Published May 26, 2013 on The Examiner. Written by Karl Dickey. (http://www.examiner.com/article/florida-libertarian-elect-a-new-face-for-their-political-party-to-move-forward)
The Libertarian Party of Florida (LPF) is holding its annual convention and business meeting this weekend in Naples, Florida which will continue through this morning. Yesterday the delegates at the convention elected Dana Moxley Cummings as their new chair. Cummings is from Hollywood, Florida and is a graduate of FSU with a B.S. in political science and sociology. She and her family currently live in Valrico, Florida. She is relatively new to the Libertarian Party, however has worked on the party’s legislative review committee and their rules committee. Before joining with the Libertarians, Cummings worked for the Ron Paul campaign during his presidential effort.
Cummings said her main goals “will be to get Libertarians elected and continue to increase the momentum and growth of the party while striving to reach full affiliation in all 67 counties.” She added, “In order to do this we need money, and I intend to focus on implementing massive fundraising efforts that will have LPF funds at next year’s meeting almost double what they are today.”
Former Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Alexander Snitker won Vice Chair for the LPF during yesterday’s elections by a wide margin. Snitker currently runs a successful radio show out of the Tampa Bay area along with Adrian Wyllie, a Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of Florida. Snitker said, “At this time I feel that we have a unique opportunity to continue the growth theLibertarian Party of Florida has seen recently. The people of Florida are “fed up” with the current two party system and are looking for an alternative. I think, given the right focus, we can capitalize on this growth. Our party has made great increases in organization and structure and I feel that we have to make sure we stay on the right path and continue the increases we have already seen.”
In addition to those elections the delegates at the convention elected Libertarian Party of Collier County chairman, Jared Grifoni their position 1 At-Large Director and Pete Blome their position 3 At-Large Director. The delegates also elected new Regional Representatives for the 14 regions the LPF has in Florida.
The convention will conclude unfinished business this morning as well as enjoy a breakfast with speaker Nikolai Wenzel and an afternoon ‘Sweet Liberty Boat Trip’.
Here are some more detailed updates:
* Char-lez Braden lost his race for FL Chair by a vote of 33 to 22 to Cummings.
* Alexander Snitker, 2010 LP candidate for U.S. Senate, won 45-10 against Mike Kane for the vice-chair race.
* Jared Grifoni was elected to Director At-Large 1, and Pete Blome was elected At-large 3…
* Grifoni by 42-11
* Char-lez was elected region 6 rep
* Kane was elected region 14 rep
* David Hester was elected region 7 rep, Brian Cole was elected to region 8, LNC member Vicki Kirkland was elected region 3
Some reactions to the convention:
I just arrived home from the 2013 Libertarian Party of Florida annual convention, which was a phenomenal success. I was thrilled that Dana Moxley Cummings was elected as my successor as Chair of the party, as I step aside to focus all my energy on the Governor’s race.I was also pleased to see my dear friends Alexander Snitker, Jared Grifoni and Pete Blome were elected to officer positions in the LPF.
However, I was disappointed that Roger Stone announced that he would not seek the Libertarian nomination for Governor of Florida. I was really looking forward to a strong challenge from such a worthy political opponent.
Eastbound on the Alley, headed back to finish off our Memorial Day “vacation” with my family! I’d like to give many thanks to the LP’s of Collier and Miami/Dade, for the fantastic Convention. I’m very grateful to have been elected to serve as the new Chairperson of the Libertarian Party of Florida, and beyond excited for all of my fellow (and future) members of the LPF to be a part of the successes we WILL achieve over the next two years! It’s a great time to be a Libertarian 🙂
The lp radicals had some success today in Florida .. Preventing the 5 year suspension rule from passing.. Unfortunately the delegation voted heavily in favor of Dana Cummings who just last August joined the party. I lost to a much less radical candidate 45 to 10 . I made. Regional rep but thee majority f the fla delegation made it clear that they will sacrifice lp positions for perceived Electoral successPlatform change failed, citing differences with national platform. Tried adding “we support unrestricted free migration of all individuals across all Florida borders and coastlines”
Adrian Wyllie with Lucas Overby, candidate for U.S. Congress, district 13.
A full photo gallery is available here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.627265900635187.1073741827.203840349644413&type=1
Will be posting a convention report later this week hopefully.
so disappointing.