I’m an immigrant from Romania who grew up hiking in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In my early twenties I made the decision to serve my country and joined the US Navy as a linguist. After many TDYs and experiences, my wife and I, along with our two beautiful baby girls, now call the Crystal Coast home. From Camp Lejeune to Down East towards to the Outer Banks, we have simply fallen in love with the abundant natural beauty and friendly locals.

My motivation for civic participation is a direct result of alarming government overreach during Covid-19. We all observed incredible mental summersaults as government functionaries tripped over themselves as they lied, covered for each other, and came up with any and every excuse to keep the population in fear. The frustrating part is that our fearless leaders made Buku $$ all along with stock trades, patents, and campaign contributions in exchange for study grants. And let’s not forget the $7 trillion plus they simply printed and then preached about “transitory inflation.” The only surprise is that they have no fear of doing this openly.

As Cape Carteret Commissioner I will work to fight against intrusive government control over personal health choices. I will work to facilitate honest and open dialogue with our public educators to ensure that parents are the ultimate decision makers in their children’s lives and education. Lastly, I will actively resist government tendencies to persecute and imprison non-violent offenders.

Local civic engagement is the first line of defense. While the task is monumental, Freedom is worth the effort.

Come meet Gheorghe on Liberty iNC!

Learn more and donate at Gheorghe's website.

Check out our other local candidates here!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 24, 2023 (RALEIGH) – The Libertarian Party of North Carolina (LPNC) is excited to announce 14 Libertarian candidates will be on ballots around the state in this year's fall elections. The group of candidates is dynamic, with a mix of first-timers and seasoned campaign veterans, and the range of offices is broad, including mayor, town board, and city council races.

LPNC Chair Ryan Brown said, “We’re excited with how many people stepped up to run for office, but we’re even more excited about the people who are running. People are sick of watching their livelihood and Liberty be attacked by politicians who often don't feel the pain they are causing others. None of the Libertarians running this year ever wanted to be a politician when they grew up. They’re moms and dads, teachers, lawyers, just normal people like us, but they can’t sit back and do nothing any longer. I am proud to be associated with them, and I’m happy that the state party can offer them so much support.”

LPNC Secretary and Political and Policy Director Dee Watson said, “These candidates represent the end of the first phase of work we have been doing to put an infrastructure in place to recruit, train, and support candidates at every level around the state. But they represent the beginning of implementing our long-term strategy. It’s so exciting to see this vision taking shape, and especially with such a solid group.”

LPNC At-Large Executive Committee Member and Candidates Coordinator Christina Aragues said, “Now the work really begins, but it’s the fun part, too. We have put together excellent resources for candidates, and there’s a ton of knowledge and experience to support the tools we can provide. I can’t wait to watch this election season develop.”

The LPNC will spend the next week working with each candidate to personalize the infrastructure, offer support, and fine tune strategies. All announcements, including events, will be published on the LPNC website and advertised in the newsletter.

https://www.lpnc.org/tags/2023_elections

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Libertarian Party of North Carolina
Libertarian Party of North Carolina (lpnc.org)

Ryan Brown
LPNC Chair
Libertarian Party of North Carolina
[email protected]

Rob Yates
Communications Director and Acting Press Secretary
Libertarian Party of North Carolina
[email protected]

WHO IS TRAVIS GROO?
Travis Groo is a dedicated father, a hard worker and an active member of the Holly Springs community. He believes in the power of freedom and prosperity for all, and is committed to making Holly Springs a better place for everyone to live and thrive. As a candidate for Holly Springs Town Council, Travis is passionate about making a real difference in the lives of his fellow residents.

A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
Travis Groo is a principled and a self-motivated human, and a proud dad of two wonderful kids, who believes that hard work always pays off. He works towards a free, peaceful, and prosperous world where every individual has the opportunity to pursue their unique vision of a rewarding and enriching life. “We moved to Wake County from Atlanta back in 2013 and I don’t recall a single day in all these years living here that I wasn’t grateful we made that decision,” he says. “We have almost everything good about Atlanta here, and not much of what’s bad. While growth and change are inevitable, I am motivated to help preserve what’s great about our community for my family and neighbors here in Holly Springs.”

• Housing Affordability: With Holly Springs so popular, rising property values are inevitable. We should avoid the path Raleigh took—using zoning regulations to restrict vast areas to single-family houses only—thus pricing their teachers, police, firemen, and other service professionals out of being able to afford to live where they work. As the Town continues to grow it’s vital to accommodate various housing options, including townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, and tiny homes. If our zoning regulations enable builders and owners to be creative with their property, supply and demand will be in better balance. 

• Finances: We should always be mindful of who’s actually paying for things: it’s the people’s hard-earned money being spent. Bond-funded projects—which essentially are deferred tax increases—need close scrutiny, particularly now, with interest rates so high. We should get the public opinion and consent before moving forward on any project. I will put the taxpayer at the heart of all we do. We should seek sustainable outcomes, built on the foundation of doing the right thing, both financially and ethically.

