Ron,
The reasons I listed for running multiple candidates apply to any
positions, whether for district, citywide, state or federal office.
Registered Libertarians are not a limited resource when it comes to how
many candidates we run; they can vote for as many candidates as their
are open positions, and giving them the opportunity to vote Libertarian
is an important step in helping them feel connected with their party
and eventually turning some of them into activists. You say you found
out about the LP accidentally by visiting a website. Many other people
have discovered the party accidentally by seeing our candidates on
their ballots. Running additional candidates usually costs the LPSF
little or nothing in terms of outlays from our treasury. Candidates are
generally given to understand that they are responsible for their own
fundraising, and we have spent very little as a local party promoting
our candidates.
All your other comments about grassroots campaign organization I am in
full agreement with. Going door to door is something I have been
suggesting as well. Your experience in having worked on successful
local campaigns in the past will certainly be welcome as we move
forward.
I certainly share your outrage at Mike Denny (or any other LP
candidate) being shut out of debates. Last year when running for
Supervisor, I embarrassed the organizers of a debate that excluded me
and several other candidates by sending out a press release to the
media and picketing outside their event. They never quite formally
apologized, but one of the key people said to me afterward that if
they'd had it to do over again, they would have done things
differently. If we put sufficient heat under these groups, I think they
will change their ways.
Regarding a phone bank, Mike Denny had some of his employees doing
this for us in the past. I don't know whether that is an option for him
this year or not. You're right that it can be an effective means of
campaigning, and we should not be hesitant in letting our members know
that we are looking for this type of "in kind" contributions if we have
the people willing to work the phones.
Yours in liberty,
<<< Starchild >>>
LPSF Outreach Director
Dear Starchild;
I based my statements on having been a field worker for two successful
candidates for district election. The two were Ed Lawson and the Lee
Dolson. They were elected during the first go around for district
elections.Yes, this is back in the dim dark past of caveman days. But the
premise of what worked then still applies today. I also worked for a
candidate for state assembly who campaigned against Willie Brown. The
basic campaign was successful enough to have the Great Willie deign
to do a radio listener call-in question debate.The basic foundation was Grass Roots at the literal door to door kind.
Today this also includes e-mail organizing, political blogs, political
chat rooms and political phone banks.I believe your premise is based more on city or county wide elective
positions. Yes having Libertarian candidates in all the races is nice
for party name recognition. But I believe it squanders the limited
resources which are available to the LPSF. The limited resources are
active registered Libertarians and an active LPSF treasury. The
Democratic and Republican County Committees can rely on several
hundred thousand dollar budgets and thousands of workers.It means something as simple as an organized phone bank. This is where
a local businessman allows use of their telephones after work
hours for voter get out etc. Which Libertarian business owner can do
this for the Libertarian Party SF?It means something as simple as the party chair ordering from the
California Secretary of State the most current voter rolls for SF on
cd-rom or diskette. This would then be used by all Libertarian
candidates and the LPSF to target potential voters for their campaign.Or even better, targeting the second largest political party in San
Francisco. Does anyone know who this is? It's the DEC Party. The
Decline To State Party in SF totals about 25.39% of all registered
voters. These are people who have been turned off by their party but
still want to vote. This is 143,308 potential Libertarians. But how do
they find out about the Libertarian Party?I found out there was a Libertarian party by accident. I came across a
web site where you made choices on what you would do about 25
different political issues. When I made my choices and keyed the
answer sheet I found I was a Libertarian.See the political match making quiz at:
http://www.3pc.net/matchmaker/quiz.htmlIt's far better than the shortest political quiz because it is built
around issues.These are just a few things based on my past hard experiences. Yes I
am open to hear more on what could be done.But I still believe limited resources needs a highly focused
and concentrated campaign to get a Libertarian elected. Having an
elected Libertarian as supervisor would avoid the situation I
continually read about in the newspapers about what happens to Mike
Denny.The newspaper story would be about the anointed elite appearing before
such and such group or association to debate the merits of their being
elected mayor. And by the way some crumbs and a bone were thrown from
the table to the other mayoral candidate Mike Denny who was invited to
make a prepared statement.What a bunch of crap!!! It burns the hell out of me every time I read
such a story!!!Having an elected Libertarian would put a stop to the most egregious
insults from so called power broker meet the anointed candidates
luncheons.My sincere belief is we need to focus on getting a Libertarian to run
for an office where there is a genuine opportunity for them to be
elected to that office.Mike Denny - if have you read down this far - no insult intended. I
know how wearying and tiring campaigning is and how tough it is and
the psychic bruising you get and never forget.To paraphrase what was said about another tough little scrapper:
Give 'Em Hell \- Denny\!\!\!Most Respectfully;
Ron Getty
Ronald,
Taking a hard look at the numbers is never a bad idea, so your posting
of the numbers of registered voters in each district is helpful. And if
we have one candidate clearly making a stronger effort than others, it
makes sense to try to coalesce the bulk of our resources behind him or
her. But I strongly believe we should continue to run as many people
for as many offices as possible. Reasons for this include:(1) Multiple candidates can have a synergistic effect, for instance by
letting each other know about press and speaking opportunities.
