Libertarian Party of Oregon
Encyclopedia
The Libertarian Party of Oregon is a political party
representing the national Libertarian Party
in the U.S. state of Oregon
. It is organized as a minor party for state election law, and recognized by the Oregon as a state-wide nominating party.
It was organized in 1971 as one of the first state affiliates of the newly established national Libertarian Party which nominated Oregon party member Theodora Nathan as its vice presidential candidate at the 1972 convention. Affiliated local committees have been organized in 13 of Oregon's counties. The party ranks fourth in size behind the state's two major parties, Republican
and Democratic
and the Independent Party of Oregon
at 0.8% of Oregon's affiliated registered voters as of 2004.
, the party's nominee for Vice President of the United States
, earns the first electoral vote
ever cast for a woman.
1998:Richard Burke ran for Governor in a seven way race and finished third with 2% of the vote. Bruce Knight ran for US House of Representatives district 3 in a three way race, finishing second with 10%.
2000:Mitch Shults ran for State Treasurer, received the endorsement of the Salem Statesman Journal
and got 4% of the vote in a five way race.
2002:20 Libertarian candidates ran for office, 14 of those for the Oregon Legislative Assembly
. The Libertarian candidate for Governor of Oregon
that year, Tom Cox, garnered 5% of the vote.
2004:The number of Oregon Libertarian candidates rose to 32, nearly half of them recent converts to the party, according to Richard Burke, state executive director.
2006:Libertarian Richard Morley ran for Governor, in the party's only run for statewide office. The party fielded candidate Drake Davis in Oregon's 1st congressional district
, and had candidates in 13 state legislative
campaigns. None of the party's candidates was elected.
2008:Michael Jingozian runs for president. Although he doesn't win the nomination, Michael wins election as vice chair of the Libertarian National Committee
.
Wes Wagner, Libertarian Party of Clackamas County vice-chair, sued the party and its officers in December 2006. Wagner's suit alleged that the party did not obey its own bylaws with regards to its fiduciary obligations while running up a five-figure debt to Richard Burke. The case was dismissed in Washington County Court, though it was rumored it was pending appeal, for quite some time.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
representing the national Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
in the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It is organized as a minor party for state election law, and recognized by the Oregon as a state-wide nominating party.
It was organized in 1971 as one of the first state affiliates of the newly established national Libertarian Party which nominated Oregon party member Theodora Nathan as its vice presidential candidate at the 1972 convention. Affiliated local committees have been organized in 13 of Oregon's counties. The party ranks fourth in size behind the state's two major parties, Republican
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
and Democratic
Democratic Party of Oregon
The Democratic Party of Oregon, based in Portland, is the official Oregon affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. It is recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party, along with the Oregon Republican Party...
and the Independent Party of Oregon
Independent Party of Oregon
The Independent Party of Oregon is a political party in the U.S. state of Oregon. The IPO is Oregon's third-largest political party and the largest minor party of the state, with 68,516 registrants since its inception in January 2007 making up 3.37% of Oregon's registered voters...
at 0.8% of Oregon's affiliated registered voters as of 2004.
History
1972:Theodora Nathalia NathanTheodora Nathalia Nathan
Theodora Nathalia "Tonie" Nathan is the first woman to have received an electoral vote in a United States presidential election...
, the party's nominee for Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, earns the first electoral vote
Electoral college
An electoral college is a set of electors who are selected to elect a candidate to a particular office. Often these represent different organizations or entities, with each organization or entity represented by a particular number of electors or with votes weighted in a particular way...
ever cast for a woman.
1998:Richard Burke ran for Governor in a seven way race and finished third with 2% of the vote. Bruce Knight ran for US House of Representatives district 3 in a three way race, finishing second with 10%.
2000:Mitch Shults ran for State Treasurer, received the endorsement of the Salem Statesman Journal
Statesman Journal
The Statesman Journal is the major daily newspaper published in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1851, the Oregon Statesman later merged with the Capital Journal to form the current newspaper, the second-oldest in Oregon. The Statesman Journal is distributed in Salem, Keizer, and much of...
and got 4% of the vote in a five way race.
2002:20 Libertarian candidates ran for office, 14 of those for the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
. The Libertarian candidate for Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
that year, Tom Cox, garnered 5% of the vote.
2004:The number of Oregon Libertarian candidates rose to 32, nearly half of them recent converts to the party, according to Richard Burke, state executive director.
2006:Libertarian Richard Morley ran for Governor, in the party's only run for statewide office. The party fielded candidate Drake Davis in Oregon's 1st congressional district
Oregon's 1st congressional district
Oregon's 1st congressional district consists of the northwest corner of Oregon. It includes Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, and Yamhill counties, and southwest Portland, part of Multnomah County, which belonged to the 3rd district before the 2002 redistricting....
, and had candidates in 13 state legislative
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
campaigns. None of the party's candidates was elected.
2008:Michael Jingozian runs for president. Although he doesn't win the nomination, Michael wins election as vice chair of the Libertarian National Committee
Libertarian National Committee
The Libertarian National Committee controls and manages the affairs, properties, and funds of the United States Libertarian Party. It is composed of the party officers, five at-large representatives elected every two years at the national convention, and a theoretical maximum of ten regional...
.
Organization
The party is governed by a State Committee consisting of statewide party officers and delegates from each organized Affiliated County Party (ACP). A convention is held annually at which the statewide officers, who serve one year terms, are elected. The convention may serve as a nominating convention during election years.Officers
- Jeff Weston, Chairman
- Wes Wagner, Vice-Chair
- Richard Skyba, Secretary
- Mark Vetanen, Treasurer
State chair history
- Present - Jeff Weston
- 2008-2010 - Joseph Cornwell
- 2008 - H. Joe Tabor
- 2007-2008 - Wes Wagner
- 2007 - Don Smith
- 2007 - Alfredo Torrejon
- 2004-2007 - Adam Mayer
- 2003-2004 - Tom Cox
- 2001-2003 - Mitch Shults
- 1999-2001 - Adam Mayer
- 1998-1999 - Bruce Knight
- 1996-1998 - Kristopher Barrett
- 1996 - Tom Cox
- 1996 - Daniel Wilson
- 1995-1996 - Michael Wilson
- 1994-1995 - Richard Burke
Controversy
In 1996 former Chairperson Richard Burke led an attempt to impact the outcome of the race for Oregon's first congressional district seat by not running a Libertarian candidate after the Libertarian candidate had been credited with throwing the previous race to the Democrat. Proponents of this strategy believed that as the proposed Libertarian nominee had not raised sufficient money or built a sufficient campaign organization to run a significant campaign, the Libertarian platform would be more effectively advanced by the Republican candidate who had spent time building a relationship with the Oregon Libertarian Party. Other Libertarians thought the strategy to be tantamount to a "sell out", and an intense controversy ensued. The Libertarian candidate, Richard Johnson, narrowly won the nomination. The incumbent Democrat, Elizabeth Furse, was re-elected that fall.Wes Wagner, Libertarian Party of Clackamas County vice-chair, sued the party and its officers in December 2006. Wagner's suit alleged that the party did not obey its own bylaws with regards to its fiduciary obligations while running up a five-figure debt to Richard Burke. The case was dismissed in Washington County Court, though it was rumored it was pending appeal, for quite some time.