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Convention Bios (In alphabetical order):
Michael Badnarik - 2004 Libertarian Presidential Candidate - Website
Michael Badnarik didn't plan to run for president. As the Texas resident and Constitutional scholar tells it, after he spoke at a local Libertarian Party meeting in early 2003, he got a call from a friend who was so impressed by the speech that he urged Badnarik to seek the highest office in the land. The friend told him he had a "unique ability to explain the Libertarian philosophy in a way that makes sense to people."
"My initial reaction was refusal," Badnarik told LP News (April 2003). But after mulling over the idea, Badnarik changed his mind -- and decided that a presidential campaign would be a good forum to point out that "much, if not most, of what our government does is unconstitutional."
Badnarik announced his campaign for president at a press conference at the state Capitol in Austin, Texas on February 8, 2003, and promised to work to "light the flames of liberty one heart at a time." Over the next 16 months, he campaigned in 30 states and attended 26 state LP conventions. In the race, he was widely considered a long shot, trailing his major competitors -- syndicated radio talk show host Gary Nolan and former Hollywood producer Aaron Russo -- in straw polls and in primary votes.
However, the long-shot campaign peaked at the right time -- on May 31 at the Libertarian National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. After shining in a three-way presidential debate, Badnarik finished in an almost-dead heat with Nolan and Russo on the first ballot, and surged to victory on the third ballot. "Nobody on that floor was more astounded than I was," he told the Washington Times (June 2). "All I was hoping for was a large enough percentage of delegates so that I could go home without being embarrassed."
In an emotional acceptance speech, Badnarik, said, "Never in my wildest dreams! If I can win the Libertarian nomination, there's no reason I can't win this election. We have a unique opportunity to change the world." (In a separate vote, delegates chose Iowa attorney Richard Campagna as the party's vice presidential candidate.)
Even before his improbable win, Badnarik said he believed that 2004 could be a breakthrough year for the Libertarian Party. "I think that there is an increasing level of anxiety among the general public that stems from a growing distrust of the government," he told LP News (April 2003). "I sincerely believe that the 2004 election is going to be a watershed event, and that the time is right for the Libertarian Party to win a significant percentage of the vote."
Before his presidential campaign, Badnarik had twice run for office: In 2002, in a three-way race for the Texas state legislature (District 48), he won 1,075 votes (2.2%). In 2000, in a two-way race in District 47, he won 15,221 votes (16.9%).
Born in Hammond, Indiana in 1954, Badnarik attended Indiana University in Bloomington. Professionally, he has worked as a senior trainer and consultant for Evolutionary Technologies International (1997-2001), a programmer and trainer for Pacific Gas and Electric (1987-1997), a system analyst on the Stealth Bomber project for Northrop Corporation (1985-1987), and a senior programmer for Commonwealth Edison (1977-1985).
Badnarik is the author of the book, It's Good To Be King: The Foundations of Freedom, and is a member of the Free State Project. Since 2001, he has taught an 8-hour class on the Constitution. In his spare time, he is a skydiving instructor, and enjoys camping, sailing, mountain climbing, hang gliding, and shooting. He has done volunteer work for the Boy Scouts and the American Red Cross.
-- Bill Winter
Quotable
"The Libertarian philosophy is based on individual rights and personal responsibility. Rights and responsibilities are different aspects of the same concept, much like opposite sides of the same coin. Being Libertarian also means adhering to the non-aggression principle in our everyday lives." -- Michael Badnarik
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James Bovard - Journalist and Author - Website
James Bovard is the author of "The Bush Betrayal" which was the #2 Bestseller in India in early October, according to the Associated Press.
Bovard is also the author of "Shakedown: How the Government Screws You from A to Z", the book that is shaking up Washington. Said GOP presidential wannabe, Steve Forbes, "Bovard's make-your-blood-boil book of government's abusive excesses against ordinary Americans should turn even the most stout-hearted statist into a fervent libertarian. Bovard's wide-ranging, meticulous research has probably put him at the top of any bureaucrat's most-wanted list." Undoubtedly, his last book, "Lost Rights: The Destruction of American Liberty", drew denunciations from the director of the FBI, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the chairman of the National Labor Relations Board among other bureaucrats.
