 Steve Dasbach
- 1985-86 Jim Reidenauer (deceased)
- 1986-87 Dr. Walter Weeks
- 1987-88 Roger Strater
- 1988 Bonnie Flemmonds
- 1988-89 Steve Dasbach
- 1989-96 Dr. Barbara Bourland
- 1996-98 Rob Shuford
- 1998-00 Joseph Hauptmann
- 2000-07 Mark Rutherford
- 2007-09 Todd Singer
Awards
Awards are presented at the LPIN Convention each year. With the exception of one award, all winners are granted their award by a vote of the LPIN membership.Dr. Barbara Bourland Light of Liberty Award: The recipient is honored as the person most responsible for the growth of the party and dedication to the libertarian cause.
Past winners include:
- 2010 - Allison Maguire (Marion)
- 2009 - Dan Drexler (LaPorte)
- 2008 - Timothy Maguire (Marion)
- 2007 - Mike Kole (Hamilton)
- 2006 - Greg Kelver (LaPorte)
- 2005 - Rex Bell (Wayne)
- 2004 - Phil Miller (Hancock)
- 2003 - Rebecca Sink-Burris (Monroe)
- 2002 - Sam Goldstein (Marion)
- 2001 - Mark Rutherford (Marion) & Andy Horning (Marion)
- 2000 - Kurt St. Angelo (Marion)
- 1999 - Steve Dillon (Marion)
Susan Bell Officeholder of the Year Award: Awarded to a current elected officeholder of the Libertarian Party that best promotes libertarian principles and values through public service.
- 2010 - Ed Coleman (Marion)
- 2009 - Susan Bell (Wayne)
- 2006 - Ed Dilts (Johnson)
Ken Bisson Outreach Award: Awarded to a party member who has strived to spread the message of libertarian principles to as many potential voters as is possible.
- 2010 - Jerry Titus (Kokomo) and Paul Morrell (Rush)
- 2009 - Doug Horner (Allen)
- 2006 - Mike Sylvester (Allen)
Joe Hauptmann Campaign Leadership Award: Awarded to a campaign volunteer who has worked above and beyond in an extraordinary fashion, and has significantly contributed to the success of a campaign.
- 2009 - (Tie) Melanie Hughes (Floyd), Allison Maguire (Marion), and Tim Maguire (Marion)
- 2005 - Sheri Conover Sharlow (Grant)
Phil Miller Candidate of the Year: Awarded to a Libertarian Candidate that has shown an extraordinary ability to reach and connect with voters, as well as further the cause of libertarianism.
- 2009 - (Tie) Dr. Eric Schansberg (Clark, Congressional District 9), Rex Bell (Wayne, House District 54)
- 2005 - Kenn Gividen (Bartholomew)
Steve Dasbach Chairman's Award for Extraordinary Service: Awarded to an individual that has helped grow the Libertarian Party of Indiana in extraordinary ways over many years. This award is not voted on by LPIN membership, and it is the sole privilege of the Chair of the LPIN to award it to the recipient.
- 2010 - Todd Singer (Hendricks), Dale Wedel (Hendricks), and Dan Drexler (LaPorte)
- 2009 - Andrew Horning (Owen)
- 2007 - Mark Rutherford (Marion), Mike Runnebohm (Shelby)
- 2006 - Brad Klopfenstein (Marion), Cindy Kirkpatrick (Marion), Kenn Gividen (Bartholomew)