By Tom Howe, LPNC Press Secretary

The Libertarian Party of North Carolina held its annual convention in Burlington, May 6th and 7th. Party members gathered to conduct official party business, hear some marvelous speakers, and enjoy each other's company.

These people don't call themselves "The Party of Principle" for nothing. The platform committee report recommended a minor wording change to the Party's fundamental Statement of Pricinples. Although the proposed change was minor, the Party's founders made it so difficult to change the official founding principle statement, that just five objectioning delegates could nix any change.

Speakers at the 2006 convention include former national chair, Dr. James Lark; Michael Munger, chair of the political science department at Duke University; Dr. Roy Cordato, Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar at the John Locke Foundation; and Richard Neal, representing the Alliance for the Separation of School & State.

Delegates also elected new executive committee members and delegates to the national convention to be held July 1-2 in Portland, Oregon. Phil Jacobson of Raleigh, chairman of the Party, was confirmed in office after serving as acting chair following the departure of former chair Thomas Hill. New on the Executive Committee are Barbara Howe, newsletter editor, and Tom Howe, press secretary, both of Oxford, Richard Norman of Winston Salem, membership secretary. Also elected were three new at-large members, Stephen Burr of Charlotte, Joy Elliott of Raleigh, and Robert Sinnott of Greensboro. Other members of the executive committee changed roles: Susan Hogarth of Raleigh takes over as outreach director and Eric Smith of Reidsville moves to the political director position.