(2) Running for office almost always turns people into more involved
activists than they would be otherwise.
(3) More candidates means more press exposure and more ballot exposure
for the Libertarian Party
(4) It's hard to know in advance where our best opportunities may
arise, and maximizing our runs for office puts us in a better position
to take advantage of them when they appear. For example, last cycle we
did not field a candidate in District 2, and as it turned out, Gavin
Newsom got to run unopposed.
(5) Economies of scale ó in some cases, we may be able to get more
mileage out of the same amount of resources; for example, if we were to
put together a slate card, or materials designed to be used by multiple
candidates with individual overlays or something.
(6) The experience of running for office gives our activists valuable
knowledge of how the system works, and improves their public speaking
skills, visibility in the community, etc.Yours in liberty,
<<< Starchild >>>> Dear Marcy and Everyone Else;
>
> Marcy asked: Anyone for developing some structure in the pursuit of
> strategy?
>
> Does the Libertarian Party of San Francisco want to pursue
> a structured local political strategy? Does the Libertarian Party of
> San Francisco want to have a genuine opportunity to elect a
> Libertarian in San Francisco?
>
> Next year the odd numbered supervisorial districts are coming up for
> election. My proposal is to select one of these districts where the
> supervisor appears to be vulnerable on various issues or lack of
> issues. Then concentrate ALL the LPSF activities on promoting the
LPSF
> and a candidate in one of these districts.
>
> The supervisors up for election and est. number registered
voters are:
>
> Jake McGoldrick - District 1 - Richmond - 41,000
> Aaron Peskin - District 3 - North Beach/China Town - 41,000
> Matt Gonzalez - District 5 - Haight/Western Addition - 56,000
> Tony Hall - District 7 - West Twin Peaks/Park Merced - 44,000
> Tom Ammiano - District 9 - Bernal/Mission - 35,000
> Gerardo Sandoval - District 11 - Excelsior/Ingelside - 34,000
>
> It would be necessary to literally commit to a concentrated, focused
> registered voter by registered voter door knocker - telephone
> campaign. First with education on Libertarian principles. Attending
> community and association meetings. Then promoting Libertarian voter
> registration. It would require hard, dedicated, time consuming work
> for a solid year.
>
> It would require finding a viable, articulate, attractive
> candidate. Who also happens to be independently wealthy or has a lot
> of coins in a piggy bank.
>
> Yeah - Yeah - Yeah. I know! Where do you find one of the above? Who
> also lives in the district selected? Beats the heck out of me.
>
> Can this work? Yes! It is exactly how Fiona Ma won District 4 in the
> Sunset.
>
> Any takers on this proposal for discussion?
>
> Ron Getty
>
>
>
> Marcy Berry wrote:
>
> Chris and Starchild have brought up a dichotomy worth exploring. Our
> interests are divided -- delving into the essence of Libertarian
> thinking,
> and addressing the political and social issues of our immediate
> environment
> (I will leave the administrative interests out of this discussion for
> now).
> My personal view is that both efforts are necessary. The challenge
is
> how
> to achieve an effective balance. Largely due to the imaginative
> creation of
> the Political Chat, the "thinkers" are now enjoying a high profile.
I
> suggest that if some of us feel strongly about increasing the LPSF's
> involvement in our community's political and social issues, we form a
> "Strategy Chat." Or, even better, develop our political committees to
> address political strategy, and more importantly carry out strategy.
>
> Chris and Starchild have put a great deal of effort in dealing with
> local
> politics; and right now Michael Denny is giving his all in running
for
> Mayor. I personally need a lot more incentive than a passing mention
> to get
> me to help these activists meet a deadline or make an event a
success.
> Anyone for developing some structure in the pursuit of strategy?
>
> Marcy
>
> >From: "Christopher R. Maden"
> >Reply-To: lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com
> >To: lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [lpsf-discuss] LPSF Discussions
> >Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2003 01:31:35 -0700
> >
> >
> >-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> >Hash: SHA1
> >
> >I have finally finished digging out from the deluge of mail from the
> last
> >week. It's great to see such active discussion.
> >
> >I might suggest that for broader philosophical discussions, there
are
> >other, more appropriate fora on the Internet; any libertarian in the
> world
> >is qualified to comment on private ownership of nuclear weapons and
> the
> >economic theory of monopolies, while the LPSF is uniquely qualified
to
> >worry about addressing homelessness and adverse business climates in
> San
> >Francisco.
> >
> >That said, I certainly won't take steps to censor anyone (nor do I
> think I
> >could if I wanted to); I just want to reiterate Starchild's request
> to keep
> >one eye on practical matters in our community. I would rather have
> >vigorous abstract discussion than a wasteland, though.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Chris
> >- --
> >Conservative, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as
> >distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with
> others.
> >~Ambrose Bierce / Freelance text nerd:
> >PGP Fingerprint: BBA6 4085 DED0 E176 D6D4 5DFC AC52 F825 AFEC 58DA
> >-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> >Version: PGP Personal Privacy 6.5.8
> >
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> >vamKs+WatVAY95OGxD89TFab
> >=n5e+
> >-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
> >
>
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