Bovard has written extensively on government's abuse of power for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The Washington Post, The New Republic, and other publications.
Reviews of "The Bush Betrayal":
"With The Bush Betrayal, Bovard cements his claim as America's journalistic superman -- fighting for truth, justice, and the American way of freedom and limited government. We may have been stuck with George W. Bush for four years, but at least we have Bovard on our side. And that evens the odds just a bit."
-- Bill Winter, The Advocates for Self-Government
"With the thoroughly researched and footnoted style that has become his forte, and with the heavy doses of relevant anecdotes and dry humor that have become his trademarks, the author has compiled a virtual almanac of American political abuse... We ignore Jim Bovard's work at the risk of being repeatedly seduced - 'betrayed' by the siren songs of presidential candidates of both parties." -- Former congressman Bob Barr, American Conservative
"James Bovard presents a succinct, cogent, and compelling analysis of how Bush has betrayed America's founding principles of liberty and limited government in ways that impact all areas of our lives... Bovard stays on target throughout the book, laying out the details of Bush's follies, but he sneaks in important lessons for the reader how the answer is liberty, and the general problem is government power."
-- Anthony Gregory, Liberty magazine
"Bush Betrayal is terrific, another blockbuster... Bovard is the finest muckraker working today in American journalism."
-- Ron Smith, WBAL Baltimore
"Jim Bovard is a one-man policy think tank.... The Bush Betrayal is the handbook of our revolution." Lew Rockwell, www.lewrockwell.com
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Edmund Contoski, Environmental Planning Expert and Author - Website
Mr. Edmund Contoski, former Director of Planning for an internationally-renowned environmental consulting firm, is experienced in environmental impact analyses and has supervised large-scale multi-discipline studies of pollution, pollution abatement, secondhand smoke, and resource management.
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Sue Jeffers, Restaurant Owner of Stub & Herbs
Sue is a political activist and the restaurant owner of Stub & Herbs in Minneapolis. She has been fighting the smoking bans and excessive business regulations for several years by writing to the Minnesota Congress and Minneapolis City Council, calling radio stations, getting press with the Star Tribune, WCCO, FOX 9, MPR, MN Daily, and reaching out to other small businesses in her community.
About Stub & Herbs
Stub and Herbs is a sports bar. Patrons are loyal and regular. Service is top-notch and bartenders are very friendly. The establishment includes pool tables, TVs, music, a variety of food and plenty of drink specials... Not to mention Big 10 Burgers (a 1 pounder).
Stub & Herbs
Oak St SE & Washington Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
Open daily 11:00am- 1:00am
Phone: (612) 379-1880
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Dr. Lee Kurisko - American Board of Radiology, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Lee Kurisko MD is certified by the American Board of Radiology and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He graduated from the University of Ottawa with his MD degree in 1988. He then did a two-year family medicine residency also at the University of Ottawa. He then worked as family doctor and emergency room physician for 3 years prior to his radiology residency at the University of Manitoba between 1993 and 1997. He then completed a one-year fellowship in Neuroradiology at the University of Calgary.
Upon completing his specialist training, he assumed a position of staff radiologist at Thunder Bay Regional Hospital. Within less than two-years, he ascended to position of Medical Director of Diagnostic Imaging at Thunder Bay Regional Hospital. In this position, he directly encountered tremendous difficulties maintaining a functional department. With workdays sometimes lasting from 3 am to 9 pm, he dealt with severe shortages of trained personnel, modern diagnostic equipment and funding. From this vantage point, he overcame his Canadian cultural indoctrination that the governmental delivery of health care was benevolent or desirable. He clearly saw the logistical, economic, moral and social implications of such a system. Seeing the tremendous shortages produced as a result of a government monopoly on health care, he overcame the illogical cultural ethos that free market health care is evil.
After approximately one year of bureaucracy dealing with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, in December 2001, as planned he and his family moved to Minneapolis to work for Consulting Radiologists Ltd. despite deep Canadian roots. As a co-owner of CRL, Dr. Kurisko is now a proud shareholder in multiple private enterprise imaging clinics that provide outstanding imaging service. This represents a huge paradigm shift for Dr. Kurisko. As a Canadian, he had absorbed the bizarre cultural ethos that privately owned health care facilities are immoral. He no longer holds this view.