• Growth: Managing the inevitable growth that comes with living in such a desirable area is a challenge. Holly Springs is poised for tremendous opportunity that needs to be carefully managed and evaluated so we don’t have to fix something later. Let’s do it right the first time. I want Holly Springs to grow in a responsible manner, which means also protecting private property rights.

• Environment: The traditional Victory Garden is a well-known American tradition. The value of the home garden for supplementing our diets with fresh produce, teaching horticultural skills, and fostering a broader respect for our environment is immeasurable. Additionally, community garden tours bring us closer together as neighbors and friends. I will work to foster this and remove barriers to home farms. We must also work together with volunteers to establish functional native (xeriscape) habitat islands throughout our beautiful town.

Travis Groo
[email protected]

I'm Justin Herbe, a new and fresh candidate for Fayetteville City Council District 5 in the Municipal Primary Election October 10,2023. US Army Retired Officier that has seen the city grow astronomically since 2019. We need transparent and effective new leadership that represents you!

This is our city and it's time to put the power back in the people's hands. Let our voices be heard and protect out God given liberties from government overburden.

https://justinherbefordistrict5.minisite.ai/

Check out our other local candidates here!

"People Are More Important"

I am a retired geophysicist, former dolphin trainer, helped start 2 non-profits including one that had me building power-generating playgrounds in Ghana, was an instructor on a tall ship built in 1877, and am currently an at-home dad raising my daughter and supporting my wife who is doing her residency at Duke. Our family motto is "because people are more important" and it is the perfect slogan for the way to run a city. All of our policies and laws should be guided by that principle.

I believe the people of Durham are the best people to decide what is best for them. My top priority is implementing Ranked Choice Voting, or something similar, in our city so that the people can have a better and more representative say in how our city is run.

An interesting fact about me: I flew in zero-gravity aboard NASA's "Weightless Wonder" as an undergrad working on a tractor beam.

https://www.facebook.com/JJ4Durham
Check out our other local candidates here!

Charlotte is a beautiful, clean, vibrant city, and I have been privileged to live here for the last 14 years. Unfortunately, over that time, I have watched this city succumb to the worst perils of government mismanagement.

We are told that our schools need more funding, then see millions squandered on things like see-through backpacks that did nothing but contribute to a landfill somewhere. Meanwhile, we seemed to be playing hungry-hungry hippos to pick superintendents, but we did manage to earn a reprimand from the FBI for being years behind in reporting sexual assaults. In fact, our inability to keep our students safe is only eclipsed by our inability to get them an education. Yet no one is held accountable.

Housing prices are skyrocketing, and the only action the city takes is to approve changes to zoning laws as requested by real estate developers who happen to be massive donors in North Carolina. Multi-unit construction is squeezed onto available parcels of land, driving up traffic, slowing emergency response times, and overcrowding schools. Yet most of us in Charlotte see only the negative impact of this haphazard and manipulated development approach, while remaining subject to the restrictive and arcane zoning laws in place. Even recent changes to zoning restrictions are middling, at best.

Crime, especially violent crime is going up at an alarming rate, and opportunities for upward mobility are dwindling. Yet all we are given from our city leadership is a dramatic increase in property tax rates and pledges to spend tens of millions funding vanity projects for billionaires.

As mayor of Charlotte, I will focus singularly on rooting out the backroom deals, manipulations, and favoritism that is making life here cost more for less in return. I will hold myself and everyone in the city government accountable, ensuring that we are achieving our goals and that those goals are good for the people of Charlotte. I will not accept failing our children as a standard. And I will relentlessly fight for your rights to live as you please without hurting others.

Check out Rob's website.

And give him a follow on the symbol formerly known as Twitter.

Check out our other local candidates here!

I filed as a candidate for Huntersville Town Commissioner because I want to help Huntersville continue to be the best place to live in North Carolina. To that end, I'm committed to helping Huntersville towards:

• Being the most transparent local government in the state.
• Being fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars.
• Responsibly managing the inevitable growth that comes with living in such a desirable area.

I am asking for your support in November so we can make transparency and accountability a reality at Town Hall. As we continue to celebrate the town's 150th anniversary this year, let's work together to help Huntersville grow in the right direction over the next 150 years.

Please reach out to me anytime to discuss any issues impacting you here in Huntersville.

Eric Rowell
[email protected]
https://electericrowell.com/

Check out our other local candidates here!

These dynamic Libertarian candidates are ready to bring the principles of liberty and limited government to the forefront of local politics in North Carolina. As we head into the fall 2023 local elections, they stand as strong advocates for individual rights and personal freedom at the community level. In the spirit of genuine grassroots change, we invite you to support these candidates in their quest to champion liberty at the local level. With your help, they will work tirelessly to engage with communities, bridge divides, and advocate for transparent and accountable local governance. By electing these principled candidates, we can ensure that the voice of the people is heard and that our communities become stronger, freer, and more prosperous places to call home. Join us in supporting these Libertarians as they become the catalysts for positive local change in North Carolina, creating a brighter future for all.

