The Libertarian National Committee is voting to appoint two new members to the party’s Employment Policy and Compensation Committee. The LNC approved an earlier motion this week to expand the size of the committee.
In a motion passed on Wednesday, the LNC voted to increase the Employment Policy and Compensation Committee’s total membership from three to five, excluding the LNC chair. Ten members voted in favor of the change, five opposed, and two did not vote—one of whom explicitly abstained. The motion was first introduced by members Keith Thompson, Kathy Yeniscavich, Meredith Hays, and Adrian F Malagon early last week.
According to the LNC’s most recent Policy Manual, the Employment Policy and Compensation Committee is responsible for developing documents, procedures, and guidelines related to overseeing party staff, including those concerning job descriptions, compensation ranges, and termination. It also handles concerns regarding staff member behavior.
The LNC is now looking to fill the two newly created seats, with four members sponsoring a motion to appoint Jessi Cowart and Adrian F Malagon. According to the LNC’s public Business List, the motion to appoint both members was introduced on Thursday by Yeniscavich, Hays, Malagon, and Jonathan McGee. Voting on their appointments is underway until March 20.
Cowart has served as the Region 3 South Alternate since February, filling a vacancy created by the promotion of former alternate Keith Thompson. Malagon is an At-Large member who was also appointed from a prior alternate position last month.
While the motion proposes both Cowart and Malagon for the committee, members are voting on each candidate individually, with a simple majority required for approval. Additionally, LNC Chair Steven Nekhaila noted that members may vote for “None of the Above” as an option. As of this article, both Cowart and Malagon have received four votes each.
According to Secretary Caryn Ann Harlos on the LNC’s public Business List earlier today:
“Voting has ended for EMAIL BALLOT 20250313-01
Jessi Cowart and Adrian F Malagon are elected to EPCC. Following is vote breakdown. 16 Ballots were cast so that a majority would be 9.
Voting Cowart: Bost, Chadderdon, Darr, Harlos, Hays, Lam, Malagon, McGee, Nanna, Redpath, Thompson, Yeniscavich (12 votes)
Voting Lam: Bost, Bracco, Chadderdon, Ford, Lam, Vinson, Watkins (7 Votes)
Voting Malagon: Darr, Harlos, Hays, Malagon, McGee, Nanna, Redpath, Thompson, Yeniscavich (9 Votes)
Voting NOTA: None
Express Abstention from Voting Entirely: None
No Vote Recorded: Nekhaila
Secretary’s Notes: As was permitted there were several undervotes where an LNC member voted for only one candidate.”
Some unexpected developments here, but the current vote totals are:
Jessi Cowart: 11
Adrian F Malagon: 9
Aron Lam: 3
NOTA: 0
Bost, Lam, and Watkins are the three supporting Lam. There was also an appeal of the chair’s ruling on how the vote is being conducted, but it doesn’t seem to have gained traction. The motion will close at the end of today, and several LNC members have yet to vote.
Since when is it the custom to sponsor a motion nominating oneself, especially when there are plenty of other (co-)sponsors already? Strange move.