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Mary O'Connor - Brooklyn Center City Council Member
Mary has run for State Representative twice. In 2000 as a Reform Party candidateand in 2002 as an Independence Party candidate. The main two reasons she left the Reform/Independence Party was their support of campaign finance and that about half of the members were liberal and half were conservative causing problems within the party.
In March of 2004 she found a home politically and joined the Libertarian Party.
Later that year Mary had problems with the Brooklyn Center City Council because of the possibilitiy of the use of eminent domain on her property. Dozens of Libertarian Party of Minnesota members attended and supported Mary in her fight to keep her property, which lead to no redevelopment plans.
After this event, Mary decided to run for Brooklyn Center City Council under the platform of “Controlling Government and Taxes” and did door-knocking, public appearances in parades and more.
Mary was elected to the city council in Brooklyn Center, coming in second out of four candidates in a nonpartisan race where the top two won. O'Connor garnered 5,024 votes, fewer than one opponent's 5,655 -- but enough to defeat the other two candidates. |
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Amanda Phillips - President of the Free State Project - Website
Lives in Burlington, Massachusetts. Amanda is an accountant, manager, teacher, and single mother to Elaine, a rockin' seven-year-old girl. In her spare time (hah!) she likes to fly small airplanes, shoot at the archery range, run long distances, and read about everything (economics, philosophy, evolutionary psychology, organizational management, technology, to name a few). An avid proponent of school choice, she serves as an officer on her PTA; she leads fundraising efforts to provide scholarships for children who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend Elaine's private school. Amanda has been a libertarian since before she knew the meaning of the word. She was once a Special Agent in the U.S. Air Force. She is now an anarchist, but she's happy to work toward the Free State Project's more moderate political goals. She maintains a blog at amanda42.livejournal.com.
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Doug Scribner - TV and Radio Producer - Website
Doug’s business, The Third Wheel Group, is dedicated to creating top quality, in-your-face, knee-slapping, attention getting, heart stopping, Libertarian campaign commercials. Visit the website and see various commercials used in the 2000 Harry Browne Presidential Campaign.
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Mark Selzer - Hollywood Television Producer of the "Libertarian Alternative" and Activist - Website
The Libertarian Alternative is produced in Hollywood by host Mark Selzer and is a fun and exciting way to learn about Libertarian ideas and show their impact in our communities. The program is broadcasted in 10 states and growing.
You'll see guests like elected Libertarians, movie stars, community leaders, Libertarian scholars and clips of Libertarians in the news. Watching this show is a great way to learn how to communicate Libertarian ideas and will persuade friends and neighbors.
To air the show in your area contact Mark at 323-633-6275. Mark co-hosts the show with Libertarian Party member Dusti Taylor.
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David Strom - President of the Taxpayers' League of Minnesota - Website
David Strom was born to academic parents in Boston, MA and moved at the age of 4 to Long Island, NY and then finally at the age of 8 to Tucson, AZ where he lived until he went to Carleton College in Northfield, MN. At Carleton, David converted from being a sort of socialist to being a committed conservative. From Carleton, he went on to Duke University for grad school to study Political Philosophy, finishing with an M.A. David returned to Carleton to teach political philosophy where he and Margaret met. Teaching part-time had its drawbacks, namely that he was so poor he was living on cheese, crackers, cigarettes and bad coffee at Goodbye Blue Monday. David hooked up with his old college roommate Darrell McKigney in 1997 and along with entrepreneur Mike Wigley, they founded the Taxpayers League of Minnesota. In early 2004, he was made President of the organization. He has a radio show from 9-11 on Saturdays on AM 1280 “The Patriot” in Eagan, MN. In his spare time he sleeps and plays with the birds.
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Vin Suprynowicz - Journalist and Author - Website
Syndicated Columnist Vin Suprynowicz is author of the highly acclaimed books, "Send in the Waco Killers" and "The Ballad of Carl Drego".
Praise for Send in the Waco Killers includes this amazing comment from Bill Branon (author of Let Us Prey): “This volume by Suprynowicz is why words exist. It is the seminal work of the past five decades. It will change lives. It will direct nations."
