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.

Congratulations to Jacob Hornberger for finishing first among 15 candidates on the ballot in the Super Tuesday Libertarian Party presidential preference primary.

And congratulations to Anthony Mascolo for his win in the NC State Senate District 8 Libertarian primary.

If you haven’t voted in the North Carolina primary, you can still stop by your polling place in the way home from (or to!) work. If you are registered Libertarian or Unaffiliated you can vote in the Libertarian Party of NC non-binding presidential preference poll. Although we select our final presidential and vice-presidential candidates in Convention in Austin (at no expense to the taxpayers!), the primary is a great chance to show which candidates have captured interest and support within the Libertarian Party. 

So, do go vote. But if you have a passion for making the world a better place, let today’s vote be your starting place for deeper involvement. 

Join or renew your membership in the state party - you can do that here:

https://www.lpnc.org/join-the-lpnc

recurring donations are especially welcome in allowing us to budget for outreach, County affiliate growth, and candidate support.

Working for a Citizens' Redistricting Commission

by Brian Irving
LPNC Liaison to Fair Districts NC

Fair Districts NC  is a statewide campaign by a broad, nonpartisan coalition of groups from across the political spectrum who have come together to promote a sound solution to the problem of partisan redistricting – gerrymandering.

The Libertarian Party of North Carolina is part of this coalition.

They’re working to educate and mobilize North Carolinians to introduce a citizen-led process to draw our electoral districts and end gerrymandering in our state. The goal is redistricting reform by 2021, when the legislature must redraw all Congressional and state legislative districts following the 2020 Census.

The best solution to gerrymandering is a citizens' commission, where voters from both major parties, as well as voters registered independent or with third parties, draw the maps and, ideally, approve them.

In states with citizen commissions, there are more competitive districts, fewer court challenges (and even fewer that succeed), higher voter approval for the legislature, and more cooperation to find solutions that work for everyone.

To define a good commission design for North Carolina, Fair Districts studied 50 bills introduced in legislatures in 15 states – mostly in the South. They identified a reform that can both end extreme gerrymandering and pass the legislature.