This page will be updated with more bios and more candidates as we get more information. Thank you for supporting these candidates!

Eric Rowell - Huntersville Town Commissioner

"I filed as a candidate for Huntersville Town Commissioner because I want to help Huntersville continue to be the best place to live in North Carolina. To that end, I'm committed to helping Huntersville towards:

• Being the most transparent local government in the state.
• Being fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars.
• Responsibly managing the inevitable growth that comes with living in such a desirable area.

I am asking for your support in November so we can make transparency and accountability a reality at Town Hall. As we continue to celebrate the town's 150th anniversary this year, let's work together to help Huntersville grow in the right direction over the next 150 years.

Please reach out to me anytime to discuss any issues impacting you here in Huntersville."

Eric Rowell
[email protected]
https://electericrowell.com/

Rob Yates - City of Charlotte Mayor

As mayor of Charlotte, I will focus singularly on rooting out the backroom deals, manipulations, and favoritism that is making life here cost more for less in return. I will hold myself and everyone in the city government accountable, ensuring that we are achieving our goals and that those goals are good for the people of Charlotte. I will not accept failing our children as a standard. And I will relentlessly fight for your rights to live as you please without hurting others.

Check out Rob's website.

And give him a follow on the symbol formerly known as Twitter.

Travis Groo - Town of Holly Springs Town Council

Travis Groo is a principled and a self-motivated human, and a proud dad of two wonderful kids, who believes that hard work always pays off. He works towards a free, peaceful, and prosperous world where every individual has the opportunity to pursue their unique vision of a rewarding and enriching life. Groo is defending all of our freedoms, all of the time. He believes individual rights and private property should be securely protected and preserved for everyone.

Read more about Travis here.

Gheorghe Cormos - Town of Cape Carteret Commissioner

I’m an immigrant from Romania who grew up hiking in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In my early twenties I made the decision to serve my country and joined the US Navy as a linguist. After many TDYs and experiences, my wife and I, along with our two beautiful baby girls, now call the Crystal Coast home. From Camp Lejeune to Down East towards to the Outer Banks, we have simply fallen in love with the abundant natural beauty and friendly locals.

Come meet Gheorghe on Liberty iNC here!

Read more about Gheorghe here.

Steven J. Difiore II - City of Charlotte City Council At-large

Chelsea Kurtz - Town of Holly Ridge Council Member

My name is Chelsea Kurtz, and I am running for Holly Ridge Town Council.

It's time to get back to basics. We need to assess the needs of our community, and take the steps to address those needs, not fall whim to the desires of the few.

Our little town requires more infrastructure, more commercial investment, and more residential growth to keep in pace with the growing community. But they must be done delicately, with a council that acts as a good steward of the people's tax money. 

Holly Ridge is in desperate need of town council members who aren’t afraid of the some of the "old establishment" members currently running our locality. 

As a mother of a young child and a local business owner, I stand for my fellow neighbors to serve them with humility, dedication, and integrity.

Read more about Chelsea here.

Greg Carpenter - Town of Liberty Town Commissioner
Andrew Kinzie - Town of Jamestown Town Council
Christopher Richardson - Town of Winfall Town Commissioner
Mitch Bridges - City of Shelby City Council Ward 06
Michael Saner - Town of Murfreesboro Council Member

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Unfortunately, the following candidates did not win their primaries this year. The will not be on the ballot November 7th, 2023.

Justin Herbe - Fayetteville City Council District 5

I'm Justin Herbe, a new and fresh candidate for Fayetteville City Council District 5 in the Municipal Primary Election October 10,2023. US Army Retired Officier that has seen the city grow astronomically since 2019. We need transparent and effective new leadership that represents you!

This is our city and it's time to put the power back in the people's hands. Let our voices be heard and protect out God given liberties from government overburden.

https://justinherbefordistrict5.minisite.ai/

J. J. Campbell - City of Durham City Council At-large

"People Are More Important"

I am a retired geophysicist, former dolphin trainer, helped start 2 non-profits including one that had me building power-generating playgrounds in Ghana, was an instructor on a tall ship built in 1877, and am currently an at-home dad raising my daughter and supporting my wife who is doing her residency at Duke. Our family motto is "because people are more important" and it is the perfect slogan for the way to run a city. All of our policies and laws should be guided by that principle.

I believe the people of Durham are the best people to decide what is best for them. My top priority is implementing Ranked Choice Voting, or something similar, in our city so that the people can have a better and more representative say in how our city is run.

An interesting fact about me: I flew in zero-gravity aboard NASA's "Weightless Wonder" as an undergrad working on a tractor beam.