Here is another interview with Libertarians who’ll be on the ballot in Wake County.

Bruce Basson, running for North Carolina House of Representative in District 36. He is a biostatistician who works for a major pharmaceutical development services company in Durham.

Bruce grew up in upstate New York on a hobby farm where he learned to love camping and canoeing. We later moved to Indiana. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree in statistics from the University of Wisconsin.

He moved to North Carolina in 2012 with his wife and three kids.

This is the first in a series of interviews of Libertarians who’ll be on the ballot in Wake County. We’re starting with those running for the General Assembly.

Mike Munger is the Libertarian candidate for North Carolina House of Representatives in District 34.

Mike grew up on an orange farm in rural central Florida. He graduated from Davidson College in 1980 and has lived in North Carolina for most of his life.

Dr. Munger, Mike, is director of undergraduate studies and professor of political science at Duke University. He also directs Duke’s philosophy, politics, and economics certificate program. And he’s a noted author and lecturer. He’s been at Duke for 23 years.

Mike was the Libertarian candidate for governor in 2008 in that race it accomplished two first: he was the first so-called third party candidate to appear in a televised debate. Second, he got three percent of the vote, making the Libertarian Party the first new party to retain ballot access via the ballot.

Virtual statewide gathering voluntarily mixes business with caution

RALEIGH, April 10, 2020―The Libertarian Party of North Carolina (LPNC) replaced its planned 2020 state convention in Greensboro with a virtual convention that took place on April 4. The party made the move, intended to avoid personal contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, on its own initiative before any state or local government shutdown mandates had been announced.

March 15, 2020

The LPNC Executive Committee just concluded a special meeting to consider emergency arrangements for our state convention, scheduled for April 3-5. In light of the recent developments surrounding the US outbreak of COVID-19, we have agreed that the responsible thing to do for public health and the safety of our attendees and families is to not hold our Convention in person this spring.

We will conduct the necessary business of the Convention on Saturday, April 14, in a time and manner that will be advertised soon. If you are an LPNC member and wish to be named as a delegate to the National Convention, a member of the Judicial Committee, or an Elector, contact Susan Hogarth at [email protected].

All those registered for the Convention will be contacted personally this week to thank them for their commitment and to offer them a refund of registration fees.

To say this was a difficult decision is a sorrowful understatement. Every one of us relishes resisting the state at every legitimate opportunity - but we did not relish the thought of making medical martyrs out of activists for no compelling reason. It was also becoming clear that planning an event in such circumstances involved too much uncertainty as to venue availability, delegate attendance, and guest travel. We appreciate the feedback received from many members on this difficult choice.

Lastly, the Convention Committee was working hard to bring us the best Convention ever, with so much fun, information, and education, that it was many extra pangs of regret to let it go. We want to acknowledge the hard work and passion put into the effort by Travis Groo, Pam Alexander, Kathy Cockerell, Chris Cash-Dooley, Reid Deal, Ryan Teeter, Kristin Gable, Michael Worth, David Ulmer, Erik Raudsep, Jeff Scott, Brad Hessel, and Matt Clements.

Please ask Chair Susan Hogarth, Vice Chair Brent DeRidder, or any Executive Committee member if you have questions.