The following was posted on lp.org today:
On Tuesday, April 9, voters in New Port Richey, Fla., will head to the polls to fill two city council seats.
Out of the seven candidates who have qualified for a spot on the ballot, the top two vote-getters will be elected. Those interested in shrinking the size of government and putting an end to “business as usual” politics will have a choice they can get excited about on the ballot in the form of Michael Malterer.
Making his first bid for elected office at the age of 24, Malterer hopes to promote a thriving downtown district and said he will work to make the permitting process easier to navigate for business owners seeking to locate in the city.
He would also favor a reduction in property taxes.
“We have high property taxes in the city,” he told the Tampa Bay Times in an interview. “That’s something that definitely deters ownership.”
Malterer and his campaign team have been aggressively canvassing neighborhoods for the last several months, visiting homes and making hundreds of follow-up phone calls to reach voters.
Although the race is for a nonpartisan office, Malterer is making no secret of his Libertarian roots. He has been actively involved with the LP, is endorsed by the state party’s executive committee, and was an active supporter of the Gary Johnson for President campaign.
Malterer is an Operations Manager with Penske Truck Leasing. He and his wife Katelynn are expecting their first child later this year.
To learn more about Michael Malterer’s campaign, visit his website.
Either way, it would not have taken many more votes to win.
Please excuse my error.
It looks to me like he came in 6th out of 7 candidates. Although after the 1st place candidate the rest were all really grouped fairly closely together.
He came in 4th place, but the final vote was very close.
COUNCILPERSON CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY
(Vote for no more than ) 2
Chopper Davis . . . . . . . . . 296 15.07
Bob Langford . . . . . . . . . 261 13.29
Michael Malterer . . . . . . . . 240 12.22
Ginny Miller . . . . . . . . . 259 13.19
Rose M. Mohr . . . . . . . . . 286 14.56
Jeff Starkey . . . . . . . . . 415 21.13
Jonathan Tietz. . . . . . . . . 207 10.54
Best wises to Mr. Malterer. Gettign elected locally affords you many opportunities to represent Libertarian principles in public policy. I’m a recently re-elected Libertarian town councilman, and it is common for my one vote to swing a government decision toward the nonintrusive or less costly. I have successfully argued to have needless regulations voted down, have shamed the council into waiving pointless zoning rules restricting property rights, and have spearheaded the adoption of two no-tax-increase annual budgets. I always vote against taxes and government spending and announce why. And even in cases when the more Libertarian position does not prevail, it educates the public to put on the record (and often in the newspaper) the Libertarian reasons for why I vote a certain way.
Yes I have personally spoken to Michael a few times and have donated to his campaign as well. I wish I was closer geographically to help
Best wishes to Michael Malterer. I donated to his campaign and wish I was back in Florida to help him in person.
Nice. I’m running for York City council with similar goals here in York, Pa.
This is how you make the LP a tangible, viable party; with legitimate candidates that promote real-world, practical solutions to everyday problems.
Michael Malterer, I salute you.
There are a handful, the most significant of which is a member of the Winter Haven city commission….
http://www.lp.org/state/florida
It would be good if he won this. I don’t think LPF has any elected officials, but I may be wrong.