State convention opens in Hickory
By Brian Irving, LPNC Press Secretary
DURHAM (April 22) - The Libertarian Party of North Carolina will hold
its annual state convention April 29 to May 1 at the Park Inn, Hickory.
The agenda will include election of officers and the executive committee
and amendments to the party's constitution and bylaws.
The convention convenes at 8:30 a.m. April 30 with the theme,
"Liberty's Challenge."
Saturday's luncheon will feature noted libertarian and economist
Bettina B. Greaves. She will speak about the importance of spreading the
idea of freedom to help bring about an improved political environment.
Known as "Ludwig von Mises' most loyal student," Greaves has
translated, complied and edited many of Mises' writings through her work
at the Foundation for Economic Education. She's published a two-volume
annotated bibliography of Mises.
Greaves also authored the book "Free Market Economics," intended for
use in high schools. One of the founders of the modern Libertarian
movement in America, she has done much to spread free market ideas around
the world.
LP National Chair Michael Dixon, of North Carolina, will be the
featured speaker at Saturday night's gala banquet.
The 2004 Libertarian presidential candidate, Michael Badnarik, will
address the convention after the conclusion of business on Sunday.
Other speakers include Dr. Michael Munger, chair of the Duke
University's political science department; Lenoir City Councilman T. J.
Rohr; local libertarian activists Jim Capo and Bobbie Emory, and; Chris
Farris, Region Four alternate representative on the Libertarian National
Committee.
Rohr will update delegates on his life as one of 10 Libertarians
holding public office in the state. Elected to the Lenoir City Council in
2003, Rohr will discuss the changes and dialogues he has sparked and the
frustrations and rewards of being on the short end of so many 6-1 votes.
Dr. Munger will address the convention's theme with his talk "The Thing
Itself: Liberty's Challenge in a Statist World."
Capo will speak about the so-called "free trade" treaties CAFTA
(Central American Free Trade Agreement) and FTAA (Free Trade Area of the
Americas) and how they will affect individuals. He will detail how these
treaties threaten not only United States sovereignty, but also the
individual sovereignty of every American.
The Libertarian Party is America's largest and most successful third
party. Founded in 1971, today the party is organized in all 50 states.
There are more than 600 Libertarian office holders nationwide, more than
all other so-called third parties combined.
In 2000, the state LP fielded candidates for a majority of the seats in
both houses of the General Assembly. Libertarians, Republicans and
Democrats are the only parties in U.S. history whose slates of candidates
have received over a million votes for U.S. House of Representatives in a
single election.
Libertarians elect new officers
HICKORY (May 1) - The Libertarian Party of North Carolina held its
annual state convention in Hickory April 30 to May 1. The main order of
business was election of officers and executive committee members.
In a unanimous vote, delegates elected Thomas Hill of Concord state
party chair. They also reelected R. Lee Wrights of Clemmons vice chair and
Bev Wilcox of Wentworth recording secretary. Alex Vuchnich was elected
treasurer.
Convention delegates also selected members of the executive committee.
They are: Susan Hogarth of Raleigh, newsletter editor; Jim Pitts of
Sanford, outreach director; Richard Norman of Winston-Salem, membership
secretary; Bob Ritchie of Concord, ballot access director; Brian Irving of
Fayetteville, press secretary; John Powell of Charlotte, political
director, and; Elise Gallivan of Raleigh, webmaster.
Neal Anders, Phil Jacobson, Rick Pasotto and Eric Smith were chosen
at-large members of the executive committee.
In other convention business, the delegates voted to merge the LPNC
constitution and bylaws into a single document called the bylaws. They
adopted several amendments to the new bylaws and approved some convention
rules changes.
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