At the State Convention on April 30, balloting was held for all
party officials and Executive Committee seats, with four new at-large members joining the LPMN leadership. Three changes were made
to the Bylaws, and a Libertarian candidate was nominated for local-level office. Speakers discussed Libertarian politics at the
national level and challenged the convention delegates to consider
new ways to move the libertarian movement forward.

During the business portion, Bylaws section
5.5 was revised to clarify the term “registered” affiliate,
establish minimal criteria for affiliates to maintain registered
status, and allow affiliates to participate in meetings via remote teleconferencing. Section
8 was revised to ensure that candidates submit information in
advance of any vote on nomination or endorsement. New section 11 was added to limit use of personal data of members and
those who’ve contacted the LPMN.

A candidate was nominated as a Libertarian for local-level office:

  • Tylor James Slinger for St. Paul City Council, Ward 3. With his involvement in the state party for nearly a year, Mr.
    Slinger is well-known to the LPMN and a solid libertarian
    candidate. He will be marketing himself as a “classical liberal”
    to his predominately DFL neighborhood in the Highland Park area.
    More details will be forthcoming on his candidacy as his campaign
    gets underway. He has already created a website and a Facebook
    page    .

Two guest speakers followed. Greg Wersal, LPMN-endorsed candidate
for Minnesota Supreme Court in 2010, spoke about the history behind
the Minnesota Constitution. Phil Krinkie, President of the
Taxpayers League of Minnesota, spoke about the efforts of his
organization to defend taxpayers.

Two featured speakers then discussed the libertarian movement. ., Vice Chair of the LPMN, spoke about lessons learned
from LP presidential candidate Bob Barr’s race in 2008, compared
possible 2012 LP presidential contender Wayne Root’s recent media
statements with longstanding libertarian principles, and challenged
libertarians to reconsider commonly-held myths about trying to
improve government. He then urged Libertarians to go on the offensive,
proposing a detailed Residential Street Marketization Plan which
could be used by local-level Libertarian candidates to grab the public’s attention and implement libertarian ideals in a way that could draw support from libertarians,
conservatives, and liberals alike. It would take an entire sector
of infrastructure away from the government and, over three years,
transition it to the marketplace. The Plan would divide a city
into smaller roadway districts, each with a new company set up to
own and maintain the roads. Shares of stock in each company would
be distributed to homeowners within each district, in proportion to
the property taxes they had paid over the years. Those who are now
taxpayers would become owners of their neighborhood’s roadway
company, with the power to elect the company’s board of directors,
exercise control over the company’s major decisions, and receive
dividends when their company is profitable.

Keynote speaker Wes Benedict, Executive Director of the National
LP, spoke about his experience in turning the Libertarian Party of
Texas from a marginal organization into one of the strongest, most
successful state parties. He noted that there’s no secret to
achieving success, just hard work and being responsive. He
encouraged all libertarians to “do something, don’t do nothing”,
and also “don’t stop someone else from doing something”,
recognizing that each individual will want to promote
libertarianism in his or her own way. He emphasized the impact
that one individual can have as a Libertarian candidate for office,
even if ending up with single-digit election results, by
introducing the libertarian philosophy more widely to the media and
public.
 

Concerned about the relentless expansion of government control
and the erosion of individual liberty? Consider joining and becoming
active in the Libertarian Party of Minnesota. Libertarians stand
in support of liberty on all issues, all the time. Libertarianism
is a philosophical and political movement promoting individual
freedom, voluntary interaction, genuine free markets, and
peace.