FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 27, 2020

Contact: Steven Nekhaila,
Chairman, Libertarian Party of Florida
|[email protected]

 

Orlando – Brisk winds were no match for the flames of freedom at the Libertarian Party of Florida’s Annual Convention and Business Meeting last weekend.

Nearly 100 LPF Members, including 74 voting delegates attended the two-day event featuring debates among nine LP candidates for President and Libertarian National Committee Chair, along with breakout sessions and LPF Officer Elections. Fifty-four LPF Delegates were chosen to represent Florida at the LP Presidential Nominating Convention in Austin this May.

“I was pleased with the energy and enthusiasm from members, what struck me this particular convention was the lack of intra-party schisms,” said party chairman Steven Nekhaila. “We united as the Underdogs and clearly are set out to shake up the political landscape. Our Party continues to grow more professional from the bottom to the top, and our mission is clear: become the centrifugal force of Liberty in Florida by effecting policy, getting Libertarians elected, and spreading the philosophy. The Libertarian Party’s core mission is to reduce the size, influence, and expenditures of all levels of government. Our ability to do so has never been better.”

The two-day event kicked off Friday night with the biting humour of C. Michael Pickens, Rob Wentz and Seminole County’s own Shaun Kunz.

But with no doubt, the highlight of the weekend was Saturday night’s LP Presidential Debate. A packed house had the opportunity to gain insight into nine of our LP presidential candidate’s stances. Coupled with light moments, the live stream has been viewed by more than 4,200 people.

“Winning the “toy soldier” ballot afterwards was Jacob Hornberger of Texas collecting more than 25% of the vote. A close second was John Monds of Georgia.

Hornberger, a lawyer from Texas, is founder and president of The Future of Freedom Foundation, a non-profit libertarian educational foundation. An author or co-editor and contributor of 17 books, his newest book is “My Passion for Liberty.”

Sunday’s morning’s debate among three candidates for LNC Chair: Mike Shipley, Joe Bishop-Henchman, and Joshua Smith. Smith, of California, was the attendees favorite.

The weekend was filled popular breakout sessions and guest speakers, including Saturday’s Liberty in Action presentation by Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe, Altamonte Springs Commissioner Jim Turney and Seminole County Commission candidate Andre Klass. Each spoke to the importance of Libertarian messaging whether serving in office or on the campaign trail.

“Libertarian candidates can have a message that resonates with voters so our challenge is to reach the voters with our message,” said Turney. “Canvassing precincts and meeting voters face-to-face is our path to success.”

Wes Benedict, former executive director of the Libertarian National Committee, presented a motivational if not challenging history of LP candidates elected over the years. It demonstrated Libertarians in non-party races get elected. The notes were in line with Nekhaila’s Vision 2020 which seeks to retain at least 10 elected LPF Members in office.

“Our work is cut out for us this year,” said Nekhaila,  “we have a lot on our plate to take advantage of the opportunities the Republicans and Democrats keep giving us, with further encroachments on our freedom and more and more disenfranchised voters looking for a political home and a third, principled option, the Libertarians stand proud. We are looking for volunteers to step up and help take us to the gold medal. We are seeking principled candidates to run in winnable elections to move forward Libertarian policy. And we are in need of enthusiastic Party members who can help form or grow a local affiliate to be the local beacon of Liberty in their counties. Please reach out to us if all of this appealing. If you do not have time to participate, your donations allow us to do all of the above and more, a monthly donation is the wind that keeps our sails consistently moving forward. As the only growing political party in the United States, we are the best investment you can make politically.”

Saturday and Sunday, Delegates elected their LPF team of officers for 2020. They are:

Chair: Steven Nekhaila (Current)

Vice-Chair: J Mark Barfield

Secretary: Ed Appler

Treasurer: John Olivadoti

Director At-Large 1: Suzanne Gilmore (Current)

Director At-Large 2: Davie Parrish

Director At-Large 3: Nivine Zakhari

Region 1: Spenser Garber

Region 4: Jordan Bosserman, Alternate 1: Joe Moraca

Region 5: Michael Cassidy, alt. David Salisbury

Region 7: Tegan Joseph, Alternate 1: Jonathan Loesche, Alternate : Jon-Luc Tesky

Region 8: Bryan Zemina, Alternate 1: Jon-Luc Tesky

Region 9: Donna Olivadoti, Alternate 1: Warren Clark

Region 11: John Thompson

Region 13: Lee Korotzer, Alternate 1: Omar Recuero, Alternate 2: Marc Tancer

Region 14: Josh Curtis, Alternate 1: Dennis Misigoy, Alternate 2: Mike Kane

Rules Committee: Tony Sellers (Chair), Philippe Cadorette and Chris Rose

 

– By J. Mark Barfield, Staff Writer

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