Nick Youngers: ‘Libertarian Donors Club’

Email from Nick Youngers to myself and several dozen other people:

Dear Fellow Libertarian,

You probably have never heard of the Libertarian Donors Club, and you are probably very busy and in a hurry to delete anything you can in your inbox to save time.

Please Don’t.

Please take the time to read this letter.

Now – I am NOT running for national LP chair, nor for the National Committee, nor for the LNCC, nor for the LP nomination for President. I’m not running for public office. In fact, I’m not running for anything at all. You’ve probably never heard of me, though I first joined the LP in 1980, and I don’t want to be famous. And I’m not going to ask you to send money to me or to to buy anything from me.

What I’m going to do is tell you a short story – you see I’ve had a very hard time giving away some money, thousands of dollars in fact, to worthwhile Libertarian campaigns …

… and then I’m going to ask you to join me in helping to find the best LP campaigns in 2010 and in 2012 and beyond so that I can give my money away more easily ..

… and then I’m going to ask you to join me in donating to some LP campaigns that I have found and the ones that you have found, that offer the LP a significant opportunity in the 2010 election cycle, and to get busy doing the same for 2012 and beyond …

First, my story: Two years ago, in 2008, I decided I would help out and donate to some LP candidates. I looked around, called several people, but it was difficult. I wanted to find LP campaigns where my personal donations could make a difference – where a serious candidate could win or obtain ballot status for the LP, where the campaign would use my donation for TV or radio ads – for outreach, where my donations would help build the party and have some payoff.

Well, after a great deal of effort, I found the Munger for Governor campaign in North Carolina. There may have been other great candidates and campaigns going in 2008 … in fact I’m sure there were … but I just didn’t have the time, information or contacts to find them.

So, in 2008, I gave the maximum, $4000, to the Munger for Governor campaign. It paid off as they used that money, and the donations of numerous other generous Libertarians to buy radio ads across the state and win ballot status for the North Carolina LP. This donation represents a victory to me and everyone else who donated and volunteered for the Munger for Governor campaign. An investment with a massive payoff. Their total campaign budget was small, much smaller than the total cost of just getting on the ballot.

Of course, Mike Munger is a great speaker, debater and great candidate… He campaigned tirelessly across the state … and hundreds of other dedicated LP members, donors and petitioners made this happen … but I was glad to do my part.

Now, it’s 2010. Once again, I’ve decided to help out by donating what I can. And once again, it has been very difficult finding the best candidates with the best opportunity to make a difference. So far, I have found four campaigns that I think are important for the future of the LP, four campaigns that could make a difference in 2010 … and on Monday, three days ago, I sent off four checks to help these campaigns … and below I will give you a list of the campaigns, how much I have sent and why they represent important opportunities for the LP.

But, first I need your help. I need you to help me find up to six more campaigns that represent important opportunities for the LP in 2010. I’m asking you to write back and let me know the best campaigns, with the best candidates, where there is a real chance for victory, or obtaining ballot status, or some other significant payoff for the donors.

So, you see, all I want to do is help some serious LP candidates who have a real shot at winning some significant office – State Rep, for example, or to help the best statewide candidates to obtain ballot status for the LP in places where it is difficult but possible. There may be other campaigns with other important goals for building the LP as well. So, I’m giving as much as I can to accomplish these goals.

At the same time, we all know that we cannot do these things alone. The LP has over 800 campaigns across the US. I don’t have time to call every state LP or to check out every race. And funding a winning campaign takes the help of hundreds or even thousands of donors. So, I’m hoping to find a group of people who can see the advantages of helping in this effort. An organization of dedicated Libertarians who will work together to find and fund the best campaigns with the best opportunities to win, build the LP and move our party forward.

To do this, of course, we must all recognize that our own campaigns and our own state LPs and our own personal favorite candidates may not represent the best opportunity. And we will not all agree on which candidates, campaigns and state LPs are the best to be selected. But, to achieve our long range goals, we must put our own personal favorites aside and work together for the future.

