Ken Moellman is the Libertarian Party of Kentucky Chairman, as well as a frequent commenter here at Independent Political Report. This blog post from Cincinatti.com reports that Moellman is part of an effort to change the county government in Campbell County, Kentucky.
Libertarians and Republicans are banding together in Campbell County to try and change the structure of county government.
The effort is led by Libertarian Party of Kentucky Chairman Ken Moellman of Pendleton County, Alexandria City Councilman Lloyd Rogers, and County Board of Elections member Tim Nolan of California. Members of the tea party movement are also involved, Nolan said.
They’ve launched a petition drive to collect the signatures of 1,200 registered voters by early August and put a measure on the November ballot to move from a commissioner to magistrate government beginning in 2015.
Instead of three county commissioners who are elected countywide, they want eight county magistrates who would be elected by district.
That, they say, would hold government more accountable to the people by having one representative for roughly every 11,000 residents.
“The current system is not a representative system. Everybody’s voted in at-large,” said Moellman. “It’s not ideal, and I don’t think it’s in line with what representative government is supposed to be.”
Ken Moellman made news in recent weeks when the Libertarian Party of Kentucky put out a press release attempting to clarify that Rand Paul “is not a Libertarian”.
Hey everyone.
Been a bit busy lately. But yes, while a proportional representation system would give us a token win, I still don’t think it’s the best system, overall.
However, in Kentucky, there are 4 forms of government that can exist in a county.
Magistrate, the original system, defines between 3 and 8 magistrates who are elected from districts only by the people of those districts.
Commission, the system used in 12.5% of counties, where 3 commissioners are elected at-large by the entire county.
“Metro type-1”, where the county eats all cities.
“Metro type-2”, where the big city eats the county.
The long-term goal of the power brokers is to combine the top 3 counties in Northern Kentucky into one county, and make it metro-style of some sort.
However, that would decrease representation. The Commission system also decreases representation, when compared against a magistrate system.
The magistrate system is what the founders intended for the country, and is the best system available to a county under Kentucky state law.
And I’m a huge fan of Instant Runoff Voting. Easy to explain, easy to tally, and easy to implement; it provides the best of both worlds – what the founders wanted and a more-representative election system that is possible today because of technology.
Close; I’d say “push PR or approval or score.”
Because IRV doesn’t help third parties either.
PLAS is passe… the move is to PSLA!
HIJACK!
WE’ve seen the polls. Third party/Independent=single digits. WE know what is going to happen in November. THE USUAL. Third party/Independents will virtually ALL LOSE. Most lose big. Low single digits. A few get low double digits. So what?
Can we agree/concede/admit this?
What can be done? Well, we can TRY the PLAS Experiment. If a LOT of candidates declared they support this strategy & WILL TRY IT this election cycle, it just might work. It is worth a try if only because we know we are going to lose anyway.
If you want to try this, whether activist, candidate, party member/official, you have got to speak up! ASAP! NOW! It is not too late for this election cycle. Some ballots are still available. Many moves are possible, most of which could be the reason to call a press conference. Press conferences can help publicize the Strategty. Perhaps a Green would withdraw & support the LP competitor on that ballot. Press conference. Perhaps a Lib. who endorsed a republican would announce a change of endorsement-for the Green on that ballot. Press conference. etc.
I am running a PLAS campaign for president. My website needs to be updated. http://milnes2008.freeservers.com/
This is an Independent campaign which will seek a bloc fusion vp candidate & endorse as full as possible downticket slate of Greens & Libertarians. I need all the support I can get. Volunteers, donations, web assistance,hosting & processing contributions,, manager, etc. Donations to my paypal will be descretionary and diverted to my campaign up to $5000 personal funding. Then I must file with FEC.
The 2010 election cycle must be tried soon. Let’s get on with it!
Why does it go into effect in 2015? Cuyahoga got their council immediately. (starting next year that is)
And, yes…push for PR or IRV.
The Libertarians would have a better chance of getting at least one seat under a system of proportional representation.
Single-member plurality districts still play in to the hands of the two major parties.