Libertarian Party of Louisiana Holds 2016 State Conventionand Presidential Forum

The Libertarian Party of Louisiana (LPL) held its state convention last weekend on Saturday, April 16th and Sunday, April 17th.

Elections were held for State Central Committee offices, Presidential Electors, and national convention delegates. There were over 70 Libertarians in attendance with 69 voting members.  Baton Rouge attorney Rufus Craig was elected as the new State Central Committee chairman.

Regarding the new SCC composition, elections officer Sarah Stewart said “The fact that over one third of our new SCC Representation is female demonstrates that our message of liberty is being heard across all demographics. The Libertarian Party works for equality and liberty regardless of race or gender.”

A Presidential forum was held Saturday evening featuring four candidates for the Libertarian Party nomination for President of the United States.  Darryl Perry, Rhett Smith, Jack Robinson Jr., and Thomas Clements spoke to attendees regarding their candidacy and answered questions.  Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, Software Pioneer John McAfee, and former Associate Producer for Fox Business Austin Petersen are also seeking the Libertarian Party Presidential nomination.

A straw poll was conducted following the Presidential forum, which was won by Darryl Perry, followed by a tie between Gov. Gary Johnson and Jack Robinson.

Following the Presidential forum, LPL Media Chairman Keith Thompson said “Voters are getting tired of choosing the lesser of two evils and the people are waking up.  The LP stands to grow significantly this election cycle by standing on principle rather than politics as usual.  If voters truly do not wish to waste their vote they should support candidates based on their platform, not their popularity.  Voting for the winner when they oppose your basic freedom is not a winning vote.”

Mr. Thompson noted that “The Democratic Party talks about social liberty and the Republican Party talks about fiscal liberty, but the Libertarian Party is the only party that stands for all of your freedoms all of the time – even when we disagree.  We hold that all individuals have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.”

Also speaking were John Moore, the first Libertarian state legislator in Nevada and Nicholas Sarwark, Chairman of the Libertarian National Committee.

The Libertarian Party of Louisiana currently has over 11,000 registered voters and garnered over 114,000 votes in 2014.