Mark M. Noble
Encyclopedia
Mark Michael Noble is a computer engineer and Libertarian Party
politician in Ohio
.
. He is a graduate of Ohio State University
.
, Noble ran for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
on the Libertarian ticket
with Bill Peirce
, the party's nomination for governor. Peirce and Noble finished third with 67,596 votes, 1.8 percent of the total vote behind winner Ted Strickland
, the Democratic
nominee, and runner-up Ken Blackwell
, the Republican
nominee, and ahead of Green
Party candidate, Bob Fitrakis
.
In 2008, Noble ran for U.S. Representative
for Ohio's 15th congressional district
. Noble successfully challenged Ohio's ballot access
laws, which the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
ruled unconstitutional
, and qualified for the ballot. He finished third with 4.6 percent of the vote.
Noble is currently the chairman of the Franklin County Libertarian Party
. He was elected to that position in 2006 and re-elected in 2008.
His campaign for gun rights garnered him national publicity in 2007, including coverage of the Empty Holster Protest by Fox News.
Previously, Noble has campaigned
on platforms including policies of reduced regulation
, lower taxes, personal responsibility
, reform of eminent domain
abuse, parental choice, and an adherence to the Constitution and Bill of Rights
.
On 6 June 2008, the Libertarian Party of Ohio, by application of Mark Noble and several Libertarian Party of Ohio colleagues (Kevin Knedler, Bob Barr
, Wayne Root, and Margaret Leech) as plaintiffs
, filed a suit
(Libertarian Party of Ohio v. Brunner) against Ohio Secretary of State
claiming that the Secretary of State's refusal to give the Libertarian Party of Ohio access to the November 2008 general electoral ballot
deprived the "plaintiffs of speech, voting and associational rights secured by the First and Fourteenth amendments to the Constitution of the United States."
On 21 August 2008, the court found in favor, granting an order for the plaintiffs' motion
for preliminary injunction
.
This case established that the Ohio Secretary of State's Directive 2007-09 for the placement of minor party candidates on the state election ballot was unconstitutional.
Victory in this case required the Ohio Secretary of State to list minor party
political candidates with party affiliation on the ballot without the strict petitioning requirements of major parties. In the 2008 presidential election this resulted in eight candidates on the ballot for president representing six political parties (along with two independents).
The importance of this case lies in establishing ballot access
for all candidates, regardless of party affiliation (and in particular, without favor to the 'big two'
). Because each state establishes its own laws on how a candidate may be listed on the ballot, ballot access laws can be regarded as a significant impediment to the open process of democracy. Given Noble's Libertarian focus on constitutionality
, the challenge to the Ohio ballot access regulations represents a major ideological
event for the Libertarian Party, as well as a practical matter for third-party
candidates in Ohio elections.
As a result of the win, the Libertarian Party was allowed on the ballot in Ohio, with party brand. This was only the third time in the history of the Libertarian Party of Ohio that party brand has been on the ballot line.
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...
politician in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Early life and education
Noble was born in Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. He is a graduate of Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
.
Political career
In 2006Ohio gubernatorial election, 2006
The Ohio gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006, and was a race for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. Incumbent Governor Bob Taft could not run for re-election, as Ohio governors are limited to two consecutive terms in office....
, Noble ran for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
The position of lieutenant governor of Ohio was established in 1852. The lieutenant governor becomes governor if the governor resigns, dies in office or is removed by impeachment. Before 1852, the president of the Ohio State Senate would serve as acting governor if a vacancy in the governorship...
on the Libertarian ticket
Ticket (election)
A ticket refers to a single election choice which fills more than one political office or seat. For example, in the U.S., the candidates for President and Vice President run on the same "ticket", because they are elected together on a single ballot question rather than separately.A ticket can also...
with Bill Peirce
Bill Peirce
William S. "Bill" Peirce was the Libertarian Party of Ohio candidate for Ohio Governor in the November 7, 2006 election. On November 12, 2005, the party made its endorsement of Peirce official....
, the party's nomination for governor. Peirce and Noble finished third with 67,596 votes, 1.8 percent of the total vote behind winner Ted Strickland
Ted Strickland
Theodore "Ted" Strickland was the 68th Governor of Ohio, serving from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ....
, the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee, and runner-up Ken Blackwell
Ken Blackwell
John Kenneth Blackwell is an American politician and activist who served as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio from 1979 to 1980 and Ohio Secretary of State from 1999 to 2007. A Republican, he was the first African-American to be the candidate for governor of a major party in Ohio. In 2006, Blackwell...
, the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee, and ahead of Green
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
Party candidate, Bob Fitrakis
Bob Fitrakis
Bob Fitrakis is a Professor of Political Science in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department at Columbus State Community College, an attorney, reporter, Executive Director of the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism/CICJ Books as well as the Editor of The Free Press .He has a Ph.D...
.
In 2008, Noble ran for U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for Ohio's 15th congressional district
Ohio's 15th congressional district
The 15th congressional district of Ohio is currently represented by Republican Steve Stivers.Union County and Madison County are entirely within the district's boundaries as is approximately half of Franklin County...
