The election for Vice Chairman of the Libertarian Party took place immediately after the election of Mark Hinkle as Chairman. The contest pitted Mark Rutherford, of Indiana, against Carolyn Marbry, of California. The final results, after one round of voting, were:
Mark Rutherford: 285
Carolyn Marbry: 201
@8, Hinkle’s first words to me after his election were that he wanted to implement a fair bit of the New Path plan because he recognized the merit of it. He also said he wanted me to serve the LNC in some capacity, whether elected or otherwise, as well. Sounds like coalition building to me.
That’s grace in victory, perhaps the second most important trait in an LNC chair. THE most important trait, I would say, is grace in defeat, since (let’s face it) Libertarians face defeat so very often.
The other candidates also showed grace in that they have not had a negative word to say about anyone since the election. Root gave me a big hug after Rutherford won and said simply and sincerely, “I’m sorry.” Myers shrugged and gave me a hug, and then, election results behind us, we started talking about our projects going forward.
That’s how it’s done.
I believe most people who were in St. Louis had the same relieved, positive feeling I did, that the delegates defeated negativity and divisiveness soundly on all sides and created a strong LNC and that we were coming together again as a party.
Let’s face it, while the internal elections of officers are very important to the party, in the real world, they’re simply not the stuff of blood feud rivalries, or rather they shouldn’t be.
That’s because once the election happens, we’re all one team again, and everybody’s working toward the same goals. Or at least they should be. That’s why I asked in my speech, who here is a Libertarian, and everyone clapped. Of course they did. Because we are.
You bet, Paulie. We can talk about that offline.
Agreed with Trent and Carolyn.
Carolyn, let me know about your projects when you get a chance.
You have a new chair in Hinkle, the fellow who on Aaron Starr’s request proposed to bar Mary Ruwart from a phone meeting of the committee that had been created in response to her issue. This is not a coalition builder.
This thread is no doubt dead, but I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all the delegates who came out to St. Louis and made their voices heard, whether they supported me or Rutherford, whether they supported Root or someone else.
We came into this convention a bitter and divided party with sniping and factionalism and general ugliness going on all around. People were crying doom and gloom and there was concern about the party going forward. In just a few short days of talking sincerely with each other, partying together and yes, even yelling occasionally, in every instance reminding ourselves that we are all real people and not just names and angry words on blogs and sites like this one, we managed to turn that sentiment around 100%.
I haven’t been a member of this party for as long as some of you. This, I have admitted readily all along. But in all the time I *have* been a member of this party, I’ve never seen it as unified as it was coming out of this convention.
We have a new chair in Hinkle, who, like myself, is a unifier and a coalition builder. We have a vice chair who is respected by everyone who meets him. We have James Oaksun, a treasurer who not only promises incredible competence but real transparency and an objective look at where the party is and what we need to do to help it grow. We have new representatives and at-large and even a new Rep position created at this convention, allowing another voice at the table. We have party founder David Nolan returning to leadership at a time when we really need him. We also have Root being given the chance to take a seat at the table he sought to head. He was very quiet and humble at the LNC meeting, listening much more than he spoke and learning from those who have been there longer. If there’s anything that serves as a harbinger of hope and unity going forward, it’s that.
We have new blood on the Judicial Committee, as well, and while I am sorry that Ruth Bennett is not among the judcomm folks (I did vote for her), I have confidence in those who were elected, especially Judge Gray.
So while people have been offering me condolences on having been “defeated” as the headline says, I’m not “defeated.” Not remotely. I’m overjoyed at the results of this election. I’ve already started a few projects at the national level to help strengthen the party — things I was going to do as vice chair but realized I can do even without that title. In fact, a lot of what I want to do is more easily done without having to go through committees and such.
The point I’m trying to make here is that I encourage everyone, whichever faction you identify with, whichever side you’ve traditionally been on, to give this LNC a chance to show you what they can do. Give them the benefit of the doubt and support them. For perhaps the first time in a very long time, it’s okay to have high expectations. I think this LNC may well be able to rise to them, and I’m planning to do everything in my power to help them.
Thane, thank you fo the recommendation. I tried & will continue to try. Got an error page-robertmilnes.net is down for one thing. I’m tired.I’m really not so good at this kind of thing also. etc.
Robert Milnes,
I offer a recommendation. Find a site such as sites.google.com or blogger.com, take a minute to register a free domain at http://www.dot.tk and record your PLAS.
Carolyn, would you consider vp slot on my Independent fusion ticket?
We’ll see. The only thing that matters is whether PLAS gets adopted.
I actually think it worked out in favor of both radicals and reformers. They ousted Aaron Starr for Treasurer, a long-time goal. They stopped Root. And they still got an excellent team in Hinkle/Rutherford/Benedict.
This has all been ideal, imo. I don’t like Root, but I do like his running mate, Mark Rutherford. Anybody-but-Root for chair and Rutherford of vice chair is exactly what I was hoping for.