R. Lee Wrights
Encyclopedia
R. Lee Wrights is an American
libertarian
activist and the founder and editor of LibertyForAll.net, an online libertarian newsletter.
in 1976. Afterwards he enlisted in the United States Air Force
, and served as a medical services technician at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
, Goldsboro, North Carolina
. He was honorably discharged in 1981 with the rank of sergeant.
Wrights earned a degree from Willmar College in Willmar, Minnesota
where he majored in history and journalism. After college, he was a contributing editor for the Eagle News, a monthly political news and commentary newspaper in Forsyth County
.
In 2001 Wrights began work as an editor of the Free Market Daily, an e-mail newsletter distributed by FreeMarket.net. After FreeMarket.net shut down in 2002, Wrights joined a group that began the Rational Review News Digest, a daily web and email-based news and commentary roundup. He has been an editor of the Rational Review News Digest ever since.
From 2005 to 2008, Wrights worked as editor of the Choice Channel for the International Society for Individual Liberty
.
. He has served as secretary and chair of the Libertarian Party of Forsyth County, N.C. and was vice chair of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina
(LPNC) for seven years. He also served as the LPNC ballot access director for two years.
Wrights served as an at-large member of the Libertarian National Committee
(LNC) and was LNC vice chair for two years. During his time on the LNC, Wrights also served four years on the platform committee. He is currently a member of the Libertarian Party judicial committee, elected to that body by the 2010 national convention.
In Burnet, Texas
, where he now lives, Wrights chairs the Burnet County
LP and is the Senate District 24 representative to the Texas LP State Executive Committee. In 2008, Wrights was campaign manager for the Mary Ruwart
for President Committee, and in 2010, he managed Ruwart's campaign for Texas State Comptroller.
Wrights is president of the Foundation for a Free Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the principles of liberty, personal sovereignty, private property, and free markets in order to create a more free and prosperous society.
On April 16, 2011, Wrights officially announced his intention to seek the presidential nomination from the Libertarian Party
in the election of 2012
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
activist and the founder and editor of LibertyForAll.net, an online libertarian newsletter.
Background
Wrights graduated from West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North CarolinaClemmons, North Carolina
Clemmons is a village in Forsyth County, North Carolina and a suburb of Winston-Salem. The population was 18,627 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Clemmons is located at ....
in 1976. Afterwards he enlisted in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, and served as a medical services technician at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located to the southeast of Goldsboro, North Carolina. The base is named for Navy test pilot Seymour Johnson, a native of Goldsboro...
, Goldsboro, North Carolina
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Goldsboro is a city in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 37,597 at the 2008 census estimate. It is the principal city of and is included in the Goldsboro, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The nearby town of Waynesboro was founded in 1787 and Goldsboro was...
. He was honorably discharged in 1981 with the rank of sergeant.
Wrights earned a degree from Willmar College in Willmar, Minnesota
Willmar, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,351 people, 7,302 households, and 4,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.9 people per square mile . There were 7,789 housing units at an average density of 657.8 per square mile...
where he majored in history and journalism. After college, he was a contributing editor for the Eagle News, a monthly political news and commentary newspaper in Forsyth County
Forsyth County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 747 people per square mile . There were 133,093 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile...
.
Writing career
Wrights founded LibertyForAll.net with J. Michael Bragg in 2000, a free speech publication with the motto "Let Your Voice Be Heard" which claims "no one is turned away and no one is censored".In 2001 Wrights began work as an editor of the Free Market Daily, an e-mail newsletter distributed by FreeMarket.net. After FreeMarket.net shut down in 2002, Wrights joined a group that began the Rational Review News Digest, a daily web and email-based news and commentary roundup. He has been an editor of the Rational Review News Digest ever since.
From 2005 to 2008, Wrights worked as editor of the Choice Channel for the International Society for Individual Liberty
International Society for Individual Liberty
The International Society for Individual Liberty or ISIL is a non-profit, non-partisan libertarian educational group encouraging activism in libertarian and individual rights areas by the 'freely chosen strategies' of its members. Its history dates back to 1969 as the Society for Individual...
.
Political activity
Wrights has been active in local, state and national Libertarian Party organizations since 2000 and is a lifetime member of the Libertarian PartyLibertarian 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 has served as secretary and chair of the Libertarian Party of Forsyth County, N.C. and was vice chair of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina
Libertarian Party of North Carolina
The Libertarian Party of North Carolina is the North Carolina affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The state chair is Matt Drew.In the 2008 elections Michael Munger running as the party's candidate for Governor of North Carolina received 121,585 votes for 2.85% of the total vote.Chris Cole running...
(LPNC) for seven years. He also served as the LPNC ballot access director for two years.
Wrights served as an at-large member 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...
(LNC) and was LNC vice chair for two years. During his time on the LNC, Wrights also served four years on the platform committee. He is currently a member of the Libertarian Party judicial committee, elected to that body by the 2010 national convention.
In Burnet, Texas
Burnet, Texas
Burnet is a city in and the county seat of Burnet County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,735 at the 2000 census.Both the city and the county were named for David Gouverneur Burnet, the first president of the Republic of Texas. He also served as Vice President during the...
, where he now lives, Wrights chairs the Burnet County
Burnet County, Texas
Burnet County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 34,147. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate was 44,488. Its county seat is Burnet. Burnet is named for David Gouverneur Burnet, the first president of the Republic of Texas...
LP and is the Senate District 24 representative to the Texas LP State Executive Committee. In 2008, Wrights was campaign manager for the Mary Ruwart
Mary Ruwart
Mary J. Ruwart, Ph. D. is a research scientist and libertarian speaker, writer, and activist. She was a leading candidate for the 2008 Libertarian Party presidential nomination and is the author of the award-winning international bestseller "Healing Our World."-Biography:Born in Detroit, Ruwart...
for President Committee, and in 2010, he managed Ruwart's campaign for Texas State Comptroller.
Wrights is president of the Foundation for a Free Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the principles of liberty, personal sovereignty, private property, and free markets in order to create a more free and prosperous society.
On April 16, 2011, Wrights officially announced his intention to seek the presidential nomination from the 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 election of 2012
United States presidential election, 2012
The United States presidential election of 2012 is the next United States presidential election, to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. It will be the 57th quadrennial presidential election in which presidential electors, who will actually elect the President and the Vice President of the United...
.