The Reform Party meets in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, today for its first in-person convention since the beginning of the pandemic. The convention’s theme is “Foundations For the Future,” and participation is open to both virtual attendees over Zoom and those who attend in person.
In correspondence sent out by the party ahead of time and received by Independent Political Report, the convention is anticipated to be a crucial component of the party’s “rebranding efforts.” It will encompass the finalization of bylaws and the development of a new party platform. Delegates have already started meeting earlier this morning; however, Reform Party leadership is hosting a public conference open to all interested parties from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM CST.
In a formal statement by Chair Nicholas Hensley on the Reform Party website, he states that the bylaws have “grown to be inadequate for our present organization,” and that he has spent the past year leading an effort to “scrap the 2008 bylaws and write a new set.” He has been joined in his work by Treasurer David Collision and Vice-chair Shawn Storm.
“For most of the Reform Party’s existence, the Reform Party platform was a patchwork quilt of ideas from different eras thrown together and never changed,” Hensley writes.
“Through the work of Reform Party Platform Chair, Richard Kasa, and Northeastern Representative, Richard Walker, the Reform Party will have a modern platform for the 21st Century. This proposal is built on the foundations of Ross Perot and the early Reform Party, but now reflects modern needs.”
The convention will also address “five major issues facing the United States” along with their proposed solutions. It will provide updates on the current state of the modern Reform Party and include a series of straw polls, raffles, officer meet and greets, as well as discussions related to party fundraising and contemporary political issues.
Readers of Independent Political Report interested in learning more about the convention can visit the Reform Party website here and find information on how to attend as a member of the public.
Andy,
The Reform Party lacks the competency to do so. Otherwise they would have started the process already. But, after dealing with Mr Hensley in the past, I can say for certain that there is a lack of leadership and a lack of capability to regain ballot access in Florida. The fact that you don’t see him mention ballot access or candidate recruitment shows the party’s inability to rebuild.
Where is the Reform Party on the ballot now? They recently lost ballot status in Florida, but they can regain it easily by filing some paperwork. I know they were on the ballot in Louisiana but I think they lost ballot access there several years ago. I am not aware of them having ballot access anywhere else.