We should also recognize that there are many donors, like myself, who will give much more, sometimes hundreds of times more, if there is a worthwhile chance to spread the LP message, build the party, and achieve a worthwhile payoff – a return on invested political capital. And that’s just how I view my LP donations. They are an investment, an investment in the future of the LP, an investment in the future of Liberty … and we should all maximize the return on these political investments by making sure that the best LP candidates and campaigns have adequate funds to carry our message, to obtain ballot status, to win elections.

This is exactly what happened with the North Carolina campaign of Mike Munger, whose success will save over $100,000 in ballot drive costs for at least four years, and will bring in thousands of dollars in additional funds to the NC LP through the voluntary income tax checkoff that now includes the North Carolina LP as an option.

Now, as promised, my list so far. Please note that I do not live in any of these states (I do not live in any of the 50 states at present) and I had never met or talked to any of these candidates prior to this campaign. I am including what I feel is a reasonable and possible goal for each candidate’s campaign. I have included my own personal recommendation for donations for anyone who can make a large donation, and my own personal donation to each campaign. A brief discussion and contact info for each campaign will follow. Obviously, many of you cannot donate such large amounts and may not agree with my list. I suggest that you send as much as you can, to each of these candidates, scaled to your own ability to give. And for those of you who can do more, please send more, (up to the legal maximum).

CANDIDATE STATE OFFICE GOAL MAX LEGAL RECOMMENDED MY DONATION
DONATION DONATION

John Babiarz NH Governor Ballot Status 4% $1,000 $1,000 $1,000

Warren Redlich NY Governor Ballot Status 50,000 votes $50,000+ $1,000+ $1,000

Nicholas De Laat WY State Rep Win $1,000 $100 $1,000

Brendan Kelly NH State Rep Win $1,000 $100 $ 250

John Babiarz http://johnbabiarz.org/

New Hampshire is a small state with only 2 Congressional Districts. John Babiarz is campaigning actively. The Babiarz for Governor campaign needs funds to be used for radio and TV ads on the one major broadcast station in NH, major radio stations and cable TV. The Babiarz campaign has a good chance of getting 4% of the vote. A quick infusion of $20,000 could make the difference with a major payoff for 2012 and beyond. My $1000 donation represents 5% of a good media campaign and a good shot at 4% and ballot status for New Hampshire. Please join me by investing in this ballot status campaign.

Checks should be made payable to: “Babiarz for Governor” and mailed to: Babiarz for Governor, 12 Liberty Lane, Grafton NH 03240.

Warren Redlich http://wredlich.com/ny/

New York is an important state in the eyes of the media and has a large population. It only takes 50,000 votes to win ballot status and yet the LP has never succeeded in doing so. This year, however, the LP has an active campaigner, and elected official running as our candidate for Governor. The campaign is seeking funds to run radio, targeted cable TV, and major network TV in upstate areas. My estimate is that the Redlich campaign needs a quick $50,000 in donations to have a real shot at 50,000 votes – if they can put this all on TV and radio. I have kicked this off with $1000 of my own. Please join me in an LP breakthrough in New York.

Donations can be made through the website by credit card or paypal.
Checks should be made payable to: “Redlich for Governor” and mailed to: Redlich for Governor, 255 Washington Ave Ext., Suite 108, Albany, NY 12205.

Nicholas De Laat http://votenickdelaat.weebly.com/

Wyoming has the lowest population of all US states and this means small State Rep districts. Nick De Laat is running very actively for the State House of Representatives in District 52 and plans to campaign full time the last two weeks of his campaign going to every door in his district. He has already raised several thousand dollars for literature, yard signs, and a full size billboard. This is a three way race with a Republican incumbent, an independent Republican with an inactive campaign, and our LP candidate De Laat. An additional infusion of $3000 could allow the De Laat campaign to fund a district wide postcard mailing just prior to election day. We need to make a major effort to pick up the votes that will be the margin of victory. This is a serious chance for an LP victory, maybe the best nationwide, which is why I sent $1000 while recommending everyone to commit to $100 to help put Nick over the top.