. Noble successfully challenged Ohio's ballot access
Ballot access
Ballot access rules, called nomination rules outside the United States, regulate the conditions under which a candidate or political party is either entitled to stand for election or to appear on voters' ballots...
laws, which the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio is one of two United States district courts in Ohio and includes forty-eight of the state's eighty-eight counties. Appeals from the court are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit at Cincinnati The...
ruled unconstitutional
Constitutionality
Constitutionality is the condition of acting in accordance with an applicable constitution. Acts that are not in accordance with the rules laid down in the constitution are deemed to be ultra vires.-See also:*ultra vires*Company law*Constitutional law...
, and qualified for the ballot. He finished third with 4.6 percent of the vote.
Noble is currently the chairman of the Franklin County 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...
. He was elected to that position in 2006 and re-elected in 2008.
His campaign for gun rights garnered him national publicity in 2007, including coverage of the Empty Holster Protest by Fox News.
Previously, Noble has campaigned
Political campaign
A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electoral campaigns, wherein representatives are chosen or referendums are decided...
on platforms including policies of reduced regulation
Regulation
Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...
, lower taxes, personal responsibility
Accountability
Accountability is a concept in ethics and governance with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving...
, reform of eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
abuse, parental choice, and an adherence to the Constitution and Bill of Rights
United States Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These limitations serve to protect the natural rights of liberty and property. They guarantee a number of personal freedoms, limit the government's power in judicial and other proceedings, and...
.
Constitutional Challenge
Following a successful challenge to the unconstitutional ballot access laws with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in 2008, Noble was able to officially mount his candidacy for House of Representatives, Ohio's 15th district.On 6 June 2008, the Libertarian Party of Ohio, by application of Mark Noble and several Libertarian Party of Ohio colleagues (Kevin Knedler, Bob Barr
Bob Barr
Robert Laurence "Bob" Barr, Jr. is a former federal prosecutorand a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Georgia's 7th congressional district as a Republican from 1995 to 2003. Barr attained national prominence as one of the leaders of the impeachment of...
, Wayne Root, and Margaret Leech) as plaintiffs
Plaintiff
A plaintiff , also known as a claimant or complainant, is the term used in some jurisdictions for the party who initiates a lawsuit before a court...
, filed a suit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
(Libertarian Party of Ohio v. Brunner) against Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transactions, and granting access to public...
claiming that the Secretary of State's refusal to give the Libertarian Party of Ohio access to the November 2008 general electoral ballot
Ballot
A ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. Each voter uses one ballot, and ballots are not shared. In the simplest elections, a ballot may be a simple scrap of paper on which each voter writes in the name of a candidate, but governmental elections use pre-printed to protect the...
deprived the "plaintiffs of speech, voting and associational rights secured by the First and Fourteenth amendments to the Constitution of the United States."
On 21 August 2008, the court found in favor, granting an order for the plaintiffs' motion
Motion (legal)
In law, a motion is a procedural device to bring a limited, contested issue before a court for decision. A motion may be thought of as a request to the judge to make a decision about the case. Motions may be made at any point in administrative, criminal or civil proceedings, although that right is...
for preliminary injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
.
This case established that the Ohio Secretary of State's Directive 2007-09 for the placement of minor party candidates on the state election ballot was unconstitutional.
Victory in this case required the Ohio Secretary of State to list minor party
Minor party
Minor party is a political party that play a smaller role than a major party in a country's politics and elections. The difference between minor and major parties can be so big that the membership total, donations, and the candidates that they are able to produce or attract are very distinct...
political candidates with party affiliation on the ballot without the strict petitioning requirements of major parties. In the 2008 presidential election this resulted in eight candidates on the ballot for president representing six political parties (along with two independents).
The importance of this case lies in establishing ballot access
Ballot access
Ballot access rules, called nomination rules outside the United States, regulate the conditions under which a candidate or political party is either entitled to stand for election or to appear on voters' ballots...
for all candidates, regardless of party affiliation (and in particular, without favor to the 'big two'
Two-party system
A two-party system is a system where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government and, as a result, all or nearly all elected offices are members of one of the two major parties...
). Because each state establishes its own laws on how a candidate may be listed on the ballot, ballot access laws can be regarded as a significant impediment to the open process of democracy. Given Noble's Libertarian focus on constitutionality
Constitutionality
Constitutionality is the condition of acting in accordance with an applicable constitution. Acts that are not in accordance with the rules laid down in the constitution are deemed to be ultra vires.-See also:*ultra vires*Company law*Constitutional law...
, the challenge to the Ohio ballot access regulations represents a major ideological
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
event for the Libertarian Party, as well as a practical matter for third-party
Third party (politics)
In a two-party system of politics, the term third party is sometimes applied to a party other than the two dominant ones. While technically the term is limited to the third largest party or third oldest party, it is common, though innumerate, shorthand for any smaller party.For instance, in the...
candidates in Ohio elections.
As a result of the win, the Libertarian Party was allowed on the ballot in Ohio, with party brand. This was only the third time in the history of the Libertarian Party of Ohio that party brand has been on the ballot line.