In an effort to see more action in voting booths and resolve a long-standing ballot-access issue, the Libertarian Party of Ohio recently hired an executive director.
Robert Butler, the first full-time director in the party's 31-year history, said since 2000 the Libertarian Party of Ohio's activity stagnated because of a lack of a full-time staff.
The Libertarian Party - founded nationally in 1971 and in Ohio in 1973 - stresses a small government and the importance of a free-market economy, civil liberties and a foreign policy of non-intervention.
In Ohio, the Libertarian Party is not recognized as a formal party, said Carlo LoParo, spokesman for the Ohio Secretary of State's office. In order to be recognized, a party must collect signatures equal to 1 percent of the total votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, which in 2002 was 32,290 votes. To maintain that status the party must win at least 5 percent of the vote. The Libertarian Party turned in petitions, but LoParo said they were rejected because they were not in accordance with the law.
The statewide recognition would label Libertarian candidates as Libertarians, not Independents. Also, because the Libertarian Party is not officially recognized in Ohio, the state keeps no record of officials' salaries.
We consider that important
Butler said. You vote on party allegiance. We would like that same advantage so (voters) at least recognize (the candidate) is a Libertarian.
Butler, 30, started his political career in 1989 as a 16-year-old intern for then-U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., and worked as a fundraiser for the Republican National Committee in 1993.
After graduating from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. with a degree in international relations in 1995, Butler spent the next eight years working in Taiwan and Mexico teaching English.
It was in Taiwan that Butler underwent his Libertarian transformation.
I'd always assumed that the U.S. had freedoms and liberties he said. (People in Taiwan) had more personal and economic freedoms than we do. That shook my beliefs and pushed me to the Libertarian party.
Libertarians often are called a fringe party, ultra-conservative or just crazy, he said.
Some people are afraid to be libertarians in public
Butler said. That's horrible. (The labels) get people distracted from the real point: economic and political freedoms.
In 2003, Butler accepted a position with the Libertarian Party of Indiana as the developmental coordinator.
I had worked in politics when I was younger
and wanted to help the country get on a better track
Butler said.
Butler said his main reason for coming to Ohio is the state's economy. His Small Business Initiative
the main issue he wants to address during the next two years, aims at eliminating fees and taxes for small businesses.
The initiative, Butler said, is based on his experience starting his school in Mexico. When he went to the government to find out what forms he needed, officials told him to find out if his venture was viable and come back again in a few months.
Butler was selected for the position over three other candidates.
Steven Linnabary, chairman of the Franklin County Libertarian Party said Butler is young, energetic and full of life.
For a small party
it's great to have someone with the energy he's got
he said.
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