Fwd: Letter to the LNC from Ian Epstein, Chair, Libertarian Party of Oregon
All, Attached is an email I received from Ian Epstein. -Nick ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ian Epstein <johannstein@gmail.com> Date: Fri, Sep 18, 2015 at 5:30 AM Subject: Letter to the LNC from Ian Epstein, Chair, Libertarian Party of Oregon To: Dear Members of the LNC, As you are aware, the national Judicial Committee rescinded it's ruling of 2011. In doing so it reinstated the 2011 resolutions passed by the LNC. My fellow officers and I are proud to be properly recognized as the leadership of LNC's Oregon affiliate. We look forward to once again receiving data dumps, being placed on the State Chair discussion list, and having all references to the LNC's Oregon affiliate be directed to our website (www.lporegon.net) and email addresses (we encourage you to check out our website). We request that you direct the LNC Secretary to notify the Secretary of State of the Judicial Committee's ruling. The previously split decision between the LNC and the Judicial Committee caused the Secretary of State to take no action to update the records as to the legitimate officers. I am optimistic that, as LNC members did in 2011 regardless of their personal opinions, LNC members and Chair Sarwark will abide by the Judicial Committee ruling of 2015 in accordance with our national bylaws. While I have been a registered Libertarian for many years, I became active early this year motivated by a desire to lead the LPO as an organization run by members who have signed a non-aggression pledge. I have no personal animosity against those in the other group. While I believe what they did on March 31, 2011 was unacceptable, I am confident that they thought they were doing the right thing. My goals in the coming year will be to heal the rifts that exist between Libertarians in Oregon, heal the rifts that exist between the LNC and some Oregon Libertarians, and build a culture of principled success here in Oregon. Because I am relatively new to the LPO, have a short track record with it's members, and have animosity toward noone, I believe I am the right person to accomplish these goals. Toward those ends, I promise the following: 1. The LPO will fully and constructively participate in the 2016 Orlando convention. We will seat any Oregon members who show up, regardless of faction, until our allotment of seats is full. All votes within our delegation will be respected, regardless of faction. Once we secure control of Oregon's ballot line, which we believe will happen shortly after the Sec. of State hears about the Judicial Committee ruling from our national Secretary, we will guarantee that whoever is nominated for president and vice-president at the Orlando convention will appear on the Oregon ballot. 2. We will encourage LPO members to join and donate to the LNC in order to strengthen the organization. We will encourage LPO members to attend the 2016 national convention. We will ask national party figures and candidates for national office to visit Oregon so we can find ways to help each other. 3. According to our bylaws, all registered Libertarians in Oregon are already considered "registered members" of the LPO who can vote to nominate candidates for public office or be candidates themselves. We will reach out to as many of these Libertarians as we can to participate in the LPO. We will take a positive tone and will not attempt to cast blame on the other group. You may not be aware that our group has continuously functioned as if nothing was wrong in Oregon. We have held State Committee meetings almost monthly, we have held annual business conventions, have run campaigns for local non-partisan offices (and had one contested victory), have held candidate nominating conventions, have maintained active Facebook and web pages, have sent delegations to our national conventions, and more. We have had success in the Oregon legislature. The LPO actively lobbied for and was recognized by Portland's Cascade Policy Institute and State Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D) as being part of a coalition which worked to pass HB2300 into law. This bill legalized recreational marijuana in Oregon, and our effort was endorsed by Gov. Gary Johnson's Our America Initiative organization. We are also taking point on a ballot measure that would enhance voter privacy by making it illegal for county elections to disclose whether voters have voted or not before Election Day, LPO member Richard Whitehead is the Chief petitioner of the “Voter Privacy Act,” initiative #50, which is getting it's initial 1,000 signatures. My point is that, even against the tremendous headwinds we have faced because of infighting in Oregon, our group has continued to be active as a political party and will be able to offer and accommodate opportunities for involvement to all LPO members regardless of faction. You have my word. I have read about how tired all of you are of dealing with the Oregon problem. I give you my word that I will be a constructive partner in solving it and knitting the Oregon party together again. My only interests are to: 1) Ensure that LPO governing documents are amended only in accordance with amendment processes outlined within those documents and, 2) Ensure that internal party decisions are made exclusively by those who have opted-in to the LPO and subscribe to a NAP - just as is the case with the national party. Beyond that, I am willing to compromise with any and all factions and do what I can to make our national and state parties better and stronger. Thank you. Yours in Liberty, Ian Epstein, State Chair Libertarian Party of Oregon
participants (1)
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Nicholas Sarwark