Donations can be made through the website by credit card or paypal.
Checks should be made payable to: “Elect Nicholas De Laat” and mailed to: Elect Nicholas De Laat, 5105 Tarry St., Gillette WY, 82718.

Brendan Kelly http://www.brendankellylpnh.com/

Brendan Kelly is an elected Selectman in the town of Seabrook, New Hampshire, which means he has proven himself electable. He is running in a small state in district 14 that will elect 4 members to the New Hampshire State House of Representatives. Kelly is campaigning seriously, to win, and has a serious shot. He needs to raise $4,000 quickly, but he has a list of supporters of his own. I have recommended a $100 donation to win, and I have sent $250 toward Brendan’s victory. Let’s give him the money he needs for literature, signs and local advertising.

Donations can be made through the website by credit card or paypal.
Checks should be made payable to: “Friends of Brendan Kelly” and mailed to: Friends of Brendan Kelly, P.O. Box 631, Seabrook NH, 03874

The 2010 elections are coming fast, and there are many exciting Libertarian campaigns. But in order for the LP to obtain ballot status, win elections and grow, we need to work together. For too long the LP has managed to get numerous candidates on the ballot – we’re pretty good at ballot drives – only to leave our candidates swinging alone in the wind with ineffective, underfunded campaigns.

So, I’m looking for a group of donors to join me. We should form a donors club. Not a PAC. Not to raise and spend money as a group, but a private association of donors who will pool our efforts to find, research and inform ourselves about the best LP candidates with the best chances to reach our goals – be it victory, ballot status, or some other goal. We can then discuss and make a list of our best options. It will be up to each individual to choose which campaigns to support and how much to give. In this way, though, we should be able to work together to provide the funding needed to build the LP and provide our best candidates with the serious funding they need to be competitive.

We can donate funds individually, directly to each candidate, with no fundraising costs, and we can, though our recommendations, help to assure that the best campaigns will receive a large infusion of cash. Further, having a Libertarian Donors Club, in place, and with a track record of helping to focus attention that results in major funding to the best campaigns, should encourage the best candidates to come forward with serious campaigns to win – knowing that funding will be available.

This year, 2010, there is really little time left before election day. We don’t have time to build a discussion website or engage in lengthy deliberation. So, here’s what I’m hoping you’ll do:

1) Write back if you are a serious LP donor and you want to help find and fund the best LP candidates and campaigns in 2010 and beyond. We need to build some kind of discussion group to help us fund our serious candidates – a Libertarian Donors Club – for the successful future of our party.

2) Forward this letter to anyone you know who has been or could be a serous LP donor, now or in the future, and encourage them to join us, participate and donate.

3) Send me the names of any LP candidate that has a serious chance of winning their race for State Rep. or other significant office this fall, or any campaign that has a serious chance of securing ballot status for the LP in one of our difficult states – I’m still looking for up to six more, and there’s little time left.

4) Please donate whatever you can, as quickly as possible, to the four campaigns I have listed above – for only by hanging together can we accomplish our goals. And send me a letter when you do, and I’ll send along (hopefully) up to six more hot campaigns for 2010 that all of you have sent in.

There it is. Please join me in this project and join me in donating. It’s time we provided adequate funds to our best and most important campaigns. And, if anyone wants to help out in building a successful donors club, then please write and offer your services. I’m hoping that many of you will come forward and build this group. You see, I don’t want to be famous and I have no free time. I’m an American teacher in South Korea. Eight years ago I founded a private school with a Korean partner. I teach 50 to 60 class hours each week. Then, as an entrepreneur – I have to hire and train teachers, develop the curriculum, design tests, create teaching materials and oversee the financial management of the school. I really have no free time, and I don’t want anything other than to donate to our best candidates and see them win elections, win ballot status, build our party and work for our libertarian vision of liberty.

So, that’s it: Please join me. Please forward this letter to every Libertarian donor that you know. Please send me the names and details of the best winning or ballot status campaign that you know of. And please, please, let’s all donate something to the four campaigns listed above.

Thank you for your time and help.

Sincerely,

Nick Youngers