Vin grew up in a nice Politically Correct Democratic family, fine folks who taught him that it was wrong to steal or to hate people for being different from them. He still feels that way, but has expanded his idea of who those people are from merely homosexuals and members of racial minorities, to machine-gun owners, militiamen, folks who choose to vote their conscience in the jury rooms in defiance of the judge's instructions, who use intoxicants other than those approved by the current government, who decline to contribute any portion of their income to support the welfare/police state, and the like.
He landed his first newspaper job at the alternative Hartford Advocate in 1972 after graduating from Wesleyan University. He went on to become the star reporter at the daily Willimantic Chronicle, wire editor of the Norwich Bulletin, managing editor of the daily Northern Virginia Sun, and founder and publisher of the weekly Providence Eagle.
Vin was named three times to the Golden Dozen (the top 12 weekly editorial writers in the U.S. and Canada) by the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors.
He finally migrated west to Phoenix, then moved to Las Vegas. He is currently an editorial writer for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He also pens a twice-a-week syndicated political column that runs in 20 or so daily newspapers around the country. His columns are available at the Review-Journal's site.
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Ed Thompson - Former Chair of the Libertarian Party of Wisconsin - Website
Like his more famous big brother Tommy, Ed Thompson grew up in Elroy, Wisconsin. His parents ran a small grocery store with gas pumps out front. As Ed grew up, he worked in the store after school and on weekends. There he learned the value of hard work and got to know many of the farmers from that region and the challenges they faced every day.
In high school at Elroy, Ed enjoyed his academics and excelled at extra curricular activities, including football and basketball. After a brief period at the University of Wisconsin, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Navy. For a time after that, he worked at the federal prison at Oxford, Wisconsin, seeing the inside of our criminal justice system first hand. Ed went into business himself, first following in his father's and mother's footsteps when he purchased a small grocery store at Kendall, Wisconsin. While raising four wonderful children with his high school sweetheart wife, he grew that business. Today he owns and operates Mr. Ed's Tee Pee Supper Club in downtown Tomah and his family has grown to include five grandchildren.
Stepping out of his big brother's shadow, Ed ran for office on his own. The people of Tomah elected him Mayor. One of Ed's proudest accomplishments in doing that was in opening up city government to the people.
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Mark Thorsted - Libertarian Otsego City Council Member
• Married to Shelby since 1995, 2 children Landin and Carolann
• Lead Cost Estimator at United Defense Industries 2001–Present
• Otsego Park and Recreation Commission 2003–2004
• Otsego Festival Committee 2003 and 2004
• Captain United States Air Force (Active Duty 1996–2001, Reserves 2001-2002)
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport/ARS, Minn 2001-2002
- Kirtland AFB Albuquerque, New Mexico 1999–2001
- Wright Patterson AFB Dayton, Ohio 1996–1999
• Masters in Business Administration – New Mexico State University 1994–1996
• Air Force ROTC 1994 – 1996
• Bachelors in Business Administration – New Mexico State University 1990–1994
• James Monroe High School Graduate 1990 - Fredericksburg, Virginia
• Born and raised Fredericksburg, Virginia
- Lived in Adelaide Australia 1983–1985
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Michael Wilson - Filmmaker of "Michael Moore Hate s America" - Website
Reviews of Michael Wilson's movie "Michael Moore Hates America":
"Two Thumbs Up"
-- Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper
". . . the film isn't about ideology as much as accountability."
-- Jeff Strickler, Star Tribune
"The most interesting movie" at the American Film Renaissance festival.
-- Salon.com
"'Michael Moore Hates America,' a documentary that challenges the leftist filmmaker, received a huge response at the American Film Renaissance festival in Dallas, packing out two showings and eliciting a 10-minute standing ovation."
-- Ron Strom, September 14, 2004, World Net Daily
"Michael Moore gets a dose of his own medicine in "Michael Moore Hates America." Far more jocular, good-natured and thoughtful than Moore partisans might expect, docu is fashioned by filmmaker Michael Wilson in Moore's trademark style -- down to the imposing first-person narration and commentary."
-- Robert Koehler, Variety
"Moore's success has brought with it a legion of detractors who have accused him of distortions and outright falsehoods. Awaiting release is 'Michael Moore Hates America,' a documentary by Mike Wilson, who said he's a libertarian and not a right-wing equalizer."
-- Tommy Nguyen, Washington Post
City Pages article
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