Pirate National Committee Elects Joseph Wolfson, Mars Bale to National Director Roles

The Pirate National Committee has elected Joseph Wolfson and Mars Bale to fill two national leadership vacancies, selecting Wolfson as the organization’s new Director of Public Relations and Bale as its Director of the Online.

The elections took place during a PNC meeting on February 22 and were held to fill the positions after both became vacant earlier this month. During the meeting, a subcommittee consisting of Chair Jolly Mitch Davilo, Pirate Party Lookout Wanda Ward, and Young Pirates USA representative Lily Boyt was appointed to oversee the election process. Voting was open to all qualifying affiliate representatives in attendance.

Wolfson, a Pennsylvania-based activist, will serve as the Pirate Party’s Director of Public Relations. In that position, he will be responsible for managing the party’s social media presence, advising the national committee on public messaging, coordinating press outreach, and facilitating public-facing opportunities for party members. Outside of the Pirate Party, Wolfson has publicly advocated for formal cooperation across multiple third parties and said during remarks that he is also a member of both the Green and Libertarian parties.

Mars Bale, an Ohio resident, was elected as Director of the Online, sometimes referred to within the party as the “On-line” or Webadmin. The role oversees the maintenance of the Pirate Party’s digital presence, including its websites, blogs, and wikis, and coordinates volunteer efforts related to maintaining those platforms. Bale previously sought the position during the Pirate Party’s 2025 national conference.

Two candidates sought the director of public relations position during the meeting, including David Hall, an alternate representative of the Florida Pirate Party, who said he entered the race to provide members with more choices. Bale was the sole candidate present for the Online director position, though “None of the Above” was treated as an option in both elections. The party did not release vote totals, though under its bylaws, only a simple majority was required.

Both Wolfson and Bale will serve for the remainder of the current term. Wolfson is also expected to play a role in reviving the party’s Press Committee, which is expected to begin meeting. Their positions, along with the rest of the Pirate Party’s national leadership, will be up for election at the Pirate National Conference scheduled for June 6–7 in Boston.