The Pennsylvania Forward Party recently endorsed three Libertarian Party candidates running for municipal and county office at the organization’s October general meeting.
Brittany Kosin is running for Warwick Township Board of Supervisors, while Timothy McMaster is running for Conewago Township Board of Supervisors. A third candidate, Shannon Wheeler, is running for Magisterial District Judge in Dauphin County.
While all three candidates are active Libertarians, the two municipal candidates have a prior electoral history with the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.
McMaster ran as the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania’s Lt. Gubernatorial candidate in the most recent statewide election. Meanwhile, Kosin was a Republican candidate for the 178th House District who later re-filed as a Libertarian that same year after she felt Republicans were dictating policy positions to her. She has remained a Libertarian since.
The Forward Party of Pennsylvania initially announced endorsements for Kosin, McMaster, and Wheeler during its September monthly meeting. During the recent October monthly meeting on Monday evening, party leadership more formally reannounced the endorsements, this time including detailed statements on all three candidates. The organization also had a representative from No Labels attend to discuss additional ways to work together that same meeting.
About Kosin, the endorsement stated, “Brittany was endorsed by the Forward Party because she strives to rise above partisan affiliations and focus on finding practical, effective solutions for the betterment of the community.” Regarding Wheeler, it reads, “Shannon was endorsed by the Forward Party because she is a candidate that seeks the middle ground. She will remain unbiased and non-partisan as a District Judge.” Additionally, concerning McMaster, the endorsement stated, “The Forward Party is endorsing Tim because he believes that building coalitions & bridging divides is the key to making real and sustainable change in the political system.”
The Forward Party has primarily thrown its support behind several Democratic and Republican candidates, referring to them as “Forward Democrats” and “Forward Republicans” until now. However, this is the first instance of the organization doing the same in Pennsylvania with candidates from a fellow third party organization.
With thanks to Adams County Libertarian Party Chair and Board Representative Neil Belliveau for information about the endorsements.
This is what “third lane” unity looks like.